Neil Shipperley scored the only goal of the game when the Blades last visited St Mary's in December 2005.

He was on hand to finish after Webber had played a massive part in the build-up. The nippy striker intercepted the ball before sprinting forward and sliding across a pin-point centre for the former Saints man to poke home past the helpless Smith.

Theo Walcott and Kenwyne Jones were both in the thick of the action for the hosts, although neither could break down the resolute United rearguard:

Southampton: Smith, Baird, Mills, Powell (Hajto 62), Cranie, Dyer, Delap, Quashie, Belmadi (Blackstock 73), Ormerod (Walcott 63), Jones
Unused: McCann, Prutton.

Blades: Kenny, Geary (Kozluk 89), Bromby, Morgan, Unsworth, Montgomery, Jagielka, Armstrong, Webber (Tonge 88), Shipperley, Kabba
Unused: Ifill, Nalis, Shaw

Bookings: Mills (Southampton) Bromby, Geary, Morgan, Unsworth (Blades)
Attendance: 27,443
Referee: P Crossley (Kent)