Narcis Pelach on presssure as Stoke lost to Southampton – Reports

Southampton 3-2 Stoke: James Bree strikes late to send Saints into Carabao Cup quarter-finals

Match report as Southampton survive scare against Championship Stoke to reach the last eight of the Carabao Cup; Russell Martin’s side led through goals by Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Adam Armstrong, but Stoke fought back through Ashley Phillips and Tom Cannon before James Bree scored late

James Bree struck a late winner as Premier League strugglers Southampton survived a major scare by scraping into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Championship side Stoke.

Goals from Potters pair Ashley Phillips and Tom Cannon threatened to force a penalty shoot-out after Saints blew a two-goal lead following Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ header and Adam Armstrong’s spot-kick.

After picking up a solitary point from nine league games following promotion, Russell Martin branded the game his team’s “most important” of the season.

The Saints boss, who was serving a touchline ban after collecting a third booking of the campaign, made six changes to the starting XI which began Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Manchester City, while Stoke’s nine alterations included further starts in this competition for 17-year-old England Under-18 internationals Sol Sidibe and Jaden Dixon.

Southampton midfielder Joe Aribo tested Potters goalkeeper Jack Bonham during a subdued start to the contest before the hosts claimed a 19th-minute breakthrough

Manager Martin, who was watching the match from the top of the empty stand on the opposite side of the pitch to the technical areas, saw his hosts stretch their advantage 10 minutes before the break.

Having initially appeared to have his shirt pulled, teenage Potters defender Dixon fouled Sugawara in the area after being dispossessed, allowing Armstrong to calmly find the right corner from the spot to claim his first goal since the winner in May’s Championship play-off final against Leeds.

Stoke arrived in Hampshire only a point above the second-tier relegation zone following just one win from seven fixtures since the appointment of 36-year-old Spanish head coach Narcis Pelach.

The away team initially offered little from an attacking perspective before halving the deficit in the final minute of the opening period as Tottenham loanee Phillips atoned for his role in the opener in eye-catching fashion.

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