Alan Pardew will take a large amount of pride from leading Saints out at Wembley next month.

Speaking after the aggregate win over MK Dons in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Area Final to Saints Player, the manager was delighted to have earned the right of a day out in North London, in front of one of the largest attendances ever recorded in the competition.

"I will be very proud because this is a big Club," he beamed. "It was a special night tonight, I didn't think a night like this would come so soon in the season, you only get that sort of atmosphere at a play off game or a big FA Cup game which we have on Saturday.

"It was nice to get it in early, it was a good feeling, the fans were brilliant for us and they deserve their day out at Wembley, as do the players. They worked incredibly hard in this competition, never mind about any other competition, to get to the final. We're in three competitions and we are trying to achieve something in all of them.

"I just thought it would be good for the spirit of everyone that we did well in the Cups, and we've only been beaten in one Cup game which was Birmingham and I think they were quite fortunate that night. We have given a really good account of ourselves, we have slipped in the League just recently with draws which is really disappointing as we need to get back on that road, but we still have another big cup game to play this week. It's a huge game for this county and for Southampton people and we want to win it."

The performance will stand his squad in good stead for future knock out competitions, but Pardew still craves for a balance between success in the cup and the league.

"We had a really fast start and that was important, this really was a trial run for what the play-offs are like and we have to work really hard to get in those play-offs now. We got good experience tonight for those two legged games if they come along.

"Of course the league is the only way you can grow as a Club, we know that and we are very focused on the league, but we have a squad big enough to cope with the Cups.

"My job is to try and get the right balance between the League campaign and these Cup campaigns, unfortunately as I say in the league it has slipped up a little bit with draws rather than defeats. It's very frustrating, but we will put that right soon.

"The main focus in the dressing room tonight was to give the fans something here tonight. We've managed to do that tonight so I am pleased for them, and pleased for the Owner and Chairman because they deserve it. They have put a lot of investment in and we have got a little reward in terms of this Cup, and who knows we might have a bigger one around the corner."