Southampton v Lincoln City Live Commentary & Result, 20/12/22, League Cup

That's all from us, we hope you enjoyed the game. Until the next one, goodbye!

That's Saints through to the last eight, where they'll join fellow Premier League sides Leicester City, Newcastle United and Wolves, who all won their corresponding fixtures. They're yet to know who they will play next but will take some confidence from this game, and know that a decent cup run could well help spark a much-needed uptick in their Premier League form. The EFL Cup journey ends here for Lincoln, but the Imps can certainly be pleased with how they took that game to their top-flight opponents, particularly in the first half.

Despite not getting on the scoresheet, Mohammed Elyounoussi was still a crucial cog for Southampton, and he got the assist for Adams' winner. He had four shots from five touches in the box, and created a game-high four chances, one of which was that acrobatic assist. He also managed to win eight of his 18 duels, four of which came in the air, and won possession seven times, succeeding in gaining free-kicks on three occasions. Saint.

It's all over, and that scruffy 74th minute strike by Che Adams proves to be the difference for Saints, who advance into the last eight at Lincoln's expense. The Imps tried their hardest to find a winner of their own, with Bazunu keeping out decent efforts from Vernam and Sanders, but Southampton's experience and quality came to the fore, particularly through their brace-bagging frontman. It could have been more late on too, with Edozie and Adams both squandering chances that seemed easier to score, but all in all, a decent performance from the Saints in their first game back from the World Cup was enough to see them through to the fifth round.

90' + 5' FULL-TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 2-1 LINCOLN CITY.

90' + 4' SAVED!!! Another horrendous miss by the Saints!! It's Adams' turn to run through on goal untouched, and he has Elyounoussi to his right. Rather than passing though, he dummies to shoot a total of four times, and despite appearing to have been beaten each time, Rushworth doesn't give up and scrambles back to parry his eventual shot behind!

P. O'Connor

Yellow Card

90' + 3' O'Connor is shown a yellow card by the referee, likely for dissent, as just like the rest of his team-mates, he was nowhere to been seen during that chance.

90' + 2' WIDE!!! How did he miss?? A long ball puts Elyounoussi through on goal and completely unmarked. In acres of space and with just as much time to shoot, he squares the ball left to the arriving Edozie, who somehow puts the ball wide with the goal at his mercy! That's a contender for miss of the season, if not the century, and it'll be a while before the 19-year-old gets over that one!

90' + 1' We're into four minutes of added time, and can Lincoln use these last few moments to find an equaliser here?

90' SAVED!!! Hopper's goalward header is met by a defensive one to clear by Lyanco, and the ball comes to Sanders. A good 30 yards from goal, the midfielder looks to arc a shot into the top corner, and Bazunu sees the ball very late before tipping it away from the net at full stretch!

88' Saints look to pull off a fast break as Adams turns towards goal on halfway, but his pass wide to an unmarked Edozie is overhit, and the ball rolls into touch.

J. Garrick

J. Walsh

86' Walsh is the latest Lincoln player withdrawn, and Jordon Garrick will come on to see out the game for the Imps.

85' Edozie does brilliantly to beat two defenders as he dribbles his way into the box, and he pulls the ball back for Adams. He again looks for Armstrong, but the ball is once again cut out and cleared by Lincoln!

84' OVER!!! Sanders keeps the ball well in midfield before finding Virtue-Thick. He lays it off to Bishop, whose first-time effort curls just over the top of the bar!

83' A long free-kick from inside Lincoln's half is hit towards the box, but Jackson, forward from the back, can't connect with his header properly and the ball bounces wide.

82' Adams races forward for Saints and drops a shoulder before looking to feed Armstrong in the box, but Roughan is back to scythe the ball way with an impressive clearance.

80' Only Southampton's Adams has been involved in more EFL Cup goals this season than Lincoln's Teddy Bishop, who has a goal and three assists to his name after three appearances.

78' CHANCE!!! Vernam races into space once more and squares the ball across the face of goal. Hopper and Roughan both chase but are unable to connect, however the latter does win his side a corner!

M. Djenepo

T. Walcott

77' Walcott was injured during the build-up to that goal, and the veteran substitute is sadly forced off, to be replaced by Moussa Djenepo.

E. Bishop

D. Mândroiu

76' Mandroiu comes off next for Lincoln, and is replaced in attack by Teddy Bishop.

C. Adams

Goal

74' GOOOOAAAALLL!!! The Saints hit the front!! Walcott's cross from the right is kept alive acrobatically, and likely accidentally, by Elyounoussi, whose ball ricochets off Jackson and into the path of Adams, who stabs it home for his second goal of the match! 2-1 to Saints, and despite being in scrappy circumstances, it's a goal that puts them a quarter of an hour away from the EFL Cup quarter-finals!

T. Hopper

B. House

71' House is the first player brought off for Lincoln, and he's replaced up front by Tom Hopper.

71' OVER!!! Edozie has been bright since coming on, and drifts inside to find Armstrong. He turns and shoots from the edge of the box, and the ball clips the top of the crossbar on its way over!

