Graeme Murty injured in Southampton's League Cup defeat to Birmingham

The right back, who only joined in the summer on a free transfer, went in with Lee Bowyer and Stephen Carr and was left writhing on the floor in agony.

At that stage Saints were leading 1-0 but two goals in three minutes with Murty already stretchered off saw the Blues to a 2-1 victory.

Initial reports are that Murty has injured the ligaments in his right knee and, even though Saints are cautiously optimistic nothing is torn, Murty faces a spell on the treatment table either way.

Saints boss Alan Pardew said: “It doesn’t look good to be honest. I think it will be a long one.

“It was such a shame because we had a good balance to the side last night and Murty was part of that.

“He will give it a day to settle down and then we'll have a day to assess it.

“I thought the game turned a little bit with the injury.

“Lloyd James was doing a great job in the middle of the pitch and Graeme at right back but the injury effected us.

“Up until then we played the best football we’d played all year and caused a really good side a lot of problems.

“I wasn’t happy with the referee – I thought he was poor for us.

“Lambert was taken out in the area and the tackle on Mellis on the edge I thought was a definite penalty.

“He wasn’t happy with me at the end and I wasn't happy with him.”

Saints didn’t deserve to lose the game which was as good a performance as they have put in since Pardew took charge.

They took the seven minutes into the second half with a sublime finish from Adam Lallana but, in the end, couldn’t quite hold on against the Premier League side.

“It was a great goal and I thought he was excellent - that’s the best game he’s had for me,” said Pardew of Lallana.

“He worked hard and showed a real diligence in his play and his goal was out of the top drawer.

“I thought Mellis had his best game too – he did some really good things and some of his pace and energy was good.”