AS Rotherham United manager, Ronnie More once masterminded a memorable FA Cup win against Saints.

Fourteen years later, the Eastleigh manager is aiming to end his long wait for for another FA Cup upset.

The Millers were midway through the first of four successive seasons in the Championship, after back-to-back promotions under Moore, when they beat Gordon Strachan’s Saints 2-1 in the FA Cup third round at Millmoor in January 2002 It was from a free-kick taken by Kevin Watson, Eastleigh’s assistant manager, that Rotherham took a 39th-minute lead through Richard Barker’s diving header.

John Mullin doubled it with a quality finish following a pass inside Wayne Bridge before Marian Pahars pulled a goal back from the penalty spot.

But a Saints team including Agustin Delgado, on his full debut, Anders Svensson and subs Matt Le Tissier, in what was to be his last FA Cup appearance, could not muster an equaliser.

“Strachan wasn’t pleased after the game,” smiles Moore, whose side would only avoid relegation back to League One on goal difference that season. “I remember Strach being every upset with what went on. He thought we were a bit lucky - he was never short of saying what he felt, was he!

“But we deserved it. That’s what the FA Cup’s about.”

At the time, Moore, now 63, said: “I feel about 64 but it was worth it. It’s great that a club of our size is not only playing against Premiership opposition but is capable of winning.

“We watched them beat Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge, I saw them beat Liverpool when they never gave them a minute, and they were unfortunate to lose against Manchester United at the weekend. For us this is a great, great scalp.”

Rotherham’s first win against top-flight opposition since 1968 is the FA Cup highlight of Moore’s managerial career so far. He knows all too well what it is like to be on the wrong end of an FA Cup upset.

“I’ve had that many exits in the first round so that Southampton win sticks out more than anything,” he admits. “When I was a player at Tranmere we went out at Farsley Celtic and early in my time at Rotherham we were drawn away to [Northern Premier League] Emley.

“We were relieved when it was switched to Barnsley but only just managed to scrape a 1-1 before winning the replay.”

Last December Moore’s Hartlepool United needed extra-time to beat Salford City in a replay after a 1-1 draw away from home in front of the Match of the Day cameras.

Roles will be reversed tonight as Eastleigh take on a Swindon side 37 places above them in the football pyramid.

“Someone told me we are favourites but how can we be favourites?” exclaimed Moore. “We’re in the National League and they’re in League One!”