Saints have only the Premier League left to focus on this season after they were knocked out of the FA Cup 3-2 by Crystal Palace at St Mary’s.

Ex-Saints boss Alan Pardew, who had suffered a hat-trick of defeats on his previous returns to the club, got the better of his former employers this time round thanks to a dramatic first half.

Though the league has always been the priority for Saints this season after their brilliant start, with so many upsets as the big guns tumbled out at the fourth round stage does mean a chance for some glory in the competition has gone begging for another season.

Saints joined the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham in exiting the tournament this weekend.

Palace created a half chance within the first minute as Marouane Chamakh laid a half cleared free kick back to Wilfried Zaha but his first time effort from the edge of the area went over the bar.

However, it was Saints that took the lead with their first chance of the game on nine minutes.

Daily Echo:

It was a simple one too as James Ward-Prowse whipped in an inswinging left wing free kick that beat everybody except the on running Graziano Pelle at the far post.

He produced a first time stabbed volley from six yards out that Wayne Hennessey reached diving down to his left but couldn’t prevent from getting past him and over the line.

The lead lasted just two minutes though as Crystal Palace hit Saints on the counter attack to equalise.

Yaya Sanogo drilled in a low shot across goal from the left that Fraser Forster looked to have covered.

He dived to his left and seemed to have his body behind it but it bounced slightly off of him and into the middle of the six yard box.

Chamakh won the race to the loose ball and managed to poke into the empty net from a couple of yards out.

Saints so nearly fell behind on 16 minutes as Dusan Tadic was caught in possession dwelling on the ball midway inside his own half.

Chamakh lofted a pass over Florin Gardos and picked out Sanogo who fired a shot goalwards that Forster blocked and gathered at the second attempt.

A breathless match continued as Saints went straight down the other end to restore their advantage.

Daily Echo:

It was unfortunate from a Palace viewpoint as Ryan Bertrand drilled in a cross from the left by-line. Palace defender Scott Dann slid across at the near post to try and cut out the danger but only diverted the ball straight into his own net for 2-1.

Up the other end Forster was in action again, this time having to dive to his left to block an effort from the edge of the area by Frazier Campbell and rely on his defence to hack the ball away from danger.

Daily Echo:

That wasn’t the end of the action though as the Eagles drew level again on 21 minutes.

It was Zaha who provided the assist, laying the ball into Sanogo in the box who finished right footed back across goal and past Forster who dived full length to his left but was unable to reach a well directed shot.

Ward-Prowse threatened again for Saints five minutes later with a fierce low drive from 20 yards out that skimmed just wide of the far post.

Steven Davis produced a very similar effort on 32 minutes and it produced a very similar result as it flew narrowly wide.

Amazingly, there was to be a fifth goal in the half as Palace took the lead for the first time on 39 minutes.

Joel Ward advanced deep into the Saints half, somehow kept possession when it seemed the ball would be taken off of him and chipped a pass over the defence and to Chamakh who was onside.

Daily Echo:

He brought the ball down and advanced into the area, went outside Forster and managed to squeeze a low finish past the keeper diving back at his feet and in at the near post.

Chamakh picked up the opening booking of the game for a foul on Steven Davis before referee Jon Moss brought a goal laden first half to a close with Palace having a narrow advantage.

Saints made a half time change with Matt Targett replacing Gardos. Targett went to left back with Bertrand moving to centre half.

Palace had a chance for another goal five minutes after the restart as Joe Ledley’s corner found the unmarked Dann eight yards out but he headed over the bar.

Targett quickly became the first Saints player in the book for a foul on Zaha.

Saints were dominating possession more in the second period and restricting Palace to pacy counter attacks but were struggling to create much, which led to a second substitution with Shane Long replacing Cork on 59 minutes. Ward-Prowse dropped deep with Long playing up top off of Pelle.

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Palace responded by bringing on former Saints star Jason Puncheon for Chamakh.

Nathaniel Clyne was next in the book for a late challenge.

Daily Echo:

Saints were dealt a blow when Long collided with a Palace defender when chasing into the area and had to coming off with damage to his right arm. Ryan Seager came on for a first team debut on 73 minutes.

Fonte collected a booking for going through the back of Sanogo who then came off for Adrian Mariappa as Palace looked to defend their lead.

Palace made their final switch with eight minutes remaining with Glenn Murray replacing Campbell.

Saints were really struggling to put any sustained pressure on Palace in a performance that was very unlike how they have played in the Premier League.

Eljero Elia came close to a late equaliser as a short free kick allowed him to drill in an effort from just outside the box that Hennessey tipped just over the bar.

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The fourth official held up the board to show there would be six minutes of added time for Saints to try and find an equaliser and force a replay.

In truth they didn’t really come much closer than they had in the half up until that point and the final whistle confirmed their exit from the competition.