FA Cup : Southampton 1 : Manutd 2 'Terrific Owen'

Manchester United almost freeze up to the hard determintaion of southhampton team. But in late stage of the game, javier hernandez and michael owen produce the killer touch after Sir Alex bring in Nani and the far most experience Ryan giggs.

Ferguson said: 'Owen was terrific, - he showed a lot of composure to score. With Hernandez it's one chance, one goal. His work-rate is fantastic, he's always on the move. Sometimes we don't find enough space for him.

'He's scored in every competition, he's got great feet, he has shots, hopefully he will continue to improve. I'm sure he will.'

A delighted Owen claimed Southampton had run out of steam because they could not live with United's quality. The forward, whose headed equaliser on 65 minutes showed his predatory instincts of old, said: 'They played well and they are flying high in their division but inevitably the better quality shone through.

'It's not fitness, it's the fact that they had to run more to keep up and then they tired. That's how the better teams come good in the last half-hour.'

Ferguson is believed to have given his side a severe dressing-down during the interval and he sent them out early for the restart.Owen added: 'We weren't pleased, obviously, and it was similar to when Scunthorpe went a goal up against us in the Carling Cup. It was only in the last half-hour that we had our way.

'It is very difficult against these lower-league teams for the first hour and then you tend to get on top.'

Ferguson left Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov on the bench and Ryan Giggs came on only in the 58th minute, along with Nani. Many other stars did not make the trip - but Owen and Hernandez, 10 minutes later, spared United's blushes.