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. Defender Bree prevented a new low in a miserable season so far for the top-flight’s bottom club by rifling home from range in the 88th minute at a sparsely-populated St Mary’s.
Southampton were fortunate to reach that stage still level as only a goal-line clearance from Yukinari Sugawara stopped Stoke substitute Million Manhoef completing the turnaround minutes earlier. 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. Mateus Fernandes delivered an inswinging corner from.