Saints beat the Baggies up at the Hawthorns for the second time in a fortnight to complete a treble of wins over them.
Mauricio Pellegrino promised a strong team to face West Brom and he kept to his word, there were only two changes to the side that had won at the Hawthorns two weeks earlier, but there were to be no shocks in the line up with only the experienced Hojbjerg and Redmond coming in at the expense of Boufal and Romeu.
This time though it would not be home side who would take an early lead but Saints, who for once were not the side who gave away a goal through slack marking, a good corner from Ward Prowse saw Carrillo make a run that took two men with him leaving Wesley Hoedt completely free to fire home from close range.
Saints as usual had a decent first half, but the worry was that they might let it slip again in the second especially when West Brom came out of the traps quickly after the break, however after weathering an early storm 10 minutes after the break Saints increased their lead with a well worked move on the break.
The ball was laid down the line to Nathan Redmond who moved it on quickly to Guido Carrillo who crossed for Dusan Tadic who cut acros the defender before sublimely chipping the keeper.
Butif Saints thought the game was won they shot themselves in the foot only two minutes later, Tadic went for the jugular and was caught in possession and the ball was worked forward to Rondon who fired home from range.
Saints were now on the back foot and the Baggies with nothing to lose piled forward, but it was a strong test of character from Saints who held firm, but it took a couple of smart saves from McCarthy as well as a superb header off the line from Bertrand to keep the lead intact and put the team into the quarter finals and only 90 minutes from a Wembley semi.
There wasn't a player out there who didn't put in a shift, that included usual whipping boy Nathan Redmond who worked hard and played his part in the second goal and Jack Stephens who seems to be benefitting from playing in a settled partnership with Wesley Hoedt and although he is still a way off being the real deal, seems to be learning.
Likewise Guido Carrillo who although didn't score did plenty of good work up front and played his part in both goals, Saints look a better side going forward with Carrillo who has a bit of guile in his play that we have lacked.
For once the manager made the right substitutions at the right times and we saw the game through.
Ironically Saints season now stands at a crossroads, if they can build on what is now only one defeat in an eight game run that has seen four wins and three draws then this season could be interesting, if Pellegrino wins six more games this season then he could be hailed as having the best season in the history of the club, yet it could also go the other way and it would be a brave man who would predict either with any confidence.
However what we can say is that we have a talented squad and in the final third of the season if they can play to their strengths then they might just win games despite the manager rather than because of him.
What is needed is more spirited performances where the side digs in and the supporters get behind them, if that happens then we can pull clear of relegation and more, yes this is hardly a win against one of the big six, but a win is a win and three more in the league will see us safe, add three more in the cup and what a season that would be.