Saints bite sharper than Wolves’as Watford defeat Burnley

Southampton 2

Andrews played in place of suspended skipper Paul Ince, but was carried off on a stretcher after an hour with a suspected broken left leg.

The 22-year-old, who suffered the injury when he fell awkwardly inside his own penalty area, was taken immediately to a local hospital for X-rays.

"The club doctor said it looked like Keith had broken his leg, although obviously I hope that isn't the case," said Jones.

"I am not sure exactly how he did it as I never saw the incident, but no other player was involved.

"I am hoping he will be allowed to come home with us tonight, we don't want to leave him, and the rest of the lads are prepared to wait around for him even if it takes a couple of hours."

It just was not Jones' day as he returned to the club he managed for two and a half years before being dismissed in controversial circumstances in January, 2000, following unfounded allegations of abuse against teenagers during his time as a social worker several years earlier.

Chris Marsden, one of the players Jones signed for Saints when he was in charge, opened the scoring after 56 minutes and an own goal from stand-in skipper Paul Butler 10 minutes before the end sealed a place in the semi-finals for the Barclaycard Premiership side.

Jones and Marsden go back a long way to the days when they were together at Stockport, and the Wolves boss joked afterwards of how he had knocked out the midfielder for scoring the goal.

"Chris is flat out in the dressing room, I just knocked him out," joked Jones.

"Now I might go round and burn down his house! It was a soft goal, I don't think he has ever scored a good goal in his life.

"But seriously, I am just pleased with how Chris and the other players I had here welcomed me to the club and I wish them all the best in the semi-finals.

"I have no complaints with the result. We came here and didn't do ourselves justice."

Southampton manager Gordon Strachan was delighted to see unsung hero Marsden take the plaudits.

"Chris Marsden has worked for 18 years to get into an FA Cup semi-final and I am delighted for him," said Strachan. "Things like that happen regularly for players like Michael Owen, but they are once in a lifetime for someone like Chris and he deserves it.

"I am very, very happy for everyone who is involved here. I am happy watching people being happy that is what I enjoy about being a manager."

"We deserved to win. The first half was 50-50 but we were the better side in the second half and deserved to go through, and the way we played we deserve a pat on the back."

Strachan opted for honesty when asked if he would prefer to face the winners of Arsenal and Chelsea in the semis, or another First Division club in the form of Sheffield United or Watford.

"If we are all honest we'd prefer to have the easier tie on paper," said Strachan.

"We can all be cute and say we have to play the big teams sometime, but ask any manager and he'll take whatever gives you the best chance of reaching the final."

SOUTHAMPTON: Niemi, Dodd, Lundekvam, Michael Svensson, Bridge, Fernandes, Oakley, Anders Svensson (Tessem 78), Marsden, Ormerod, Beattie (Davies 90).

WOLVES: Murray, Irwin, Butler, Lescott, Naylor, Newton (Sturridge 75), Cameron, Andrews (Rae 59), Kennedy, Miller, Blake (Proudlock 86).

Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).

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Watford 2

Burnley 0

By Paul Brown

STEPHEN GLASS hopes his spectacular 25-yard free-kick against Burnley will put him in the shop window when he is dumped by Watford at the end of the season.

The 26-year-old former Newcastle winger added to Tommy Smith's opener at Vicarage Road to seal an FA Cup semi-final berth for Watford with a 2-0 win. However, Glass will be the first high-profile victim of cost-cutting at Watford in the summer, when manager Ray Lewington cannot afford to offer him a new contract and he doubts his goal will force the club into a rethink.

He said: "At the moment it's not an option for them to change their minds. I knew a few weeks ago but it was just a case of being professional and carrying on. If the manager picks you you have to do your best. The future's in your own hands."

"The manager's got a tight budget and we've got a lot of midfield players so it's understandable.

"I'd go anywhere to keep playing football and hopefully the goal won't have done my prospects any harm. I'm not the only one in that position, a lot of the lads are in the same boat.

"It's a case of living with reality, but the cup final would be a great last game, wouldn't it?"

Watford's best run in the cup for 16 years has come in a season of turmoil, with players and staff agreeing to take a 12% wage cut to help keep the club out of financial difficulties.

Victorious Hornets boss Ray Lewington is hoping to use some of the money from this cup success to pay back what is owed, but he still has nine players sweating on new contracts when their current deals expire this summer, and he will be forced to let some go.

He said: "Financially the cup is massive for us. The club have said that any un-budgeted money will go back to the people who made the sacrifice and the money we're making is un-budgeted money.

"It's important they are repaid because of they hadn't have done it we probably wouldn't be here today.

"The players wouldn't have been paid and it certainly would have been a difficult time. But everyone has pulled together and the spirit was fantastic."

Lewington was full of praise for Glass, signed by predecessor Gianluca Vialli but playing his best football under his new coach. The Hornets boss broke the bad news to Glass weeks ago, but has been impressed by his reaction since.

He said: "Stephen's known for some time but his response speaks volumes for him.

"If I had unlimited money I would keep all of them but the sums just don't add up and we have to prioritise.

"It's harsh on players like Glass but he's been fantastic. It's sad but that's the way football is now.

"He's known for weeks but he's never given less than 100%. Hopefully he's put himself in the shop window."

Burnley manager Stan Ternent admitted he had no complaints about the result, but thanked Watford for their generosity in sharing the £400,000 prize money from the match equally.

Ternent said: "I think the two chairmen had done a deal that whatever happened we'd get £200,000 each and that's much needed, but it's no consolation to us.

"The players are dejected and we're very disappointed be knocked out at this late stage.

"But it was always going to be difficult after being drawn away from home in every round."

WATFORD: Chamberlain, Ardley, Cox, Gayle, Robinson, Mahon, Vernazza (Hand 65), Hyde, Glass, Helguson, Tommy Smith (Noel-Williams 77).

BURNLEY: Beresford, West, Diallo, Cox, Branch, Ian Moore, Grant (Blake 76), Cook (Stephen Davis 67), Briscoe, Alan Moore (Little 57), Taylor.