Stoke cheesed off after James Bree nets late winner for Southampton

James Bree struck a late winner as Premier League strugglers Southampton survived a major scare by scraping into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Championship side Stoke.

Goals from Potters pair Ashley Phillips and Tom Cannon threatened to force a penalty shoot-out after Saints blew a two-goal lead following Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ header and Adam Armstrong’s spot-kick.

Defender Bree prevented a new low in a miserable season so far for the top-flight’s bottom club by rifling home from range in the 88th minute at a sparsely-populated St Mary’s.

Southampton were fortunate to reach that stage still level as only a goal-line clearance from Yukinari Sugawara stopped Stoke substitute Million Manhoef completing the turnaround minutes earlier.

After picking up a solitary point from nine league games following promotion, Russell Martin branded the game his team’s “most important” of the season.

The Saints boss, who was serving a touchline ban after collecting a third booking of the campaign, made six changes to the starting XI which began Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Manchester City, while Stoke’s nine alterations included further starts in this competition for 17-year-old England Under-18 internationals Sol Sidibe and Jaden Dixon.

Southampton midfielder Joe Aribo tested Potters goalkeeper Jack Bonham during a subdued start to the contest before the hosts claimed a 19th-minute breakthrough.

Mateus Fernandes delivered an inswinging corner from the left and former Stoke loanee Harwood-Bellis easily escaped the marking of Phillips to nod home.

Manager Martin, who was watching the match from the top of the empty stand on the opposite side of the pitch to the technical areas, saw his hosts stretch their