Bristol Rovers v Southampton (From Andover Advertiser)

Bristol Rovers v Southampton

9:40pm Friday 6th November 2009

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ALAN Pardew has made three changes for tonight's FA Cup first round tie.

Preston North End do not want defender Neal Trotman to be cup-tied so he has been replaced by Wayne Thomas.

Paul Wotton and Papa Waigo have been replaced by Michail Antonio and David Connolly, who makes his first Saints start tonight.

Key incidents

Final whistle Saints have avenged their 3-2 defeat against Rovers at St Mary's with a thrilling win of their own tonight. Too little too late for Rovers and a great result for Saints, the first team to go into Sunday's second round draw. Thanks for logging on.

90 2-3. An injury time penalty by makeshift left back Jeff Hughes has set up a grandstand finish. Hughes, who normally plays on the left wing, sent Kelvin Davis the wrong way after Gobern was penalised for a foul on Jo Kuffour.

83 Brilliant work from Kelvin Davis has retained Saints's two-goal lead. A firm right hand as he dived to stop an Andy Williams cross-shot saw the ball fall into the path of Darryl Duffy. But with the goal at his mercy, the sub volleyed the rebound wide with his left foot from 12 yards out

78 With Oscar Gobern already on for Dan Harding, Alan Pardew has made a double substitution. Men of the match Michail Antonio and David Connolly have both gone off to be replaced by Jo Mills and Paul Wotton. Meanwhile, Radhi Jaidi's name has gone into referee Keith Hill's book

73 1-3. With the rain lashing down (we feel for Echo photographer Stuart Martin, we really do!), Rovers substitute Daryl Duffy has pulled one back, tapping in Jo Kuffour's cross at the far post. Kelvin Davis then got his finger tips to a strike from another Rovers sub, Ben Swallow.

70 3-0!Another incisive run down the right by Michail Antonio was followed by a powerful 12-yard drive that gave Rhys Evans in the Rovers goal no chance. Antonio's pace has been a massive threat since half time and the home fans do not like it. 'What a load of rubbish!' they sing.

68 2-0! Immediately after a Bristol Rovers double substitution, Michail Anotnio made significant ground down the right and his measured, slide-rule cross was driven low and hard across goal into the far corner by that man David Connolly

66Saints lead 1-0! David Connolly has rewarded Alan Pardew for his starting place with his third goal for the club. Adam Lallana's cross from the left was tapped in by the former West Ham striker from inside the six-yard box in front of the ecstatic away support in the South Stand

61 Rickie Lambert came close to breaking the deadlock with an outstanding free kick that shaved the right hand upright in front of the 1457 Saints fans that have made the trip (the official attendance is 6447) From our vantage point it looked to be destine for the top corner but there was not quite enough bend on it. Great effort though

HALF TIME Saints 0-0 Bristol Rovers

43 Dan Harding has been booked for a tug on Jo Kuffour

42Rickie Lambert's night began with a first-minute air shot and he has again been snuffed out by former teammate Steve Elliott

40 Until now all the fireworks in Bristol tonight had been off the pitch, but Dan Harding has just kept Saints level with a header off the line following a deflected cross.

26 Saints' best chance, a Dean Hammond header from an excellent Michail Antonio cross, was put over the bar by the former Brighton midfielder. Moments later, David Connolly volleyed wide under pressure.

19Rovers are playing with former AFC Bournemouth striker Jo Kuffour as a lone front man tonight but it was Chris Lines who broke from midfield with a run that took him past Lloyd James and Wayne Thomas to test Kelvin Davis on this occasion. James did just enough.

4min Andy Williams, the man who broke Saints' hearts with his last-minute winner at St Mary's earlier this season, stung Kelvin Davis's palms on what is a cold night in Bristol with a powerful drive from the right flank

7.45pm After a warm reception for former Bristol Rovers striker Rickie Lambert and an immaculate minute's silence to kick off Remembrance weekend, we are underway. Saints are playing from left to right

Saints

Davis, James, Jaidi, Thomas, Harding; Hammond, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Antonio, Lambert, Connolly.
Subs: Bialkowski, Perry, Mills, Gobern, Holmes, Wotton, Waigo

Bristol Rovers

Evans, Regan, Anthony, Elliott, Hughes, Williams, Wright, Campbell, Blizzard, Lines, Kuffour.
Subs: Holmes (GK), Reece, Duffy, Hunt, Clough, Swallow, Cooper

Referee: Mr. Keith Hill

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