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Southampton 1-0 Watford: Saints in FA Cup fifth round
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In many ways this was what Mauricio Pellegrino had been building up to for a number of weeks.
As frustrating as it had been for Southampton’s supporters to go two months without witnessing a home victory, there had been an identity and a purpose at least to the way they had been playing.
They showed when they held Tottenham to a 1-1 draw in the Premier League last Sunday that there was reason to persevere with Pellegrino.
His leadership has been questioned in recent weeks, and rightly so at times, but the players have remained in support of him. They rewarded him with a win which has Saints into the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in four years.
Central defender Jack Stephens has been one of those players to publicly back the 46-year-old.
Indeed, Stephens was the man tasked with taking charge of Southampton’s back four following Virgil van Dijk’s departure to Liverpool.
How satisfying it must have felt for Pellegrino when he watched Stephens score from close range inside four minutes after Shane Long’s initial shot had been saved by Watford goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis.
The perfect start for the Saints boss but not for new Watford manager Javi Gracia, who became the club’s 11th manager in seven years following the sacking of Marco Silva.
He had talked a good game in the build-up, which almost lured you into believing he would arrive at St Mary’s with a plan to pin Saints back with the creative flair that Richarlison and Abdoulaye Doucoure can provide.
Whatever the plan, it didn’t work.
‘I hoped for a better performance,’ said Gracia. ‘The match didn’t start in the best way [when] we conceded an early goal and after that the match was complicated.
‘I feel sorry for the fans and I’ll try to do better next time because we need to do many things to improve.’
Indeed, it is difficult to be too critical given this was his first game in charge but the lack of accountability, particularly at the back, is an issue that needs addressing fairly swiftly.
Southampton nearly extended their lead when Long broke forward on the left side and played in a dangerous ball, which Karnezis left, but Cedric Soares couldn’t stretch far enough to score at the far post.
After 15 minutes, it became obvious that Southampton’s main out ball would be to the right to full-back Cedric.
Saints missed him dreadfully when he was injured because when he is fit he is able to overlap without much notice.
That was exactly what he did halfway into the the first half. His right-footed cross, however, wasn’t the most inviting for Long who headed over.
It was clear Jose Holebas, who at left-back was told to mark Cedric, was having a tough time. He was made to look rather foolish when the full-back raced past him again after being set free by Dusan Tadic.
This time the cross was much better but Long couldn’t get to the far post quick enough to finish off what was the best move of the first half.
The only downside to an otherwise fruitful first 45 minutes was that Ryan Bertrand went off with what looked to be an aggravation of a hamstring injury he had only recently recovered from.
Gracia made one change just after the break with Stefano Okaka coming on for Etienne Capoue.
A signal maybe that the new Watford boss can be ruthless when needed. But if he was looking for an immediate response he would be left waiting.
Pellegrino’s side continued to control the game, with Sofiane Boufal and Long both getting into good positions.
Unfortunately both lacked composure to put Saints further ahead.
Long was left particularly embarrassed when he attempted to chip goalkeeper Karnezis only for the ball to go nowhere near the Watford goal.
Pierre-Emile Hojberg came closest to doing that just past the hour mark when his rocket from 30 yards cannoned off Karnezis’s post.
Cedric was booked by referee Bobby Madley when he fouled Richarlison as the Brazilian tried to break forward as Watford started a rare attack.
The booking didn’t put off the Portugal international. He was the only one to react when Hojberg played in a cross from deep but thankfully for Watford’s defence the timing of his run was marginally off and he missed the ball.
He certainly came closer to scoring than Watford substitute Jerome Sinclair. Minutes after coming on for Daryl Janmaat, Sinclair somehow managed to find the touchline on the far side with a hopeless effort from outside the Southampton box.
With just under 10 minutes remaining, Pellegrino gave new £19million signing Guido Carrillo a chance to introduce himself to the Southampton fans. There wasn’t much he could do other than support Long in attack.
The striker may well get more of a chance against Brighton in the Premier League on Wednesday night.