70' OVER!!! Saints work the ball well to the right and Maitland-Niles crosses into the area. It's right onto the head of Elyounoussi, but the Norwegian sends his effort over the crossbar!

68' Ward-Prowse has created four total chances in this game, more than any other player on either team. Vision.

66' Stuart Armstrong drifts across the edge of the box to link up with Ward-Prowse, who clips a teasing cross to the back post, but it's claimed well in the air by Lincoln keeper Rushworth!

65' Those three changes should hopefully spark some life into Saints' attack, which after improving significantly in the first half, has been somewhat blunt so far in the second.

S. Edozie

K. Walker-Peters

63' Walker-Peters also comes off, with Samuel Edozie taking his place for Saints.

S. Armstrong

M. Salisu

63' Salisu also comes off, with the Ghana international replaced by Stuart Armstrong.

T. Walcott

A. Armstrong

62' Saints make a triple-change on the hour, the first of which sees Adam Armstrong withdrawn for Theo Walcott.

60' Vernam comes forward again and feeds House to his right, but his ball forward for Poole is underhit and Salisu cleans up for Southampton.

58' OVER!!! Vernam surges forward from the right-hand side, stepping inside three defenders in the process. He tries his luck from 22 yards, but can only send the shot over the bar!!

56' Perraud connects with a long pass down the left as he volleys inside for Armstrong, but he's dispossessed on the turn and the Imps race away on the counter!

54' A Lincoln free-kick is floated into the box, but a good header from Salisu alleviates the danger as he knocks it away from the goalmouth.

52' Elyounoussi cuts inside from the left wing and curls a shot towards goal, but it's an easy one for Rushworth to deal with and the Lincoln keeper does so.

50' Lincoln's early first-half goal certainly caught Saints by surprise, and had them reeling for a short period. No such early shocks in the second half for the hosts though, who are slowly gaining full control of the ball in this game.

48' WIDE!!! What a goal that would've been! A looped clearance from O'Connor is recovered by Lyanco, who smashes a half-volley from 20 yards which only just skews wide of the post!

46' Lincoln resume proceedings, and we're back up and running at St. Mary's.

D. Ćaleta-Car

A. Bella-Kotchap

46' The Saints make one half-time change, as Bella-Kotchap comes off for Duje Caleta-Car in defence.

The teams return for the second half, and can Southampton's Premier League quality get them over the line against the Imps?

Adams' movement and build-up play was crucial to getting Saints back on the board, and the Scotland striker's equaliser was one of three shots he took, with two on target. He was in the thick of the action throughout, contesting 10 duels with six of these coming aerially, as well as winning possession five times, including for two free-kicks.

The first half ends with the teams level, and there's not much else to separate them, either. The Imps opened the scoring after mere seconds, with Saints goalkeeper Bazunu putting O'Connor's header into his own net. Southampton slowly grew back into the game though, and Adams finished off a brilliant move to head in the equaliser. Both sides have had chances since, and it's all to play for going into the second half!

45' + 3' HALF-TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 1-1 LINCOLN CITY.

45' + 2' Perraud wins a corner which is whipped into the box by Ward-Prowse, and Lyanco, arriving at the back post, sends a wild header over the crossbar!

45' We'll play two minutes of added time to close out the first half.

44' That saved shot from Vernam was Lincoln's first effort on goal since the fifth minute, having opened the scoring after just two in this first half.

42' SAVED!!! A beauty of a move by Lincoln sees House release Virtue-Thick down the right. He squares it to Vernam, who shoots first-time, and his low effort is stopped and eventually held thanks to great reflexes by Bazunu!

40' Adams' equaliser means he's now scored four EFL Cup goals in his last three appearances in the competition.

38' Virtue-Thick steps away from Perraud down the right, but is caught by a late lunge from the Saints left back, who is arguably lucky to avoid a card there!

36' Lincoln have been eliminated from their last 12 League Cup ties against top-flight opponents, last winning – over two legs – against Notts County in 1981-82.

34' Perraud steps inside to collect a loose ball and looks for Armstrong to his left, but the striker is flagged for offside and Lincoln win the free-kick.

32' Southampton are looking to reach the League Cup quarter-final for the first time since 2016-17, the last year in which they reached the final, before losing to Manchester United.

30' Bella-Kotchap's cross-field pass is taken well by Elyounoussi, who steps inside his defender, but the ball is snatched upon by Rushworth before he can pull the trigger!

29' A free-kick into the Lincoln box is headed back across goal by Bella-Kotchap. Elyounoussi brings it down and tees up Perraud, but his first-time shot is blocked clear!

28' Ward-Prowse links up with Armstrong in the box, who floats the ball over the top for Perraud to connect with, but a strong defensive header from O'Connor sends the ball away!

26' Salisu fires a long ball from deep and Adams looks to meet it on the volley, but he can't catch the ball properly as it loops over his shoulder and Rushworth collects.

