FA Cup: Southampton 2 Shrewsbury Town 0 - Report

Without boss Steve Cotterill, recovering from Covid-19 in his hospital bed, Shrewsbury gave their all at an empty St Mary’s Stadium but were finally put to bed as James Ward-Prowse’s late free-kick added to youngster Daniel N’Lundulu’s early opener.

A committed display from Town, who only returned to training last Friday ahead of the delayed third round tie, left a lot to be admired and respected given the recent pandemic troubles that mean they still remain without their boss.

But it will be Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Saints who go on to host Arsenal in round four on Saturday, as Shrews head to Sunderland in League One.

Shrewsbury arrived at St Mary’s to monsoon-like conditions as wind and heaving rain swirled around the south coast sky.

Visiting players cared not, the very opportunity to run out on to a football pitch for their first competitive action in three weeks after a serious virus outbreak in their ranks must have been a feeling to saviour.

It felt strange, even though Shrewsbury sampled four months of behind-closed-doors football prior to their three-week isolation.

The 32,500-capacity St Mary’s was empty, aside from a bustling press section. Decorative flags in the stands trying in vain to hide the empty seats.

Town warmed up under the instruction of fitness coach Andy Johnson, who had missed training since Friday due to his own isolation period. Brian Jensen remained absent as academy coach Phil Smart trained the goalkeepers.

It wasn’t just supporters missing from this delayed third round tie, which should have taken place two weekends ago.

With Cotterill watching on safely from his Bristol hospital bed, Town were missing the biggest possible presence, Cotterill’s assistant Aaron Wilbraham, alongside academy boss David Longwell, took his place in the technical area.

Town’s handed debuts to loan signings Matthew Pennington and Harry Chapman, who both signed before New Year but had to wait some time to train with their new team-mates.

Pre-match news also saw the confirmation that experienced former Bournemouth pair Charlie Daniels and Marc Pugh had left the club upon the expiry of the short-term deals they penned in October.

Ro-Shaun Williams replaced the departed former loan man Matt Millar at right wing-back, with Scott Golbourne filling in for Daniels on the left of a back five content to sit compact and resolute.

Chapman, playing in the advanced midfield ‘number 10 role’ caught the eye with some bright and direct bursts. The on-loan Blackburn attacker was keen to take defenders on and not shy at getting efforts away.

Hasenhuttl named a side consisting of more youth than first-team regular experience. Centre-back duo Jan Bednarek and Jack Stephens started, as did skipper James Ward-Prowse.

Fraser Forster, in goal, and frontman Shane Long also offered experience by the bucket-load. But Saints’ other six starters had very little senior experience between them. Shrewsbury-born Harry Lewis was Saints' substitute goalkeeper.

The visitors, so keen to start well, understandably struggled with the pace early on.

Pennington’s first touch in defence was uncertain and led to Saints’ left-back Jake Vokins testing Matija Sarkic with a rising drive.

Highly-rated home midfielder Ibrahima Diallo flashed wide from distance after a neat give-and-go as the Premier League side played around Salop.

Golbourne in particular, making a rare start, was pulled inside out by lively Frenchman Yan Valery on the Saints right.

Debutant Chapman showed a glimpse of his ability with nice footwork and a low curled shot at Forster but, shortly after inside 18 minutes, Shrews fell behind - with a hint of controversy.

A high ball caused confusion in the Town defence. Golbourne missed his clearance and Caleb Watts took the ball down on his shoulder - or arm as Town appealed - and the ball fell to N’Lundulu who took his time to work some room and sent in a low angled finish across Sarkic via a deflection.

Town, in particular Sarkic, led the appeals. VAR officials took their time to inform referee Simon Hooper and the goal was given.

Set-piece dangerman Ward-Prowse whipped a delicious free-kick over the far post as Town sought to find their feet.

The visitors were giving as good as they got in midfield areas, despite being outnumbered, with an energetic front three offering Saints little time to maneuver and Town clicked into gear on half hour. The excellent Josh Vela pressed to win the ball and lashed over from just outside the box.

Udoh released Whalley with a clever pass and Town’s No.7 curled a clever effort just over Forster’s far post with the goalkeeper scrambling.

A few minutes later the same man, from an almost identical position after Vela’s delightful switch, drew a fine stop from Forster with another curled strike.

Saints were intent on playing it out from Forster. Shrews grew in confidence. The lively Chapman’s cross was deflected narrowly wide of the back post before a fine Vela run down the flank typified the new-found belief.

Pennington recovered well at the other end just before the break to ensure Long’s half-volley flew behind.

The visitors began the second period with confidence, popping the ball around between blue and amber shirts as the incessant rain worsened.

Town got away with one as left-back Vokins was worked into the box and his low cross was parried into the middle of the box by Sarkic, fortunately to a blue and amber shirt.

Shrews kept threatening a break, if the final ball was right, and Ollie Norburn released the pacy Chapman just before the hour and the Blackburn loanee could only slice wide at the near post.

Wilbraham and Longwell sent on pacy Shilow Tracey for Chapman but the hosts tightened their grip and began to dominate.

Sarkic was tested again as a corner was helped on to Stephens, barely five yards out, whose header was superbly saved from point-blank range.

The hosts were then an inch from the killer second as Sarkic saved from Watts before the ball hit Pierre and almost crossed the line before the defender’s fine clearance.

Shrews rolled the dice as fit-again duo Rekeil Pyke and Ryan Sears were introduced from the bench for their first action since September before FA Cup king Jason Cummings was introduced late on.

A couple of set-pieces asked questions as Pierre and Pennington were just unable to connect with decisive headers.

Town may have been out on their feet but they defended heroically to stay in the tie, Pierre clearing off the line for a second time, to deny sub Che Adams.

But tired Salop could hold out for no longer and Ward-Prowse dispatched a 22-yard free-kick into the bottom corner via Sarkic’s fingertips to seal the tie on a night Town did themselves proud.

Teams

Southampton (4-2-2-2):

Forster; Valery, Stephens, Bednarek, Vokins; Diallo, Ward-Prowse ©, Watts (Jankewitz, 83), Chauke (Armstrong, 79); Long (Adams, 79), N’Lundulu.

Subs not used: Lewis (gk), Walker-Peters, Bertrand, Ferry, Finnigan, Tchaptchet.

Shrewsbury Town (5-3-2):

Sarkic; Pennington (Cummings, 84), Williams, Ebanks-Landell, Pierre, Golbourne (Sears, 74); Vela, Norburn © (Edwards, 74), Chapman (Tracey, 62); Whalley, Udoh (Pyke, 73).

Subs not used: Burgoyne (gk). Goss, Pyke, Clarke, Daniels.

Referee: Simon Hooper

Attendance: Zero