Christian Kabasele came close to earning Watford a replay in stoppage time but the sight of his header dropping wide of Alex McCarthy’s goal was justified. In no way would it have been deserved.
For Pellegrino, this was a big relief.
‘We move next round and there are signs of progress in the dressing room because we are growing as a team,’ he said. ‘Little by little we have been playing much better and we deserved to win this game.’
For Gracia, he knows there is plenty to work on - not least to appease a fanbase that has all too quickly turned on the players.
Kabasele was one player who tried to explain himself to the away supporters at the end of the game. Jose Holebas had to hold him back before things were able to turn ugly.
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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 27/01/2018 20:12:55
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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article
Birthday boy Stephens sends Saints into round five
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The defender seized his moment very early in the game, reacting quickest to a loose ball at a set-piece in the fourth minute at St Mary’s.
Saints were superior for the most part, particularly in the first half, while Watford’s bumper contingent of travelling fans taunted their own team as Alex McCarthy remained a virtual spectator in the home goal.
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg thundered a shot against the crossbar in a bid to make the game safe, while Guido Carrillo was introduced to a hero’s welcome for his Saints debut eight minutes from time.
Mauricio Pellegrino made three changes to his starting line-up following an encouraging display against Tottenham Hotspur last time out in the Premier League.
Shane Long and Sofiane Boufal returned to the XI along with Steven Davis who captained the side, while Manolo Gabbiadini, James Ward-Prowse and Mario Lemina dropped to the bench.
Also among the substitutes was new recruit Carrillo, who would have to make do with a big warm coat over the top of his number nine shirt for the time being.
Saints wasted no time in getting on the front foot. Within four minutes of kick-off, from a free kick wide on the left, Ryan Bertrand delivered a cross Watford could not defend.
Long’s initial shot was saved on the line by goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis, but birthday boy Stephens was in the right place to slot home his first goal for the club, more than six years since making his Saints debut in the same competition.
Pellegrino’s men continued in the ascendancy as Long charged to the byeline and cut the ball back for Cédric, who was just unable to make contact when any sort of touch would have doubled the lead.
The lively Long, having recovered from a nasty collision with the hoardings from the same attack, then glanced a header wide from a Dušan Tadić cross.
At the other end, Watford failed to make the most of a free kick in prime shooting territory as Richarlison blazed over to spurn a rare opportunity to test McCarthy.
The early goal had done wonders for Saints’ confidence, showcased by one particular move involving a series of players who exchanged intricate passes on the edge of the box, before Boufal’s cross was headed to temporary safety.
The visitors may have had a new man at the helm, but no instant “bounce” was apparent, as head coach Javi Gracia was subjected to watching his team be outplayed for most of the first half.
Cédric, sensing a day of firsts, sent Karnezis stooping to his right to make a decent save as he set about breaking his own duck on Saints appearance number 80. Stephens took 39.
Pellegrino was dealt a setback five minutes before the interval as Bertrand hobbled off, replaced by Jérémy Pied at left-back. Hopefully no more than a precaution with key games against Brighton and West Brom looming.
It did nothing to stem the flow of pressure. Tadić’s wonderful close control attracted defenders and created a void for his best mate to fill, as Cédric charged on the outside and fired neither a shot or cross beyond the far post. In being caught after striking the ball, the Portuguese called for a penalty to no avail.
McCarthy, still a spectator up to this point, was finally called into action in the final seconds of the first half.
Only Richarlison will know whether he meant it, but his innocuous floated chip from a position wide on the left suddenly had the Saints keeper backpedalling and acrobatically tipping the ball over for a corner.
Gracia must have been underwhelmed by what he had seen, and reverted to the same formula that paid dividends for predecessor Marco Silva at Saints’ expense a fortnight ago: a half-time switch to 4-4-2.
On came Stefano Okaka and before long Roberto Pereyra, as the Hornets struggled to contain the swarming Saints.
Boufal wanted a penalty when bundled over in the box, while Long twice darted in behind the Watford defence but twice lacked conviction with his finishing.
