TEN-MAN Saints just about escaped Swansea with progression to the FA Cup fourth round after Shane Long’s winner sealed a thrilling 3-2 extra-time victory.

What started as a strong visiting XI almost paid the price for Yan Valery’s second yellow card, which left Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side a man short and with James Ward-Prowse in right-back for 90 minutes.

Nathan Redmond had opened early and it looked as though it could be comfortable but Joel Piroe punished late on with an equaliser.

Saints then had to mount a comeback of their own after Jan Bednarek turned into his own net from inside the area, but the style was switched on and Moi Elyounoussi and Long provided a blockbuster double-salvo to make amends.

Hasenhuttl had taken no chances with Armando Broja making a return to the XI and Nathan Tella following up his brand-new three-and-a-half-year contract.

There was to be no rotation in the net either, with Fraser Forster keeping hold of the gloves in the week in which Willy Caballero extended his St Mary’s stay.

And former friend Michael Obafemi became foe, the left prong of a three-man attack against his ex-teammates.

It took just eight minutes for one of Obafemi’s closest pals, Tella, to win the ball back with a high press and slot Redmond in.

The experienced forward applied a cool finish and ensured that each of Saints’ last three FA Cup goals were scored by him, after his brace versus Bournemouth.

With the visiting side comfortable for half-an-hour, fortunes then changed.

Obafemi broke beyond Valery and the Frenchman – who was so impressive versus Spurs – left Simon Hooper with choice but to award a second yellow after bringing the forward down. His first came carelessly just three minutes into the contest.

Immediately, Hasenhuttl moved his skipper into the gap and operated with a 4-4-1 to see out the half.

The Austrian refrained from any early changes and Broja broke – and should have put Saints two ahead – minutes into the second-half, but failed to find Tella who charged into the area alongside him.

Jack Stephens missed a sitter at the back-post after Ward-Prowse’s free-kick delivery gifted him all the time in the world for his header, but it was guided wide.

Those wasted chances were punished when Piroe was able to emphatically turn home a scramble from close-range with under 15 minutes remaining, after Swans broke and squared down Saints’ left.

Liam Cullen could have added to the misery moments later but spooned a rebound straight back at Forster.

Substitute Long then sparked vehement appeals for a Saints penalty after he was bundled over on the byline with just minutes to play, but nothing given.

The clock continued to tick on regulation time and Saints’ giant was called in to make an enormous footed-stop, after Piroe was played too easily right through the middle of the defence with Forster’s goal at his mercy.

Into extra-time and it was a disaster start. Olivier Ntcham fired across the penalty area and Bednarek turned into his own net to send Swans ahead.

But immediately from the restart, Long fired across Swans’ area in similar fashion and found Elyounoussi, who could take his time to touch and smash beyond Ben Hamer.

Provider then turned goalscorer inside the first 15’, as Long found himself receiving another pinpoint delivery from the right, this time by Ward-Prowse, to net his first for Saints since February 2020 and send the side ahead in South Wales.

The Irishman continued to impress, exploding with pace to get straight through the entire Swans defence and attempt to cross for Elyounoussi with just five to play – while the rest of the Saints team were content with holding a deep line.

Saints: Forster; Valery, Stephens, Bednarek, Perraud; Romeu, Ward-Prowse, S Armstrong (Diallo, 64), Tella (Elyounoussi, 77); Redmond (A Armstrong, 64) Broja (Long, 77)

Unused subs: Lyanco, Simeu, Chauke, Olaigbe, Caballero (g/k)

Booked: Valery

Sent off: Valery

Swansea City: Hamer; Naughton, Cooper (Ntcham, 60), Bennett, Manning; Downes, Smith (R Williams, 114), Walsh (Grimes, 60); Piroe, Obafemi, Cullen (Dhanda, 84)

Unused subs: Bidwell, Fulton, Abdulai, D Williams, Benda (g/k)

Booked: Bennett, Cooper, Walsh