FANS made a return to Rodney Parade but their hopes of another cup upset were over before their half-time brew as Southampton showed their Premier League quality to dismantle Newport County AFC 8-0.

The Saints became the ninth of this season’s top-flight clubs to visit Newport in the Michael Flynn era and they showed their class and professionalism in round two of the Carabao Cup.

Newcastle and Brighton needed penalties to progress at the Parade in 2020/21 but Southampton got the job done with ease inside 45 minutes, let alone 90.

Perhaps after recent cup performances this was a reality check for those who head to Newport expecting an upset.

This is, after all, how it’s meant to be but the Exiles will have been disappointed with their display in front of a big crowd in their first home game of the campaign.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side were hugely impressive against a County team that, as you’d expect, lacked the class of opponents who turned up with a spot-on attitude.

Armando Broja, Nathan Tella and Kyle Walker-Peters earned a 3-0 lead at the break and three more followed before the hour, Mohamed Elyounoussi (2) and Broja striking.

It wasn’t making good viewing for manager Michael Flynn, who is in isolation until next week because of coronavirus, and it got worse when Nathan Redmond fired home after 69 minutes and Elyounoussi got his hat-trick at the death.

Sadly, there wasn’t even the consolation of television money to ease the pain after a record League Cup defeat.

South Wales Argus:

This time it was the Exiles left to grumble about the state of the Rodney Parade pitch – the summer work meant the new hybrid surface was too good.

That should serve County well over the coming weeks and months but it allowed Southampton to play a rapid game to show their quality.

They played at a tempo that stretched County and forced them to make decisions sharply and under pressure.

Unsurprisingly, they made mistakes but the consolation is that Salford on Saturday will feel like it’s being played in slow motion.

County, with one eye on Saturday’s tough League Two trip to Moor Lane, made six changes from the excellent win at Tranmere.

Nick Townsend returned in goal for Joe Day after starring in round one at Ipswich while captain Matty Dolan made his return at the heart of the defence after a calf injury on opening weekend.

The Exiles went back to a defensive three with Aaron Lewis and Louis Hall coming in as wing-backs for Cameron Norman and Ryan Haynes.

Influential Ed Upson dropped to the bench with Chris Missilou starting next to Scot Bennett while Timmy Abraham came in for Alex Fisher, who was given the night off after scoring the winner at Prenton Park.

Southampton weren’t messing about and fielded a strong side captained by England midfielder James Ward-Prowse.

The Saints started with tempo and Townsend was forced into a smart stop after two minutes when Elyounoussi tried his luck from distance.

A dangerous Robbie Willmott cross caused the visitors a nervy moment but they hit the front in the ninth minute through Broja.

Nathan Redmond’s thumping drive from distance forced Townsend into an incredible save but the ball rebounded off the underside of the bar and the striker tucked it away, celebrating after a quick glance to check the flag hadn’t gone up.

Redmond was then guilty of wasting a pair of chances to extend the lead, pulling a shot wide from a cutback and missing the target after Hall had given away possession.

However, the second came just seconds after County had been putting the pressure on with a corner.

South Wales Argus:

Southampton countered and livewire Nathan Tella raced clear to slot past Townsend, with the decision to keep the flag down looking correct from the back of the Rodney Road stand.

It took a smart stop by Townsend at his near post to prevent Ibrahima Diallo making it 3-0 before half an hour had been played, then Redmond was denied by a deflection.

The pace of the Saints on the break was astonishing but while they have better players, County would have been slightly disappointed with their showing.

They certainly would have been disappointed with the third with Redmond pinging the ball to the left where Walker-Peters was given too much time to fire a low shot that beat Townsend at his near post.

Hasenhuttl would have said to his players that the second half was a test of their attitude, Hatswell would have said it was a test of the new-look side’s character.

The County boss made two changes, bringing on the experience of midfielders Ed Upson and Kevin Ellison for Dolan and Finn Azaz (perhaps with Salford in mind?).

Yet it was soon 4-0 after Broja slammed against the right post, the ball hit Townsend and Elyounoussi poked home under pressure from Farquharson.

County were rattled and Elyounoussi slotted from a through ball and possession was gifted away from the restart for Broja to slam into the top left corner.

The Exiles could have done with the Saints clocking off but sadly they had players keen to prove a point to their boss.

Redmond finally got his goal to make it 7-0 with 20 minutes to go, prompting “we want nine” chants from the Southampton fans who have seen their side ship that number to Leicester and Manchester United in recent years.

Ellison went close after Fraser Forster and sub Jordan Greenidge collided but Elyounoussi had the final say when firing under Townsend, who should have done better.

County: Townsend, Farquharson, Dolan (captain, Upson 45), Clarke, Lewis, Hall, Missilou, Bennett (Greenidge 65), Azaz (Ellison 45), Willmott, Abraham.
Substitutes not used: Day, Haynes, Collins, Hylton.
Yellow: Townsend, Lewis, Upson

Southampton: Forster, Walker-Peters, Stephens, Bednarek, Valery, Diallo, Ward-Prowse (captain), Redmond, Tella, Broja, Elyounoussi.
Substitutes: Lewis, Salisu, Perraud, Romeu, Obafemi, Long, Walcott.
Goals: Broja (2), Tella, Walker-Peters, Elyounoussi (3), Redmond

Referee: Darren Drysdale