Teenagers prove decisive for Southampton

Two more products emerged from the Southampton production line as 19-year-olds Will Smallbone and Jake Vokins made scoring debuts to ensure a safe passage into the fourth round.

Smallbone, a Basingstoke-born Republic of Ireland Under-19 international, scored at the start of the second half and left-back Vokins at the end of it as Saints made it five games unbeaten.

“It was their first time in the team. They proved they can score and showed good movement in the offensive transition and I’m pleased to be in the next round,” said Ralph Hasenhuttl who made 10 changes to the side that beat Tottenham on New Year’s Day.

“The only guy who I did not give a break was Prowsey [James WardP-rowse], but he can handle it. He is absolutely fit. Always the most distance covered. He is a machine and never tires. He also has a fantastic mind.”

Huddersfield’s defensive formation nullified the Premier League side for the most part in an uneventful opening and Southampton were unable to show the intensity that had earned them victories over Chelsea and Spurs.

Fraizer Campbell ploughed a lone furrow for Danny Cowley’s side and had a chance when Jannik Vestergaard lost possession but he fired wide. It was a fairly flat performance from Huddersfield and Cowley criticised the scheduling of the competition’s third round.

“I love the FA Cup. I think it’s the greatest cup competition in the world and it has the ability to change lives, and I know that first hand. But I just think if we want to maintain the status of this competition, we should think about when we schedule the third round because if we schedule it so close to this crazy run over Christmas, then every club is going to rotate their squads and the managers are going to do that for the physical and mental well-being of their players,” he said.

Southampton took the lead when Kevin Danso crossed deep to Shane Long and he headed the ball back into the path of Smallbone to volley home.

Despite sending on top scorer Karlan Grant, Huddersfield made few inroads and Jon Stankovic’s long-range drive was as close as they came to levelling.

With the game dying out and Southampton fans enjoying the novelty of a third clean sheet in four games, Vokins made his mark. The left-back burst forward and struck a fierce shot, via the heel of Josh Koroma, in off the crossbar to ensure Saints went through.