If 2021 has been a dismal year for Southampton in the Premier League, it may yet prove a glorious one in the FA Cup. The 1976 winners became the first semi-finalists as they stepped up their quest for only a second major trophy in their history.
Southampton’s lone piece of silverware came as a second-division side but they ended the Football League interest in this season’s FA Cup. Bournemouth were its last survivors but they were beaten by Moussa Djenepo and Nathan Redmond. Two underachievers in the top flight excelled against the Championship club.
It highlighted the twin sides of Saints. A rampant, dominant display scarcely helped explain their slide down the table.
“We said in January we want to focus on the FA Cup but maybe I should have said I want to focus on both things,” said a smiling Ralph Hasenhuttl, the Southampton manager.
His team only have four points from their last 12 league games, but they have as many FA Cup victories in that time. Former Premier League leaders may instead prosper in another competition and, after beating Arsenal and Wolves, they have shown they can raise their game in knockout ties.
“We knew we wanted a cup run this season,” said Redmond. “It is a good chance for us to put the league form behind us, which has been poor of late.”
If Southampton’s squad players have been found wanting too often in recent weeks, this amounted to a triumph for two who may not rank in Hasenhuttl’s strongest side. Djenepo took the place of the cup-tied Takumi Minamino on the left flank and scored his first goal in 20 games, while Redmond was standing in as a striker in the absence of the injured Danny Ings. He created the first goal, scored the next two and delivered the sort of incisive display that prompted questions why his season had only brought one earlier strike.
They combined superbly for the opener. Redmond’s slide-rule pass was perfectly timed, Djenepo’s low finish placed in the far corner. Then Redmond surged away on a diagonal solo run, garnished by a rasping, rising shot over Asmir Begovic. “This season I have not really ran at people so much and I am trying to figure out why,” Redmond said. His second was steered past the grounded goalkeeper, who had dived when Stuart Armstrong hit the post after being teed up by Redmond.
“He had a difficult year with his performances and his injuries and I am hoping this game gives him the lift so he shows more often his quality,” Hasenhuttl said.
Redmond was inches from a hat-trick with a curler while the influential Armstrong had a shot parried as Southampton’s win could have been more emphatic. They had two goals disallowed, with Cameron Carter-Vickers reprieved when he turned a cross from the offside Kyle Walker-Peters into his own net and Che Adams denied for a handball just before he arrowed a shot in from 20 yards.
Indeed, it was so comfortable that Hasenhuttl was able to substitute his two centre-backs, who had both been booked. After their departure, Arnaut Danjuma tested Fraser Forster for a second time and Sam Surridge drew a fine save with a header but the goalkeeper kept a clean sheet and Southampton are yet to concede in the FA Cup.
“The lads never gave up,” said Bournemouth manager Jonathan Woodgate. “We gave it everything but they are a good side. We move on. We have got nine big games to get to the play-offs.”
Failing to secure a top-six finish would be a bigger blow, but Bournemouth missed their injured contingent as they were stripped of seven players for their first FA Cup quarter-final since 1957.
They rarely looked like reaching a maiden semi-final. They will hope they do not have to wait another 64 years for a similar achievement. Southampton, though, can dream that history will repeat itself.
