Saints rely on Marsden for Canary cup win

Last updated : 15 February 2003 By Christian Kelly

Southampton manager Gordon Strachan started dreaming of the FA Cup final after seeing his side reach the last eight thanks to two goals in three minutes in a hard-fought clash against Norwich.

The Canaries more than matched their opponents from the Premiership for large periods of the game before suffering defeat thanks to second-half strikes from Anders Svensson and substitute Jo Tessem.

Norwich striker Paul McVeigh was unlucky to see a right-foot shot rebound off a post to safety in the 69th minute and Saints were ahead less than 60 seconds later as Svensson fired home from close range after being set-up by Brett Ormerod.

Tessem replaced James Beattie and made an instant impact rifling a shot into the roof of the net two minutes later after goalkeeper Robert Green had failed to hold Chris Marsden's fierce left-foot drive.

Ormerod had been unlucky not to open the scoring in the third minute when his left-foot effort looked destined for the far corner only to hit the right-hand post while Beattie also tested Green on two more occasions in the first half.

But Norwich were by no means overawed as they attempted to reach the sixth round and could have taken a lead into half-time themselves with a little bit more luck.

McVeigh and David Nielsen both sent flashing drives narrowly wide while goalkeeper Antti Niemi had to save bravely at the feet of the latter to deny him a clear-cut goalscoring chance.

Norwich defender Malky Mackay wasted a good chance ten minutes into the second half whern he headed Phillip Mulryne's free-kick wide after finding space in the area before Swensson and Tessem put Southampton in control.

Mackay and Norwich's afternoon were summed up nine minutes from time when the centre-back was dismissed for a second bookable offence after fouling Ormerod Strachan said: “Any team that reached the quarter-finals will start thinking about going onto the final.

“It was a very tight match but we are still in their and we don’t mind who we meet in the next round.

“It is very open and I don’t think anyone will want to be drawn against us.'