Southampton | Saints edge past Northampton

Northampton 0 - 1 Southampton

Mateus Fernandes struck the decisive goal as Southampton edged past Northampton Town in the Carabao Cup first round.

Author | Ajay

Stadium | Sixfields Stadium

Teams prepare for kickoff

After a goalless opening half in which the League One side carved out chances to go ahead, Fernande, reportedly the subject of a £30m bid from West Ham, produced the game’s standout moment to send the Saints into the second round.

Southampton fielded a strong yet rotated side from their Championship opener, with Ross Stewart withdrawn shortly before kick-off through illness and replaced by Ben Brereton Díaz.

Northampton threatened early, Cameron McGeehan forcing a sharp save from Alex McCarthy before the Saints goalkeeper spilled a free-kick under pressure, only for Taylor Harwood-Bellis to clear Jordan Willis’s effort off the line.

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The visitors’ best first-half chance came when Brereton Díaz teed up Damion Downs, but the forward mistimed his strike and the danger was cleared.

The breakthrough arrived shortly after the restart when Cameron Archer drove forward, cut inside and found Fernandes, who took a touch before firing high into the net.

Northampton finished with 15 shots, one more on target than Southampton, but could not find an equaliser, with Fernandes’s finish proving the difference for Will Still’s side.

View from the away end

One Southampton fan told us: "Although we were often on the back foot, on the plus side we dug in and made sure that, although Northampton had chances, they only managed four shots on target in the whole game. Two of those came early on."

Another fan added: "It was difficult to single out one standout performer, but as a collective we found a way. Despite looking disjointed at times, with changes to the starting line-up and then five substitutions midway through the second half, we dug in and secured the result we were after."

The Northampton perspective

One fan told us: “I thought we matched Southampton brilliantly tonight. We put them under real pressure at times and had our moments, but the goal just wouldn’t come. The way the lads went about it was superb; their work rate was top-class from start to finish. The players kept going right until the final whistle, and I honestly think we’ll get stronger as the season goes on. The work from pre-season is starting to show, and now it’s about getting rested and ready for the weekend.”