HE’S AN AUSTIN MAESTRO

CHARLIE AUSTIN stepped off the bench to clinch Southampton’s first win of the season.

Mark Hughes’s side have struggled to find their feet in the Premier League, claiming just one point from their opening three games. But Austin (above) gave them the perfect boost with the 88th-minute header that fired Saints into the third round.

The goal came as a huge relief for Hughes after a worrying start to the season — and spared Austin’s blushes after he had missed a giltedged chance moments earlier.

It came too late for a patched-up Brighton side to respond. And boss Chris Hughton must now hope his first-choice line-up bounces back against Fulham here on Saturday.