It was on Valentines Day 1976 that Saints headed to the West Midlands to take on West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns.

Cup fever had gripped Southampton, over 100 coaches and a special train, not to mention countless mini buses and cars headed towards Birmingham as around 12,000 Saints supporters made the journey to support their team, with the bulk of them assembling on the then massive covered Smethwick End.

Pre match their had been a bug in the squad, on the morning of the game Mick Channon, Paul Gilchrist and Bobby Stokes all still felt unwell, but all started, only man missing from the side that would eventually play at Wembley was the suspended Peter Osgood, Saints reshuffled with Hugh Fisher the hero of the 3rd round being the only man who would not play at Wembley in this starting XI.

The large away following made for an electric atmosphere in the 36, 634 crowd, to give some measure of how the cup was regarded back then, West Brom who like Saints were also chasing promotion had a crowd of 17,071 for the vital league clash back in December a game that Saints won 2-0.

For both sides promotion was probably the main aim of the season, but back then every game was taken as it came and the FA Cup was just as important.

The first half was nervy and end to end, Ian Turner hesitated for a cross and was relieved to see the resulting header rebound off a post and at the other end Mick Channon thought his header although stopped by Albion keeper Osbourne might creep over the line, but it was hacked clear, all evens at the break.

Saints started the second half well but it was Albion who would draw first blood, Tony "Bomber" Brown making his 600th appearance for the club prodded home in a goalmouth scramble in the 58th minute.

Lawrie McMenemy must have feared the worse for his side after that, after all the bug would have not helped the energy levels of some, but there was a spirit about the team and they pushed for an equaliser, it came in the 75th minute and it was Bobby Stokes who scored it steering it wide of John Osbourne, the last stages saw Albion hit a post but Saints saw the game out strongly to bring Albion to a replay at the Dell 3 days later.

For the replay Saints remained unchanged with Osgood completing his two match ban, the mood was one of confidence, 27,614 packed into the Dell, although this was one of those occasions when you thought that the Club were perhaps underdeclaring the crowd so that gate receipts could be lower and no tax paid on them, an accusation that could be levelled at many clubs back in those days, certainly it was hard to see where you could squeeze in another 4,000 or so the Dell's official capacity.

They didnt have long to wait for a goal, 52 seconds to be precise, from the kick off Mick Channon gathered a loose ball, beat an opponent, played a one two with Stokes and curled the ball past Osbourne to send most of the 27,000 crowd delirious.

Saints nerves werent quite settled yet and David Peach chipped a back pass back to Turner only to find that his keeper was furhter forward than he thought, an equaliser looked sure but Alistair Brown for Albion used his hand to control the bouncing ball with an empty net gaping and Saints had a let off.

But those nerves were soon settled in the 17th minute Paul Gilchist with his back to goal swivelled and hit a cracker, it was all over just before the half hour when Channon took a pass from Peach and rounded the keeper to make it three.

After the break Albion brought on a 19 year old kid Bryan Robson, could the future England captain make a difference, the answer was no, Saints kept it tight in midfield and although Albion pushed for a goal that would give them hope, with 15 minutes left it was Channon who scored again, fouled as he went to head a cross, he picked himself up and despatched the ball from the spot to ensure that there woyuld be no late drama.

Saints skipper peter Rodriguez has said that this was the night when Saints began to think their name was on the cup and certainly the Saints supporters did as well.

Hero of the 5th round has to be Mick Channon, not only did he lay on Stokes equaliser in the first game after a deft run and lay off, but he was at the heart of everything back at the Dell, not to mention the hat trick.

Photo: Action Images

chiselborosaint added 11:41 - Feb 14 Yes, I remember the reply. We were still queuing to get in when a huge roar went up and we guessed that we had scored. Must confess, can't remember too much of the game but we went back to Somerset that night very happy and dreaming of wembley. Even managed to get tickets for the final!
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chiselborosaint added 11:52 - Feb 14 I meant replay!
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MeonValleySaint added 00:08 - Feb 15 I was there that night, what an atmosphere! There was a few Baggies fans up the Archers End, but just remember the noise from the East and West Stand corners being very acoustic. WBA were a good team back then but we frightened them to death that night and they couldn't live with Channon's pace.
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LostBoys added 21:03 - Feb 16 I was there
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