Southampton cruise to FA Cup semis

Southampton 2 Wolves 0

Dave Jones’ return to his former club ended in disappointment as a Chris Marsden strike and an own goal from Paul Butler ended Wolves’ FA Cup dream.

Marsden, who ironically was signed for Saints by Jones when he was in charge at The Dell, scored after 56 minutes with a bicycle kick following a corner.

The misery was completed after 80 minutes when James Beattie – another Jones signing – helped on Jo Tessem’s cross and the ball was deflected into his own net by Butler.

Jones sent on another striker after 75 minutes when Dean Sturridge replaced Newton. That was followed two minutes later by a change for Saints as Anders Svensson was replaced by Jo Tessem.

Wolves’ rotten luck was confounded when Saints sealed their place in the semis with 10 minutes remaining – courtesy of an own goal from skipper Paul Butler.

Tessem’s low cross from the right was helped on by Beattie and went past Murray off the knee of Butler.

Blake was replaced by Adam Proudlock after 86 minutes and Beattie was replaced by Kevin Davies in stoppage time.

By then, Wolves knew they were heading out of the cup and were left to concentrate on the play-offs, while Saints could look forward to their first FA Cup semi-final appearance for 17 years.