In fairness to Gracia, his positive changes led to a far more competitive last half-hour, as the sea of yellow behind McCarthy’s goal gradually gained in belief.
Ben Watson and Cédric traded yellow cards for hefty challenges as the game took on more of a cup tie feel.
Højbjerg thought he had cemented Saints’ place in round five when he let fly with a rocket of a shot from 30 yards, but it thundered back off the crossbar to deny the Dane a goal to remember.
Still Watford had not carved out a notable chance, but Pellegrino was suitably concerned to sacrifice Boufal in favour of a supplementary defender as Maya Yoshida was introduced.
Saints knew a second goal would seal it. Cédric was inches away from reaching Pied’s teasing cross, before Richarlison flashed one across goal to spark nervous murmurs among the home supporters.
They were rising in anticipation when Long broke at pace and looked to feed Carrillo, but the substitute lost his footing at the vital moment.
Watford’s best chance was still to come. Okaka acrobatically volleyed over, before Christian Kabasele headed wide when unmarked in the dying seconds, as Saints held on to progress into the last 16.
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U18 Gallery: Leicester 1-3 Saints
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Check out all the best in-play images from today’s Under-18s Premier League action, as Saints came from behind to overpower their Leicester City counterparts.
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FA Cup round-up: Wigan dump West Ham out, Saints see off Watford and PL sides forced to replays
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FA Cup round-up: Wigan dump West Ham out, Saints see off Watford and PL sides forced to replays
Wigan dumped 10-man West Ham out of the FA Cup thanks to Will Grigg’s double in a 2-0 fourth-round win at the DW Stadium.
Grigg gave League One Wigan the lead in the first half with a header, before Arthur Masuaku was dismissed for spitting at Nick Powell in the second period.
Northern Ireland striker Grigg doubled the 2013 winners’ lead after the hour mark, meaning Paul Cook’s side knock out Premier League opposition for the second time having seen off Bournemouth in the third round.
Tottenham were fortunate to avoid a huge cup upset at Newport County, the League Two side 72 places below them, as Harry Kane grabbed a late equaliser in their 1-1 draw in Wales.
Kane scored his 30th goal of the season in all competitions eight minutes from time, cancelling out Padraig Amond’s opener after 38 minutes.
New Watford manager Javi Gracia got off to a losing start, going down 1-0 at Southampton having taken over from sacked Marco Silva.
Jack Stephens scored the only goal of the game in the fourth minute at St Mary’s after capitalising on Shane Long’s rebounded effort inside the box, meaning Saints reach the fifth round for only the second time in eight years.
Brighton avoided a replay against Middlesbrough as Glenn Murray’s stoppage-time goal gave them a 1-0 win at the Riverside, the second time the striker has saved the Seagulls late on after his late goal against Crystal Palace in the third round.
Premier League Huddersfield will have to go to a replay at Birmingham after they were pegged back 1-1 at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Steven Mounie gave David Wagner’s side the lead in the first half, but Lukas Jutkiewicz levelled nine minutes into the second half.
Swansea suffered the same fate at League One Notts County, despite going ahead through Luciano Narsingh’s strike on the stroke of half-time.
But former Premier League striker Jon Stead levelled things up for Kevin Nolan’s side after the hour mark, giving them a chance to reach the fifth round for only the second time this century.
League Two Coventry, the 1987 winners, won 1-0 at MK Dons through Maxime Biamou’s strike in the 64th minute, meaning they will be in the fifth round for the first time since 2009.
Millwall saved a replay with a late leveller in the 2-2 draw with Rochdale through Ben Simpson’s stoppage-time strike.
Rochdale looked to be heading into the fifth round as goals from Ian Henderson and Matt Done turned the game in their favour after Jed Wallace’s early penalty for Millwall, but Simpson turned up with a last-gasp equaliser at The Den.
Elsewhere, Hull beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 in an all-Championship affair at the KC, with goals from Jarrod Bowen and Nouha Dicko, while Sheffield United saw off Preston 1-0 thanks to Billy Sharp’s late penalty at Bramall Lane.
