Southampton 3-1 West Ham United: Saints into FA Cup quarter-finals

Southampton deservedly beat West Ham to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.

The Saints led when French left-back Romain Perraud swerved a screamer into the top corner from 30 yards out for his first goal in England.

West Ham levelled when Michail Antonio tapped in after Willy Caballero punched a cross straight at Kurt Zouma.

But James Ward-Prowse's penalty gave Southampton the lead and Armando Broja added an injury-time third, cutting in before slotting home with good skill.

The penalty came after Craig Dawson brought down Broja just as the Saints substitute was about to shoot. Referee Andre Marriner initially missed it but gave the spot-kick after watching the incident on the VAR monitor.

West Ham lost Tomas Soucek to a bloody facial injury after he was caught by Ibrahima Diallo's elbow over the eye.

Southampton will discover their last-eight opponents on Thursday.

Southampton's win was especially impressive considering they made nine changes from their last Premier League game, and West Ham — above them in the table — only made two.

Last season's FA Cup semi-finalists look in great shape under Ralph Hasenhuttl and are now unbeaten in 12 home games, going back to September.

Their only major trophy was the 1976 FA Cup but they will be carrying hopes of more glory this season — and are now just one game away from another trip to Wembley.

«They deserve everything they got tonight,» said BBC analyst Martin Keown. «They look formidable going forward in this competition right now.»

Hasenhuttl put his faith in some of the fringe players with Irish midfielder Will Smallbone and goalscorer Perraud impressing.

Caballero, 40, even made up for his howler for the goal when he denied Dawson's header with a diving save in the 89th minute.

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