Wanderers V SOUTHAMPTON: Gordon Sharrock's live reports from the Reebok

HAVING hinted of "a couple" of changes, Sam Allardyce left out no fewer than NINE of the players who started the Premiership game against Fulham on

Saturday.

Only Jussi Jaaskelainen and Paul Warhurst kept their places as the manager attempted to strike the balance between progressing in the competition

and keeping his Premier League regulars fresh.

There were recalls for Bo Hansen, Nicky Southall, Gareth Farrelly, Anthony Barness, Jermaine Johnson and Djibril Diawara and only a second senior

start for Japan international Akinori Nishizawa in a side captained by Colin Hendry.

In contrast, Saints boss Gordon Strachan made just one change to the side that beat Charlton 1-0 on Saturday to record their first Premiership win

at their new St Mary's Stadium. Tahar El-Khalej was drafted in at centre-back in place of Claus Lundekvam.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Southall, Diawara, Hendry, Barness, Johnson, Warhurst, Farrelly, Hansen, Holdsworth, Nishizawa. Subs: Viander, N'Gotty,

Ricketts, Norris, Wallace.

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, El-Khalej, Williams, Bridge, Telfer, Oakley, Svensson, Marsden, Beattie, Pahars. Subs: Moss, Benali, Delap, Tessem, Davies.

Referee: Andy D'Urso (Billericay).

20:48: WANDERERS 0 SOUTHAMPTON 0

Half-time

SOUTHAMPTON served up a barrage of shots on the Wanderers' goal but it was Jermaine Johnson who had the best chance of a scoreless first half at

the Reebok.

The Reggae Boy made a bright start in midfield and should have capped it when he was allowed a free header at a Bo Hansen corner on 20 minutes. He

saw the chance, made the move but failed to hit the target.

Earlier, Anders Svensson had given Jussi Jaaskelainen a taste of what was to come when he curled a shot narrowl;y wide after a surge from midfield.

That was the first of a succession of shots that rained in on the Bolton goal from James Beattie, Matt Oakley and Paul Telfer - all off which were off

target but highly encouraging for the Saints.

22:45: WANDERERS 2, SOUTHAMPTON 2.

After extra time (90 mins: 1-1)

Wanderers win 6-5 on penalties

ROD Wallace, the former Southampton striker, kept his nerve to put Wanderers into the last eight of the Worthington Cup at the end of a dramatic

penalty shoot-out at the Reebok.

The Boltoin substitute scored the sixth penalty after Jussi Jaaskelainen had saved Chris Marsden's attempt with the shoot-out at the sudden death

stage.

Colin Hendry, Gareth Farrelly, Michael Ricketts, Nicky Southall and Paul Warhurst had all converted theirs, following the Saints' lead from Marain

Pahars, James Beattie, Jason Dodd, Paul Telfer, and goalkeeper Paul Jones.

Twice Wanderers thought they had the tie won. They led through a Dean Holdsworth penalty in the 54th minute, awarded for a Paul Williams foul on

Akinori Nishizawa, only to concede an equaliser to Kevin Davies with just 10 minutes of normal time to play.

Then, after the Saints looked the likeliest winners, Michael Ricketts - off the bench for the second half of extra-time - thought he'd settled it with his

11th goal of the season, with 110 minutes on the clock. But Tahar El Khalej punished some slack marking two minutes later and a duel that had been

high on incident but low on quality, headed for the drama of a penalty shoot-out.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Southall, Diawara, Hendry, Barness, Johnson, Warhurst, Farrelly, Hansen, Holdsworth, Nishizawa. Subs: N'Gotty for Johnson

74 mins, Wallace for Nishizawa 74 mins, Ricketts for Holdsworth 105 mins. Not used: Viander, Ricketts, Norris.

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, El-Khalej, Williams, Bridge, Telfer, Oakley, Svensson, Marsden, Beattie, Pahars. Subs: Davies for Svensson 66 mins. Not

used: Moss, Benali, Delap, Tessem.

Referee: Andy D'Urso (Billericay).

Attendance: 8,404.