In Saturday’s early kick-off, Leicester were 5-1 winners at Peterborough thanks to doubles from both Kelechi Iheanacho and Fousseni Diabate on his Foxes debut.
Wilfred Ndidi scored the fifth for Leicester, while Andrew Hughes got the consolation for the League One side.
Newport host Tottenham (5.30pm) and Liverpool host West Brom (7.45pm) in Saturday’s late kick-offs in the FA Cup fourth round.
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U18 Highlights: Leicester 1-3 Saints
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Southampton 1 Watford 0: Javi Gracia reign begins with FA Cup defeat
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The chant of “We’ll sack who we want” quickly suggested that not much sleep has been lost among Watford fans over Marco Silva’s sacking, even if defeat and the concession of a goal within four minutes hardly amounted to an auspicious start for Javi Gracia.
Watford’s 11th manager in seven years might have had the mitigation of an injury list stretching to 10 players but this still amounted to a reality check for any expectation that he has simply inherited a squad ready to effortlessly consolidate themselves in the middle of the Premier League.
Elimination from the FA Cup might have some advantages for preparation and recovery in the final months of the league season but a run now of nine defeats in 13 matches must also raise doubts about the collective performance.
This were certainly no hint here of the managerial ‘bounce’ that a change can often inspire and, despite Gracia’s selection of a virtual full-strength team, Watford rarely looked like recovering from Jack Stephens’s early goal.
Southampton have been on a similarly poor run and, perhaps for different reasons, Mauricio Pellegrino also went with just about his best available starting XI to seal a first win against top-flight opposition since November.
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Southampton 1-0 Watford: Jack Stephens nets winner on birthday
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Jack Stephens marked his 24th birthday with his first goal for Southampton as they progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 home win over Watford.
The visitors’ new head coach Javi Gracia was overseeing his first fixture since his arrival to succeed the sacked Marco Silva, but their form remained unconvincing as they fell to a ninth loss in 13 games.
After Stephens’ early goal they played with the same lack of conviction that had contributed to Silva’s dismissal, finishing fortunate not to lose by a wider scoreline to a team also struggling, and who in that same period have won only twice.
If Watford had hoped to capitalise on the potential lift Gracia’s appointment could inspire, they ultimately wasted their finest chance shortly after kick-off when in the fourth minute they conceded the opening goal.
Nerves and a lack of confidence have undermined Southampton this season as much as the absence of a reliable goalscorer, so in taking such an early lead they quickly settled in front of what has been their restless support.
Ryan Bertrand found Shane Long from a left-wing free-kick after Daryl Janmaat had fouled Sofiane Boufal, and the forward struck towards goal, where goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis saved with his feet as far as Stephens, who then routinely poked the rebound in from close range.
The past 12 months had already been positive for Stephens, who amid an injury to Virgil van Dijk and then his recent transfer to Liverpool had established himself in central defence.
That his fortunes had improved while his club’s had declined may not have been lost on him, so it will have encouraged that they were thereafter largely in control.
Cedric Soares had come closest to doubling their lead when shooting just wide of the left post from close range before a brief exchange with Richarlison over an attempted block when, on the stroke of half-time, the Brazilian almost scored a brilliant but undeserved equaliser.
Seeing Alex McCarthy off of his line, the forward floated a delicate chip from 25 yards and towards the top-right corner, from where the back-pedalling goalkeeper did well to recover and tip over.
Long had twice more threatened when, shortly after the hour mark, the influential Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg went closer still when shooting against the underside of the crossbar with a powerful first-time effort, also from 25 yards.
That a second goal did not follow is something Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino hopes will be corrected by the arrival of new club-record £19million signing Guido Carrillo, the striker who made his debut from the bench in the 83rd minute.
He had too little time to make a significant impact, but it will have been refreshing for Pellegrino that, as the final whistle neared, it was the visiting supporters, after a late miss from Jerome Sinclair, and not the regulars at St Mary’s expressing their dissatisfaction.
