Saints crushed Barnsley in fine style to move into the 3rd round of the carling Cup in a game that saw many changes from Saturday.
Its fair to say that Mauricio Pochettino didn't read my pre match preview about keeping the spine of the side intact and keeping back a few big guns on the substitutes bench, there were a massive 9 changes from Saturday's starting line up, with the only two survivors being Jay Rodriguez and Jose Fonte.
Perhaps its testimony though of how the squad has a stronger look about it this year that of the other starting 9, a total of 7 of them would have been described as first choice a year ago, only Mayuka and Lloyd Isgrove not in that category, although in fairness to Nathan Clyne he could point to injury as to why he hasn't started yet this year.
However as much as the line up looked a reserve side with so many changes, its a sobering thought that this starting XI would still have cost Saints a little north of £30 million pounds, Ok 2/3 of that was the fee for Ramirez and Rodriguez, but the likes of Mayuka & Yoshida didnt come cheap either.
The bench though had little experience and was made up entirely of youngsters, so much so that Jamie Ward Prowse would be considered the veteran, Mauricio Pochettino took a big gamble, especially on a night where several other Premier sides struggled against worse opposition having put out better sides than Saints.
But the gamble clearly paid off, Steve Davis put the visitors ahead on 26 minutes, Jay Rodriguez doubled that just after the break and although Dawson for Barnsley reduced the deficit shortly after, Mayuka with his first goal for the club restored the two goal cushion to enable Saints to throw on Sinclair, Reed & Rowe in the final 20 minutes which seemed to work as Saints finished strongly with Davis hitting his second from the penalty spot and Ramirez completing the 5-1 rout.
All eyes on the draw this evening for the next round, as I say till im blue in the face, this is a competition we can win, several other clubs are taking it seriously this year, Liverpool put out a virtual first team for instance against Notts County, it has European qualification at the end of it and if Saints want to attract players of a higher standard, then even the Europa cup is essential as the best players want to compete in Europe
All in all though a good nights work, however that's one job done and its the next round that is now important..