Austin scores again in cup win

Charlie Austin scored his fourth goal in three games as Southampton advanced to the fourth round of the EFL Cup with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

The striker, recalled to Claude Puel’s team having scored the winning goal against Swansea on Sunday, gave Saints a first-half lead from the penalty spot in a timely statement to his manager.

He had been dropped despite his two finishes in last week’s 3-0 Europa League defeat of Sparta Prague securing their first win of the season and his first goals since January. The impressive Jake Hesketh added their second and his first senior goal in the second half to ensure victory.

Both managers made eight changes to the teams they had named for Premier League victories at the weekend.

Alan Pardew’s Palace starting XI featured many of those who were regulars during the past season in a team which reached the final of the FA Cup. Southampton’s appeared more disjointed, but with a dangerous front two of Shane Long and Austin.

It was only when …

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