COVENTRY City suffered second-half heartbreak as Southampton came back from behind to progress to the next round of the FA Cup.

Gary McSheffrey had given the Sky Blues a first-half lead but goals from James Ward-Prowse and Aaron Martin ensured the South Coast will have a Cup run this year.

Roy O'Donovan was making his first start for the Sky Blues since the loss against Barnsley in October and he almost bagged the opening goal of the game. McSheffrey was able to thread him through and as the linesman flag stayed down, the Irishman's shot was deflected narrowly wide two minutes in.

However, City didn't have to wait long to open the scoring. Cyrus Christie burst down the right side and fired in a cross which Gael Bigirimana headed down for McSheffrey to half-volley home with just six minutes on the clock.

Coventry were in complete control throughout the first 20 minutes against the Championship league-leaders and could have doubled their lead through Richard Wood. McSheffrey swung a deep ball to the far post from a corner and Wood rose above Saints defender Jos Hooiveld to head narrowly over.

Conor Thomas and Bigirimana came through the Academy ranks together and this connection was evident throughout the first half with them able to control the pace of the game lying deep in midfield.

The Saints were disappointing and had little to offer going forward other than the odd threatening run from former City player Jack Cork. Ten minutes till half-time, Morgan Schneiderlin rifled a shot towards goal from 20-yards out but it went wide of Chris Dunn's right-post.

Gary Deegan was praised by his manager in midweek and he almost increased City's lead in the 40^th minute. McSheffrey whipped in a left-sided corner and Wood flicked it on towards the back-post with Deegan there to shoot straight at the Saints keeper.

After a great opening 45 minutes from City, they almost spoilt it in the first minute of the second-half. Richard Keogh stumbled and handed the ball to Adam Lallana who left it for James Ward-Prowse but he could only shoot tamely at City keeper Dunn.

The Sky Blues settled quickly after and a McSheffrey low cross was almost prodded home by O'Donovan moments later as Andy Thorn's side looked to extend their lead.

The Saints worked their way back into the game and despite them not fashioning any serious chances, they grabbed an equaliser in the 62^nd minute. Lallana made space on the left and whipped a brilliant looping ball to the far post and James Ward-Prowse didn't miss from three yards out.

The away side had their tails up after the goal and only minutes later, Dan Harding's half-volley from outside the area went just wide of Dunn's left post.

The match began to feel like a real Cup tie with both sides going all out for the winner. With 20 minutes left on the clock, Carl Baker picked the ball up from McSheffrey on the right and turned inside Hooiveld to unleash a fierce effort towards goal but it went narrowly over.

As the game descended into the final 10 minutes at a nervous Ricoh Arena, the Saints took the lead. A right sided corner from Lallana was nodded home by defender Aaron Martin as it squeezed through Dunn's grasp.

Southampton assumed control of the game from the point they scored, keeping possession and showing why they are top of the Championship.

Coventry had a late flurry of pressure but were unable to break through a stubborn Saints defence so the Road to Wembley is closed this year for the Sky Blues.

Teams

Coventry City: Dunn, Keogh (c), Cranie, Wood (Hussey 77), Christie, Baker, Thomas, Bigirimana (Ruffels 82), Deegan, McSheffrey, O'Donovan (Jeffers 63)
Subs: Murphy (GK), McPake, Hussey, Clarke

Southampton: Bialkowski, Prowse (Reeves 71), Martin, Hooiveld, Fox, Schneiderlin, Hammond (c), Cork, Harding (Stephens 87), Doble (Hoskins 58), Lallana
Subs: Davis (GK), Forte, Shaw, Holmes.

Attendance: 9,000 (1,734 away)