Le Tissier saves Southampton

MATTHEW LIE TISSIER broke his three month scoring famine to rescue Southampton from FA Cup humiliation against Crewe at The Dell last night.

But the Premiership strugglers will not relish the replay against the buoyant second division side at Gresty Road next Tuesday.

Dave Beasant made a terrible misjudgment in the fourth minute, to give the underdogs the lead and, it took almost a full hour and a catalogue of howling misses before Southampton drew level.

Le Tissier, stumbling through a nightmare season of lost form, finally located a dim spark in the 63rd minute, floating in a 20 yard goal.

Acrobatic saves from Mark Gayle denied the 1976 winners outright victory in a frantic finale that saw the English League side besieged. But Crewe had their own chances in the first hour to clinch a place in the last 16 after taking a sensational advantage.

Mark Rivers and Gareth Whalley combined on the left and when the cross was flighted in towards the lurking Dele Adebola and Rob Edwards, Beasant was completely deceived and left flat footed as the ball sailed inside his left hand post.

Edwards made a half hearted claim that he got a touch but it was Whalley, a Manchester born youth product, who was the centre of his team mates celebrations.

Beasant later atoned with a string of good saves but mounting panic infected Southamton's game as they missed chance after chance to repair the damage. Gayle used his legs to block when Le Tissier came clean through his defence, and again when Jim Magilton juggled a shooting opportunity.

And the more frustration crept into the home side, the more dangerous Crewe became with Beasant making a smart save from Whalley's 30 yard volley.

Beasant again made two great saves just before the hour, first blocking when Rivers was clean through. Then, after dashing out his area to back clear, he made a desperate dash back as Edwards lobbed the ball from 30 yards towards his empty goal, leaping to fist the ball out from off the line.

They were crucial saves as Le Tissier swooped on Maddison's pass on the edge of the area, slipped the ball on to his right foot and lofted a chip into the top right hand corner.