Perraud is Saints’ Romain man to sink Seasiders
ROMAIN PERRAUD struck twice to send Southampton through to the fifth round on an afternoon where Nathan Jones’ team’s lack of cutting edge almost came back to bite them.
The Premier League’s basement side controlled possession against their Championship visitors, who had Mick Mccarthy (below) in the dugout for the first time, but could not convert that into regular clear-cut chances.
And Saints were made to sweat after Arsenal loanee Charlie Patino pulled a goal back in the 67th minute.
But a much-changed Saints side still did just enough with the goals coming from an unfamiliar source.
Boss Nathan Jones said of two-goal hero Perraud: “Romain’s brilliant. He’s got mad energy and he’s aggressive and a real upbeat character.
“I’m really delighted for him.”
After captain James Ward-prowse was given a rare rest, Perraud stepped up to deceive Blackpool goalkeeper Chris Maxwell with a fine free-kick from just over 20 yards midway through the opening half.
The goal, which went through the defensive wall, left Seasiders boss Mccarthy fuming, and he promised it won’t be repeated again any time soon. He said: “That was an absolute disgrace. That will be sorted out, don’t worry.”
Perraud became the first player other than Ward-prowse to have scored from a set piece for Southampton since 2018 and that gave him a taste for more.
The Frenchman’s second came after a neat one-two with striker Sekou Mara, before the full-back sent a sweet finish past the Blackpool goalkeeper.
Saints were fortunate not to have been pegged back a couple of minutes before that after Ian Poveda, on loan from Leeds, failed to beat Willy Caballero when clean through following a rapid counter.
But just as it looked like game over for the Tangerines, young midfielder Patino arrived in the box to send his finish low past Caballero.
That teed up a moderately edgy final 20 minutes, in which the away team won a succession of corners that Southampton did not entirely deal with comfortably.
SOUTHAMPTON: Caballero 7; Maitlandniles 6 (Walker-peters 75), Bella-kotchap 6, Lyanco 6, Perraud 8; Lavia 7 (Diallo 87), Elyounoussi 6; Edozie 7 (Armstrong 87), Aribo 7, Orsic 6 (Walcott 63, 5); Mara 7 (Adams 87) BLACKPOOL: Maxwell 5; Lyons 5, Connolly 6, Goode 6, Husband 6 (Thorniley 58, 5); Hamilton 6, Trybull 6 (Rogers 80), Patino 7 (Dougall 73), Bowler 6 (Carey 74); Poveda-ocampo 5 (Lavery 80), Yates 6
MAN OF THE MATCH: ROMAIN PERRAUD – defender’s rare goals were enough.
REF: C Pawson ATT: 20,665