"In the dressing room our feeling is we are growing as a team and little by little playing much better with and without the ball
"We could not kill the game earlier and suffered at the end because they were really dangerous with direct play and crosses but we deserved to win.
“We had in our mind the last game 15 days ago when we were winning 2-0 and Watford created lots of problems with direct play (and eventually drew 2-2).”
"It is hard because in the first match we did not get a good result but I am happy because I saw the support of a lot of our fans.
"I am very grateful and I feel sorry for them.
"I hoped for a better performance. We did not start in the best way and conceded an early goal.
"The only thing I am worried about is trying to get a good result.
“The match was tough but I have seen a reaction, I have seen the team want to get the goal and fight hard until the end.”
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A win is a win - a good clean sheet for #saintsfc - but a poor game in which Saints lost the initiative unnecessari… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/957298934938062849
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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 27/01/2018 21:13:09
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| RELIVE IT - Southampton V Watford: Gracia regime begins with defeat to early Stephens goalWATFORDOBS || Swans and Huddersfield face replays as Saints march past Javi Garcia’s WatfordTHE42 |
|| Birthday boy Jack Stephens keeps Saints marching onIRELANDCOM |
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| | Southampton 1-0 Watford: Match recapFANSIDEDSAINTSMARCHING |
| | Gracia’s press conference liveHERTFORDSHIREMERCURY |
|| Watford players argue with fans after Southampton edge through in FA CupTHEOBSERVER |
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FA Cup fourth-round review: Wigan beat 10-man West Ham, Watford lose on Gracia’s debut
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Lukas Jutkiewicz’s second-half equaliser earned Birmingham a deserved replay as their fourth-round FA Cup tie at Huddersfield ended 1-1.
Jutkiewicz arrowed home a low shot nine minutes into the second period after Steve Mounie’s emphatic header had given the Premier League side an interval lead.
Another bite at the cherry was just reward for Steve Cotterill’s Sky Bet Championship strugglers, who comfortably held their own against Huddersfield, who still look out of sorts after their recent top-flight struggles.
Jarrod Bowen scored one and set-up another as Hull progressed to the FA Cup fifth round with a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest at the KCOM Stadium.
Forest had dumped holders Arsenal out in round three, but looked a shadow of that side as they put in a lacklustre display following manager Aitor Karanka’s decision to make 10 changes from the side which won at high-flying Wolves last time out.
The hosts made eight changes of their own, but Bowen was one of those to keep his place and showed why he has been linked with several Premier League clubs in a classy display, grabbing his 12th goal of the season before assisting Nouha Dicko.
Apostolos Vellios struck two minutes from time but it was too little, too late for two-time winners Forest.
Glenn Murray came off the bench at Middlesbrough to fire Premier League Brighton into the FA Cup fifth round without knowing a great deal about it.
The striker, who was this week arrested along with his wife as part of a £1.1million tax investigation, was in the right place at the right time for defender George Friend to blast a 90th-minute clearance straight at him and look on as the ball flew into the Boro net.
It was tough luck on the Sky Bet Championship side, who had hit the post before the break through Adama Traore, although the much-changed visitors were significantly better after that to clinch a 1-0 win.
Ben Thompson’s 90th-minute equaliser salvaged a 2-2 draw for Millwall against League One strugglers Rochdale in what was a gripping tie in the fourth round of the FA Cup at The Den.
The Lions, quarter-finalists in last season’s competition, were on the brink of being the victims of a shock, with the Dale making light of the 32 league places between the two teams.
Matt Done’s goal put them agonisingly close to reaching the fifth round for just the third time in their history, but they will get a second crack in 10 days’ time.
Maxime Biamou’s second-half winner saw 1987 FA Cup winners Coventry cause a minor upset and progress into the fifth round with a 1-0 win over League One strugglers MK Dons.
Fast becoming one of this season’s memorable FA Cup stories, the Sky Blues saw off Premier League Stoke to make it to this stage and they were backed by almost 8,000 travelling supporters.
Jon Stead’s goal earned Notts County a deserved replay as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with Swansea in the FA Cup fourth round.
