Late Pedersen strike sinks Saints

Bolton 1 Southampton 0 (After extra-time)

It was cruel luck on goalkeeper Antti Niemi, who had made a string of superb saves to keep the home side at bay.

In just the second minute Niemi made a marvellous double save from Pedersen to prevent his side going behind. The Finland international was then tested by Jay-Jay Okocha and, standingood up well to beat away his swerving 20-yard free-kick.

Niemi was proving to be a formidable barrier and saved twice in quick succession from Giannakopoulos.

Bolton were dictating the pace with Ba and Davies both seeing efforts go wide and Pedersen was incensed when he was denied a penalty after a challenge by Jason Dodd.

The crowd also howled their disapproval when he was sent sprawling but referee Phil Dowd decided to wave play on. However there was a wave of anticipation among the home fans when Okocha got on the end of a cross from Davies. The Nigeria captain only succeeded in blazing a shot over the top after a sweeping move which also involved Bruno N’Gotty.

Southampton manager Gordon Strachan decided to keep things as they were at the start of the second-half even though his team had been under the cosh.

They made a bright start with Poole doing well to push away a header from Brett Ormerod following a corner by Dodd. It was a good period for the by Saints who showed their pedigree for knockout competitions last season by reaching the FA Cup final, as Ormerod shot over the bar in the 54th minute after being released by Delgado.

But Bolton suddenly stepped up the pace and Niemi was again forced to come to the visitors’ rescue as Pedersen, Okocha and Davies were all marginally off target in quick succession.

Then Nicky Hunt cleared the bar before Okocha rattled in a shot that the Saints keeper did well to parry.

Niemi continued to stop everything Bolton could throw at him and made another superb stop from Okocha’s rasping drive.

N’Gotty and sub Mario Jardel then scuffed clear chances before Poole tipped over a shot from Ormerod.

In stoppage time Ba came to Bolton’s rescue by clearing a header from Rory Delap off the line and the game headed for extra-time and Pederson’s winner.

BOLTON: Poole, Hunt (Barness 111), N’Gotty, Charlton, Gardner, Campo, Giannakopoulos (Djorkaeff 90), Ba, Okocha, Pedersen, Davies (Jardel 78).

SOUTHAMPTON: Niemi, Dodd, Hall, Michael Svensson, Higginbotham, Telfer, Prutton, Delap, Pahars (McCann 69), Delgado (Marsden 66), Ormerod.

Referee: P Dowd