Southampton have beaten Bristol City 2-0 tonight to advance to the fourth round of the League Cup.

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After a comfortable first half, the Saints were pushed back in the second period but managed to kill the game off with Jos Hooiveld's later header.

Southampton were ahead after just 15 minutes thanks to a volley from Gaston Ramirez after James Ward-Prowse's header down.

Tadanari Lee, making his first start of the season, then forced a couple of good saves from Elliot Parish before Ramirez almost doubled his tally from 25 yards.

In a rare Bristol attack Jay Emmanuel-Thomas produced a good turn and shot towards the end of the first half, but Kelvin Davis remained alert and saved well.

Davis had to remain alert as the visitors came back into the match in the second half.

First, Emmanuel-Thomas poked wide after good work from Joe Bryan, then Bobby Reid's dipping effort was tipped over by the goalkeeper.

City continued to threaten the Southampton goal, forcing Mauricio Pochettino into a double change with 20 minutes to go. Youngster Harrison Reed and Jay Rodriguez came on, and almost combined to kill off the tie, but the latter fired wide from his teammate's cross.

The home side did finally make the game safe seven minutes from time when Ward-Prowse got his second assist, whipping a corner onto the head of Hooiveld, who headed the ball into the net.