Saints progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win over Ipswich at St. Mary's.

A stunning first half goal from Wayne Thomas put the hosts on their way and a second added by substitute Michail Antonio from close range appeared to have wrapped up the win, but a nervous finish ensued when Pablo Counago rescued a goal for Town prior to five minutes of stoppage time added on.

A resolute Saints saw the match out despite heavy pressure from the visitors in the additional time.

Saints: Davis, Thomas, Perry, Jaidi, Mills, Lallana, James (Gillett 70), Wotton (Lancashire 87), Holmes, Lambert, Barnard (Antonio 70). Subs (not used): Bialkowski, Harding, Papa Waigo, Saganowski.

Ipswich: Lee-Barrett, Rosenior, McAuley, Delaney, Peters, Edwards (Martin 65), Leadbitter, Garvan, Colback, Walters (Counago 46), John (Priskin 58). Subs (not used): McCloughlin, Wright, Balkestein, Norris.

Referee: Mr. A. Hall (W. Midlands)

Attendance: 20,446 (including 3,341 away)

Lee Barnard made his debut up front alongside Rickie Lambert having only joined the Club yesterday from Southend United.

Ipswich loanee Stern John made his first return to St. Mary's after departing the south coast in the summer.

A bright start from both teams appeared as though there was little to choose between the two sides despite the opponents plying their trade in a higher division.

Town had the best of the early chances however, as Kelvin Davis had to deny Grant Leadbitter's smartly taken free-kick with his feet, before the Saints stopper was then on hand to keep out Walters' flick from another Leadbitter set piece.

In the tenth minute Saints registered their first shot on target at the end of a flowing move involving Holmes, Wotton and Lallana. The latter's flick found Barnard inside the box and the striker turned and struck a firm shot which Lee-Barret in the Ipswich goal held comfortably.

Moments later, Lallana tried his luck from just outside of the area with a low drive which was collected once more by the Blues' 'keeper.

Opposite number Davis, was then alert to scramble across and one handedly keep out Damien Delaney's header from Leadbitter's corner on the right.

The competitive nature of the game continued as a midfield battle ensued with both sides out to keep the ball for long periods in open play.

That all changed just past the half hour mark as Saints shot into the lead with a stunning goal from an unlikely source. From an Ipswich clearance the ball spilled out on to the right hand side where Wayne Thomas collected the ball, urged by the crowd to shoot despite the distance, the right back hit a venomous strike into the top corner to break the deadlock.

Town remained a threat on the break with John and Leadbitter looking capable of conjuring something out of nothing, but the Saints backline looked untroubled as the half came to a close.

Half Time: Saints 1-0 Ipswich

Roy Keane made a switch at the break with Pablo Counago replacing Jon Walters in attack.

The substitute thought he had given his side the lead within seconds of his arrival as the visitors had the ball in the back of Davis' net. A throw in from Jaime Peters from the left, looped high into the area and bounced over the Saints stopper and into the back of the net. Counago turned to celebrate thinking he had got a touch on the throw, but the referee deemed otherwise as the hosts maintained their lead.

Alan Pardew's men went in search of a second, and it was Thomas who was denied a second on 55 minutes as he struck a firm low shot from close range which Lee-Barrett did well to turn past the post for a Saints corner.

The Blues made the second change to their front line before the hour mark as Stern John received a mixed ovation as he left the pitch to be replaced by Tamas Priskin.

Saints went close again on 63 as Holmes' fine cross from the left byline was taken off Lallana's head from close range by Delaney.

Radhi Jaidi wasn't far away moments later either as he powerfully headed Lallana's dinked cross over the bar from four yards.

The first switch from the Saints dugout saw Michail Antonio and Simon Gillett come on for Lee Barnard and Lloyd James on 70 minutes as Saints kept up the pressure in the final third.

It paid off when a foul on Rickie Lambert on 72 minutes lined up another opportunity for the striker to add to his deadly collection of set piece strikes this season.

The forward's goalbound shot was deflected which saw Lee-Barrett only able to parry the ball away with his feet, straight into the path of substitute Antonio who had the easiest of tasks to knock the ball into the net from close range for his second goal in as many games sending St. Mary's into raptures.

Antonio and Gillett showed plenty of endeavour to keep the flow of the game moving as free as possible, with a third Saints goal looking more likely than a response from the Tractorboys.

Lambert almost delivered an exquisite third which would most certainly have put the icing on the cake as he attempted a dipping volley from over 35 yards out which landed on the roof of the net.

Oliver Lancashire replaced Paul Wotton inside the last five minutes of the ninety, but just as all seemed a formality, the visitors hit back with a neat finish from Counago who slipped the ball past Davis from Garvan's pass.

An additional five minutes were then displayed which signalled a nervous and frantic end to the game, but Saints weathered the storm to progress in the competition.

Full Time: Saints 2-1 Ipswich