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Southampton set up an FA Cup clash with Liverpool as Sekou Mara struck twice in a 3-0 defeat of fellow Championship side Watford in a fourth round replay on Tuesday.
Leeds United also reached the fifth round as they overcame Plymouth Argyle 4-1 after extra time while Coventry City trounced Sheffield Wednesday 4-1 to earn a tie with minor league Maidstone United.
Promotion remains Southampton’s priority but after extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to 24 they will relish a crack at Juergen Klopp’s Premier League leaders.
After a turgid first half at St Mary’s the game exploded into life after the interval with Frenchman Mara scoring twice in the space of six minutes.
He opened the scoring in the 52nd minute after a clever touch by Che Adams and soon after that teenager Tyler Dibling surged forward and found Adams who in turn fed Mara to fire powerfully home from 20 metres.
Adams then grabbed his 10th goal of the season as he got on the end of Joe Rothwell’s free kick.
Wilfried Gnonto’s well-taken goal looked like booking Leeds a place in the fifth round but hosts Plymouth levelled late on when Brendan Galloway bundled in from close range.
With rain pouring down Crysencio Summerville came off the bench to put Leeds ahead in the first half of extra time, curling in a sublime finish after a jinking run. — Reuters.
Bongani Ndlovu
Mathew Masinge