By Graham Hiley of the Southern Daily Echo

IT was penalty heartache for Saints last night as Gordon Strachan's side cruelly crashed out of the Worthington Cup.

Southampton twice battled back to draw level at Bolton, only to bow out in the shoot-out 6-5 after Chris Marsden saw his effort saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Now manager Strachan is urging his Saints players to take out their hurt on Everton in Sunday's televised clash .

He said: "It is hugely disappointing to be out of the competition - but at least this defeat did not cost us any points.

"The main thing is that the manner of this defeat should not affect our confidence. We have not lost any ground in the league.

"All it has cost us is a possible opportunity to play in a final which will be just a passing thought when that comes round.

"It is important to make sure you don't come away from games with any regrets because that is a horrible thing to handle and there were a lot of encouraging signs again.

"We came back twice after going behind and had a great chance to win it in the last minute of normal time. And we should have had a penalty just before that."

Both sides scored all five of their spot-kicks with goalkeeper Paul Jones converting Southampton's fifth.

After Marsden's effort had been saved, former Saints striker Rod Wallace stepped up to put Bolton into the quarter-finals.

Strachan added: "It was just a question of who fancied taking the kicks on the night. The fact that the goalkeeper took the fifth suggests there was a reluctance among some players.

"But if the keeper fancies it and feels confident then that is fine by me. I thought they were all good penalties and well struck."

The manager, though, was disappointed with the way his side started cold on a bitter night at the Reebok Stadium.

He said: "We played propaganda football in the first half. It meant nothing and I told the players that does not impress me.

"Once we started playing reality football then we were a lot better. That is what I want to see. We made a lot of chances but we are still not taking them - and it is not just the front men.

"We had nine or ten shots off target from 20 yards or less.

"I won't accept that is bad luck. It is the ability to get the ball on target. It is still not quite going for us but, again, there were a lot of encouraging signs."

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