Saints into fifth round of FA Cup

4:56pm Saturday 26th January 2008

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By Adam Leitch »

Saints made it through to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win over Bury at St Mary's in their first game since George Burley's departure.

It was hardly a great performance but caretaker bosses John Gorman and Jason Dodd at least saw their side make it into the hat for Monday's draw thanks to second half goals from Andrew Surman and Grzegorz Rasiak.

Bury came so close to taking the lead after just three minutes.

They won a central free kick, 25 yards out which Richie Baker curled around the wall but saw his shot cannon against the post and bounce away.

An awful defensive mix-up landed Saints in more trouble five minutes later.

A short backpass was seized upon by Baker who span Darren Powell.

He was through on goal but opted to shoot from the edge of the area. Kelvin Davis was down quickly to save with the rebound striking Baker and trickling just wide of the post.

It was a real wake-up call for Saints who then threatened themselves for the first time from a corner with Grzegorz Rasiak's header scrambled away off the line and Jason Euell lashing the follow-up shot over the bar.

Bradley Wright-Philips was the next to come close.

Saints were having plenty of joy in the air from crosses and after Rasiak cushioned a header back Wright-Phillips' half volley whistled just wide.

After a shaky start Saints started to get a grip on the game and push Bury back deeper and deeper but still their quality on the ball was not the best.

When Bury did attack on the break on 29 minutes they weren't far away again.

Andy Bishop tried an audacious chip from the edge of the area that drifted just wide of Davis' far post.

Rasiak made Bury keeper Jim Provett stretch with a looping header on 35 minutes but he caught it to keep it out.

The game became really scrappy as it headed towards half time.

Saints were not showing the superior quality they had in their ranks and Bury's hard working approach left very little to choose between the teams.

Davis had to be strong to take an inswinging free kick as Bury pushed on again five minutes before the break.

Every time Saints attacked Bury got ten men behind the ball and sat deep and Saints had little answer to try and break them down.

Again a cross caused Bury a problem this time Wayne Thomas hooking wide at the far post.

As the half went into injury time Saints had a chance to break Bury's resistance with a 30 yard central free kick. Gregory Vignal took it but a deflection took it wide.

That proved to be the last chance of a disappointing half for Saints but they knew what they had to do after the restart.

Saints made a half time switch with Inigo Idiakez coming on for Andrew Davies.

Thomas moved to centre half, Jermaine Wright switched to right back with Idiakez going into the centre of midfield.

Andrew Surman produced a surge shortly into the second half but his low shot from 20 yards was straight at the keeper.

Davis was the next keeper in action, saving with his legs after Ben Futcher had flicked on a deep free kick before Andy Bishop could reach it.

Rasiak came agonisingly close to giving Saints the lead on 56 minutes.

Vignal's cross from the left picked him out deep in the area, he controlled the ball on his chest and took an early shot which went back across the keeper and just wide of the post.

Davis had harsh words for Powell moments later after coming quickly off his line to stop at the feet of Baker to stop him getting in.

Saints were dealt a blow on 64 minutes when they lost another centre half.

Powell had received treatment for what appeared to a groin injury and briefly left the field. He came back on to try and run it off but couldn't and was replaced by Rudi Skacel.

Euell moved back to centre half, Surman switched into the middle of midfield with Skacel on the left.

Adam Hammill brought the crowd to life on 69 minutes with a break into the area and a near post shot that was turned behind by Provett.

But it was still a real struggle for Saints against a Bury side that were starting to look more and more content to settle for a draw to try and earn a replay at Gigg Lane.

Wright-Phillips so nearly got through after a defence splitting pass from Surman but Provett got out to just get it away from him.

But Surman went from near provider to scorer on 72 minutes to give Saints the lead.

Wright-Phillips was blocked on the edge of the area and the ball came out to Surman who shot right footed from 20 yards. The shot took a massive deflection and left Provett wrong footed with the Bury keeper only able to watch on as it rolled into his bottom left hand corner for 1-0.

Bury were so nearly back on level terms two minutes later as Bishop met a cross from the right with a near post header that rattled the bar.

Suddenly the game opened up with Bury having to chase it and on the break Skacel forced Provett into a good save diving to his left while Hammill's effort from distance flashed over moments later.

Saints made a final change on 76 minutes with Hammill coming off for Stern John.

John was quickly into the action when he tried to reach Skacel's cross but was bundled over in the area by Futcher and referee Stuart Attwell awarded a penalty.

Rasiak stepped up to take it left footed with ten minutes remaining but saw his straight effort saved by Provett. The ball came out to Rasiak again who controlled but saw his shot saved again by Provett.

However, still no Bury players had made it in and at the third time of asking he bundled it over the line for 2-0.

Davis had to make a late save from Bishop but in the end Saints saw out the time with some comfort to make it to the last 16.

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