Luciano Narsingh’s strike on the stroke of half-time put the Premier League’s bottom club ahead but the underdogs responded with gusto and Stead scored the equaliser just after the hour mark.
With Swansea fighting to preserve their top flight status and Notts County battling for automatic promotion from League Two, a replay is probably what neither wanted but the two teams will do it all again at the Liberty Stadium next month.
Captain Billy Sharp sent Sheffield United into the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in three seasons, as they emerged 1-0 victors over Preston in a tight contest at Bramall Lane.
The Blades haven’t progressed past round four since their run to the semi-finals in the 2013/14 season but Sharp’s 80th-minute penalty saw them move into the next round with consecutive 1-0 wins.
Meanwhile, it was disappointment for the Lilywhites, as they came into the game with only one loss in their last seven FA cup ties away from home but instead suffered their first defeat to United in the FA Cup since 1936.
Jack Stephens marked his 24th birthday with his first goal for Southampton as they progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 home win over Watford.
The visitors’ new head coach Javi Gracia was overseeing his first fixture since his arrival to succeed the sacked Marco Silva, but their form remained unconvincing as they fell to a ninth loss in 13 games.
After Stephens’ early goal they played with the same lack of conviction that had contributed to Silva’s dismissal, finishing fortunate not to lose by a wider scoreline to a team also struggling, and who in that same period have won only twice.
Will Grigg struck twice as League One leaders Wigan stunned 10-man West Ham in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Grigg opened the scoring after just seven minutes at the DW Stadium and added a second from the spot as Latics, winners of the competition in 2013, triumphed 2-0.
West Ham had Arthur Masuaku sent off early in the second half following an off-the-ball incident involving Nick Powell. There were suggestions he may have spat at the Wigan player.
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Southampton vs. Watford - Football Match Report - January 27, 2018 - ESPN
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Jack Stephens marked his 24th birthday with his first goal for Southampton as they progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 home win over Watford.
The visitors’ new head coach Javi Gracia was overseeing his first fixture since his arrival to succeed the sacked Marco Silva, but their form remained unconvincing as they fell to a ninth loss in 13 games.
After Stephens’ early goal they played with the same lack of conviction that had contributed to Silva’s dismissal, finishing fortunate not to lose by a wider scoreline to a team also struggling, and who in that same period have won only twice.
If Watford had hoped to capitalise on the potential lift Gracia’s appointment could inspire, they ultimately wasted their finest chance shortly after kick-off when in the fourth minute they conceded the opening goal.
Nerves and a lack of confidence have undermined Southampton this season as much as the absence of a reliable goalscorer, so in taking such an early lead they quickly settled in front of what has been their restless support.
Ryan Bertrand found Shane Long from a left-wing free-kick after Daryl Janmaat had fouled Sofiane Boufal, and the forward struck towards goal, where goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis saved with his feet as far as Stephens, who then routinely poked the rebound in from close range.
The past 12 months had already been positive for Stephens, who amid an injury to Virgil van Dijk and then his recent transfer to Liverpool had established himself in central defence.
That his fortunes had improved while his club’s had declined may not have been lost on him, so it will have encouraged that they were thereafter largely in control.
Cedric Soares had come closest to doubling their lead when shooting just wide of the left post from close range before a brief exchange with Richarlison over an attempted block when, on the stroke of half-time, the Brazilian almost scored a brilliant but undeserved equaliser.
Seeing Alex McCarthy off of his line, the forward floated a delicate chip from 25 yards and towards the top-right corner, from where the back-pedalling goalkeeper did well to recover and tip over.
Long had twice more threatened when, shortly after the hour mark, the influential Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg went closer still when shooting against the underside of the crossbar with a powerful first-time effort, also from 25 yards.
That a second goal did not follow is something Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino hopes will be corrected by the arrival of new club-record £19million signing Guido Carrillo, the striker who made his debut from the bench in the 83rd minute.
He had too little time to make a significant impact, but it will have been refreshing for Pellegrino that, as the final whistle neared, it was the visiting supporters, after a late miss from Jerome Sinclair, and not the regulars at St Mary’s expressing their dissatisfaction.
