Narrow-minded plot stuns Saints

'They put us on the backfoot. I thought we defended a little bit too deep late on, but we showed great determination.'

Southampton's chief culprit was their £3.5million Ecuador striker Agustin Delgado, who missed three sitters in his first start for the club and left Strachan choosing his words carefully at the end. Delgado was hauled off when he sent a free header wide of the target,

Strachan said: 'I think he'll be disappointed he never scored more goals. He did his best, seeing as he's been out for eight weeks, and if people make honest mistakes, then we can't complain.

'What I would say is that if we make as many chances and have as many crosses again this season, I'll be surprised.'

Another reason behind Moore's narrow-minded approach was to utilise defender Rob Scott's enormous throws.

That tactic had caused a stir in the League game on Saturday, when Watford No.2 Ray Wilkins persuaded the referee to stop the ball-boys from wiping the ball dry for the thrower. But they were at it again last night, and one of Scott's missiles caused havoc in the Southampton box as a fluffed clearance from Paul Telfer was almost punished by Martin McIntosh.

Southampton's cultured approach may have been more pleasing on the eye but it had limited success, particularly when the wasteful Delgado missed from close range when he tried to be too cute with a back-heel.

Telfer was having a torrid time helping out his defence and eventually his mistakes were punished when his push on McIntosh gave Rotherham a free-kick.

Kevin Watson's delivery was superb but there can be no excuses for Saints' sloppy marking which allowed Barker to fire in a diving header from 10 yards eight minutes before the break.

The ground erupted as Wales goalkeeper Paul Jones picked the ball out of his net and early in the second half there was more delight when Rotherham went further ahead.

Again Southampton were careless in defence - on this occasion Wayne Bridge was caught napping - but that should not take anything away from Mullin's excellent shot which proved too hot for Jones.

This was the last thing Strachan needed against a team aiming to extend a nine-game unbeaten home run and his last gamble was to throw on Kevin Davies, who immediately earned a penalty when he was pushed over by Andy Monkhouse.

Pahars sent Mike Pollitt the wrong way and Monkhouse's misery was compounded when Moore immediately substituted him.

Matt Le Tissier then made a belated appearance as Southampton threw everything forward in search of an equaliser, but apart from one curled effort which went harmlessly wide, the great man was not up to the task as Rotherham secured their first FA Cup win over top-flight opposition since they beat West Bromwich in 1984.