Saints can count themselves unlucky to be out of the Carling Cup after dominating Premier League Birmingham City for large parts of a game that was marred by injury to Graeme Murty...

Saints: Davis, Murty (Gillett, 66), Perry, Thomas, Harding, James, Wotton (Schneiderlin, 81), Mellis, Lallana, Saganowski (Paterson, 83), Lambert. Subs: Bialkowski,Lancashire, Thomson,Gobern.

Birmingham City: Taylor, Parnaby, Espinoza, Carr, Larsson (O'Connor, 60), Carsley, McSheffrey, Bowyer, Benitez, Queudrue, O'Shea (McFadden, 46). Subs: Hart, Ferguson, Johnson

Referee: Mr P. Crossley

Attendence: 11,753 (631 Away)

Alan Pardew's side got off the game off to a solid start, with Wayne Thomas getting in front of Stuart Parnaby at the back post on three minutes and heading Adam Lallana's curling free-kick in on goal.

Lloyd James and Paul Wotton filled both the central midfield positions for the hosts, with Jacob Mellis on the right, Lallana out wide on the left, and Saganowski and Lambert up front.

For the visitors, Alex McLeish named just five subs out a possible seven, with injuries to ex-Saints Gregory Vignal and Kevin Phillips, amongst others, giving the Scotsman significantly less options to choose from.

Alan Pardew's men won two quick corners on each side of the pitch in the tenth minute as first Saganowski's cross was blocked and then Maik Taylor palmed Lallana's delivery wide with Lambert closing in.

The fans in the Northam were up on their feet in the 15th minute as Lambert set up Lloyd James with a header into the box, and the Welshman swivelled well to shoot, but lifted the ball just inches over the bar.

Saganowski then went close a minute later after another neat through ball from the Saints No. 7 released Saganowski to go one on one with Taylor, with the former-Saint coming off best.

With the hosts still bossing the game, Saints worked the ball across the box superbly with Lambert, Lallana, Harding and finally Mellis all taking a touch before the Chelsea loanee fired wide of the right hand post.

Saganowski was also denied a shot on goal shortly after, but the referee failed to notice a foul on the Pole and Wotton's eventual attempt also flew wide of the mark.

Birmingham took everyone by surprise in the 28th minute as they hit the post with their first real shot of the game.

With Saints having dominated proceedings in the first half hour, the visitors suddenly arose from their slumber as Christian Benitez raced through the Southampton backline and smashed a fierce shot off the left post from out of nowhere.

Gary McSheffrey was the closest to the rebound, but was unable to react quickly enough and inadvertantly helped the ball over the Saints bar.

Play then switched ends once again, and Lallana passed to allow Lambert to unleash a strong shot which flew straight at the Blues' 'keeper.

'Normal' play was fully resumed three minutes later when Saints again went close to opening the scoring, as Lallana played a quick one-two with Mellis from a short corner and forced a good save from Taylor with a low shot at the near post.

With five minutes of the first half to go, a tackle by Paul Wotton was penalised as City were awarded a free-kick in a central position.

With three blue shirts huddled over the ball, Seb Larsson struck a dangerous in-swinging ball that had to be pushed away by Davis at full stretch.

The Saints captain was required again four minutes later, after good work from Stephen Carr, but it was a simple task to stop Larsson's weak effort.

With three minutes added on, Saganowski tried his luck again and did well to get in on goal but let himself down as he sprayed the ball wide.

Half-Time: Southampton 0-0 Birmingham City

With Birmingham in need of something new up front, McLeish sent on Scottish striker James McFadden after the break for O'Shea, but it was Alan Pardew's side that took the lead as Saints got the goal they had deserved in the first half just five minutes into the second.

After good work from Saganowski to disposess Larsson, the Pole then played the ball through and LALLANA had time and space on the left edge of box to curl a beautiful shot into the top right corner in the 50th minute.

Perry's name was jotted down in the referee's notebook on 54 minutes, before Davis dived across acrobatically to his left to prevent a goal-bound free-kick from McSheffrey crossing the line.

With their spirits now sky high, Saints put together a flowing move that saw Murty float in a high ball for Lambert that he narrowly put over the Blues bar.

Garry O'Connnor replaced Seb Larsson on the hour mark, as the visitor tried to up the tempo but were soon left kicking their heels as play was held up by a nasty injury.

After receiving attention on the pitch, defender Graeme Murty was stretchered off the field in the 65th minute after clashing whilst defending a corner, and Pardew responded by sending on Gillett to replace him, with Lloyd James dropping back.

Saints' next chance came from Paul Wotton, who unleashed a fierce shot that Taylor only just managed to hold at the near post on 68 minutes.

Captain Lee Carsley had a few Saints fans worried as he let a stong shot fly from 25 yards, but Kelvin Davis clearly had it covered.

Having lacked much creative spark against Brentford on Saturday, Saints were positively gleaming in the 75th minute as Lallana cut inside and slipped the ball across to Lambert on the right of the box.

The No 7 then fed a clever ball through to Mellis on the overlap and the youngster's shot was excellently saved by Taylor's legs.

Unfortunately, Alan Pardew's delight was short-lived as Birmingham netted twice in four minutes to take a 2-1 lead.

In a sweeping move up-field, Lee BOWYER drew his side level in the 76th minute with a left-footed shot after a low ball in from Ecuadorian debutant Benitez.

Birmingham's second came four minutes later, as Lee CARSLEY banged home a close range shot as a good cross in from Stuart Parnaby undid all of Saints' previous hard work.

Schneiderlin was intoduced for Paul Wotton with nine minutes of normal time remaining and Saganowski also made way for Matt Paterson shortly after.

Murty's suspected knee ligament damage played no small part in a massive seven minutes of injury time being added on by the fourth official, but the home side continued to toil valiantly as their progression in this year's cup began to look less and less likely.

A 97th minute corner saw Davis sprint up-field for one last hurrah, but it sadly came to nothing as the ball went long.

Having vanquished Birmingham City at this same point last year, the stage had been set for a repeat performance for the re-built Saints, but it should instead be seen as another positive step forward under Pardew's guidance.

Having kept possesion and played with pride against Premier League opponents for large parts of the match, Saints should take plenty of heart from this one as they journey to Stockport at the weekend.

Full-Time: Saints 1-2 Birmingham City