AUSTIN POWERS SAINTS INTO NEXT ROUND

THE cavalry arrived. And the cavalry saved the day for Southampton. Just three minutes from a penalty shootout, substitute Charlie Austin planted a header past David Button to ensure Southampton’s passage into the next round of the Carabao Cup. After a draw and two defeats in the Premier League, it was also Southampton’s first win of the season. ‘It’s pleasing, we always felt in control,’ said Saints boss Mark Hughes. ‘It’s good to get the first win but we want to progress now. We made changes but still had a strong team which shows our strength in depth.’ Both managers made 10 changes and who could blame them? Both clubs would forego this trophy for guaranteed top-flight football next

season. Brighton boss Chris Hughton handed three academy players — Ben Barclay, Viktor Gyokeres and Will Collar — their senior debuts, while Hughes went with more experienced squad players. But neither side asserted any sort of authority during an opening 45 minutes that was played at the pace of a pre-season friendly. Manolo Gabbiadini and Stuart Armstong went closest to opening the

scoring as Southampton gradually made their experience tell. They continued their dominance in the second half, with Brighton goalkeeper Button called upon to make a string of good stops. Swedish forward Gyokeres, 20, came closest for the home side when his header was stopped by Angus Gunn. But Hughes sent on Austin and Nathan Redmond for the final 10 minutes in search of a winner and it was the big striker who came up trumps for the Saints with an emphatic header. Hughton said: ‘It could have gone either way. It was always going to be that one moment that changed things, and unfortunately it came for them.’