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“Perfect day” for Saints’ Stephens
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Jack Stephens probably could not have asked for a better 24th birthday on Saturday after his early close-range strike edging Saints past Watford.
On an attritional afternoon at St Mary’s, the defender’s contributions in both penalty areas were key to Mauricio Pellegrino’s side progressing in the competition.
“It was perfect day for me and great of course to get on the scoresheet but the most important thing is the result for the team and for the club,” he said.
“We wanted to progress in this competition and we got the result that we needed. We’ve had the experience from the League Cup last year; if we could replicate that this time around in the FA Cup, it would be unbelievable.”
After conceding twice in the second half at Vicarage Road in the Premier League, the Saints defence withstood a late barrage from the Hornets this time around to earn a “pleasing” clean sheet.
“It was a similar game to the one at their place a couple of weeks ago; we played very well in the first half, they reacted by going more direct and we were ready for it.
“We dealed with the high balls a lot better today so it’s a really pleasing clean sheet for us. We haven’t earned many of late so to get one here and win was important.”
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Jack Stephens scored the only goal of the game – his first for the club – on his 24th birthday, sweeping home a low shot after Orestis Karnezis saved from Shane Long at a set-piece.
The result left the boss feeling satisfied not only to stay in the cup, but also to extend Saints’ recent upturn in results.
It’s now four games unbeaten ahead of crucial Premier League clashes against Brighton and West Brom in the next seven days.
“We are really pleased with many aspects,” Pellegrino said.
“One of them is that we had the opportunity to progress to the next round, and we did it.
“On the other hand, we are also growing as a team and we are improving – this is the feeling of the group.
“In the next week we have some important games, and I think it is the best moment for us to approach those games. For those reasons, we are happy.”
The boss added that he was unsure on the severity of the injury to Ryan Bertrand, who hobbled off five minutes before half time.
The defender will be assessed ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with Brighton at St Mary’s.
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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC
When one young fan made a birthday appeal for a #SaintsFC shirt at today’s game, @JrmyPied made sure his wish came… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/957362893904756736
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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC
Check out the best images from #SaintsFC’s 1-0 victory over #WatfordFC in the #EmiratesFACup:… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/957368177352216576
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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article
Video: Stephens on Watford win
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Watch as Jack Stephens looks back on a “perfect” birthday as his goal sends Saints marching on into the Emirates FA Cup fifth round at the expense of Watford.
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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article
Video: Pellegrino on cup success
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Watch our interview with Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino after his side advanced to the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup with a 1-0 home win over Watford.
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Sourced from Sky Sports article
Southampton still pushing for Spartak Moscow’s Quincy Promes
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Mauricio Pellegrino has confirmed Southampton are still “pushing” on a deal to bring Spartak Moscow winger Quincy Promes to St Mary’s.
Sky Sports reported last week that the Saints were interested in signing the 26-year-old, but Pellegrino says any potential move is still a number of days away meaning that negotiations could roll on right up to Deadline Day on January 31.
According to Sky sources, the player is keen on a move to England, but Spartak are holding out for a fee in the region of £30m.
Pellegrino said: “Quincy Promes is one of the players that we have been following for a few months. The market is too difficult, we wait until the end and keep pushing.”
Pellegrino was speaking after Southampton’s victory over Watford in the FA Cup which was secured by Jack Stephens, who marked his 24th birthday by scoring his first goal for the club.
As well as taking them into the FA Cup’s fifth round it eased some of the pressure that had been building on manager Pellegrino, and came as they demonstrated further signs of improvement, despite the win representing only their second since November.
“In the dressing room our feeling is we are growing as a team and little by little playing much better with and without the ball,” said the Argentinian.
"We could not kill the game earlier and suffered at the end because they were really dangerous with direct play and crosses but we deserved to win.
“We had in our mind the last game 15 days ago when we were winning 2-0 and Watford created lots of problems with direct play (and eventually drew 2-2).”
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