M. Elyounoussi

Assist

25' That was a lovely ball in from Elyounoussi, and Adams met it with a superb header that left Rushworth with no chance!

C. Adams

Goal

25' GOOOOAAAALLL!!!! It's a really well-worked Saints equaliser!!! Salisu's pass splits the lines of Lincoln's defence, and Adams flicks the ball onto Maitland-Niles. He plays it wide to Elyounoussi, who dinks a cross into the box, and Adams arrives to deftly head into the far corner! 1-1, and Southampton have parity once again!

23' SAVED!!! Lincoln's defence prevents a certain goal! Elyounoussi drops his shoulder and threads a beauty of a throughball forward for Armstrong. He unselfishly lays it off to Adams, whose low shot is blocked wide by the outstretched leg of Rushworth!

21' Lincoln are looking to reach an EFL Cup quarter-final for the first time – this is just their second appearance in the fourth round, previously losing to Derby via a replay in 1967-68

19' Ward-Prowse whips a cross in towards Adams, but Jackson beats him in the crowded box to head it away for the Imps.

17' WIDE! Perraud's cross is headed half-clear, but Elyounoussi picks up the pieces and drills a low shot just wide of the left-hand post from the edge of the box!

15' Southampton have progressed from both of their EFL Cup ties against Lincoln, doing so in the 1988-89 second round and 1996-97 third round.

13' Southampton race up the other end and Armstrong beats his man, but his teasing cross into the centre of the box is easily claimed by Rushworth.

12' CHANCE!!! Salisu is beaten all ends up by House, who releases Virtue-Thick down the right flank. He drills the ball across goal from the byline, but a block by Bella-Kotchap takes the ball away from Vernam, and Lyanco hoofs it clear!

10' Armstrong looks to latch onto a long ball down the left channel and does so, flicking the ball inside, but he's unable to retain possession after being shrugged off the ball by O'Connor.

8' Lincoln have avoided defeat in their last six EFL Cup matches when scoring the opening goal, dating back to August 2019 against Everton, where they lost 4-2 at home.

6' WIDE!!! Bella-Kotchap makes a clean tackle but can't keep possession, and Mandroiu picks the ball up. He steps inside and shoots for goal, but a slight deflection sees the ball skew wide of the near post!

4' Lincoln have now scored five first-half goals in their four EFL Cup games, no team has scored more in the competition so far this season.

G. Bazunu

Own Goal

2' GOOOOOAAAALLLL!!!!! What a start for the Imps! They win an early corner, and a scramble in the box sees Maitland-Niles miscue a clearance, which loops towards the goal, and Bazunu, under pressure from O'Connor, flaps at the ball but can't keep it out! We've got a cupset underway already, as the visitors from League One lead 1-0!

1' Lincoln kick us off, and the first post-World Cup game at St. Mary's is underway!

The teams head out onto the pitch, and we're just moments away from kick-off now!

Lincoln have been the entertainers so far in the EFL Cup, scoring eight times in their three games. Goals from Matthew Virtue-Thick and Ben House put them 2-0 up against Bristol City inside 15 minutes of their third-round tie, and the pair start again in this game, in central midfield and at centre forward respectively.

Early World Cup exits for Germany and Ghana respectively has given Armel Bella-Kotchap and Mohammed Salisu enough time to recover, recuperate, and rejoin their teammates ahead of this match, and the two will join Lyanco in the Saints’ back three for just the second game in charge for new boss Nathan Jones.

LINCOLN CITY SUBS: Jordan Wright, Tashan Oakley-Boothe, Tom Hopper, Teddy Bishop, Jordon Garrick, Jamie Robson, Lasse Sorensen, Timothy Eyoma.

LINCOLN CITY (3-4-3): Carl Rushworth; Joe Walsh, Adam Jackson, Paudie O’Connor; Regan Poole, Matthew Virtue-Thick, Max Sanders, Sean Roughan; Charles Vernam, Ben House, Daniel Mandroiu.

SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: Alex McCarthy, Duje Caleta-Car, Joe Aribo, Stuart Armstrong, Sekou Mara, Moussa Djenepo, Samuel Edozie, Ibrahima Diallo, Theo Walcott.

SOUTHAMPTON (5-3-2): Gavin Bazunu; Kyle Walker-Peters, Armel Bella Kotchap, Lyanco, Mohammed Salisu, Romain Perraud; Mohammed Elyounoussi, James Ward-Prowse, Ainsley Maitland-Niles; Adam Armstrong, Che Adams.

Lincoln also required penalties to get past Barrow in the second round, a win which came either side of 3-0 and 3-1 triumphs over Doncaster and Championship side Bristol City respectively.

The hosts, who sit second bottom of the Premier League table, breezed past Cambridge in the second round of the EFL Cup, but needed a 6-5 penalty shoot-out victory over Sheffield Wednesday to reach this stage of the competition.

Hello, and welcome to this fixture in the fourth round of the EFL Cup, as Premier League side Southampton take on League One's Lincoln City.

Southampton v Lincoln City Live Commentary, 21/12/22

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