THERE was hurt and heart in equal measure for Saints as they crashed out of the Worthington League Cup on penalties.

It was another hugely encouraging display in terms of chances and character as they twice came from behind to force a sudden-death shoot-out.

Inevitably such a scenario produces heroes and villains and while former Southampton striker Rod Wallace hit the winning spot-kick, sadly it was Chris Marsden who failed to convert his.

There could hardly have been a less appropriate man to miss than the inspirational midfielder who is probably the club's player of the season so far.

While other more likely candidates ducked out, he had the bottle to step forward after both sides had scored their initial five kicks.

Marsden hit it well enough but Jussi Jaaskelainen guessed correctly to save leaving Wallace to complete the job.

It was a heartbreaking way to lose, not least because Saints had enough opportunities to have won it first in normal time and then in extra-time. Again it was Marsden who had the chance to win it. In injury-time of normal time, Paul Telfer's corner from the left gave him a free header but he failed to make clean contact glancing it wide of the far post.

Even so, Saints should have been in front by then and it could even be argued that this match was effectively decided on penalties long before the sudden-death shoot-out with one given and one not.

Bolton took the lead after 54 minutes when Dean Holdsworth scored from the spot after Paul Williams was judged to have tripped Japanese striker Akinori Nishizawa who had turned sharply past him.

In fairness it did look a cast-iron cert - but then so did Colin Hendry's push to block Kevin Davies after 85 minutes.

After lengthy consultation with a linesman, referee Andy D'Urso appeared to bottle the decision by giving an indirect free-kick for obstruction rather than a penalty. Beattie headed just over from Paul Telfer's chip.

Davies had brought Saints level just six minutes earlier forcing home from close range after Beattie's never-say-die spirit had seen him retrieve a lofted ball beyond the far post by Marian Pahars to the left of goal.

It was no more than they deserved after controlling much of the game - albeit against a Bolton side showing nine changes from the side which drew with Fulham three days earlier.

By contrast Gordon Strachan made just one enforced switch with Claus Lundekvam ruled out by an ankle injury.

It was an indication not just how much Saints wanted to win through but more that they wanted to build some momentum following their first win under the new boss against Charlton on Saturday.

In that sense they achieved their objective even though they lost out in the lottery.

The first half was patchy with passes going astray and little fluidity to their play although they did create openings for Beattie, Matt Oakley and Telfer who were all off target.

With Paul Williams and Tahar El Khalej reading and intercepting almost every move, the home side threatened little apart from a free header by Jermaine Johnson which shaved the base of a post.

Bolton's goal on 54 minutes seemed to spark Saints who began to play with more incision and precision, notably when the introduction of Davies saw virtually a 4-3-3 formation.

The front men chased with pace and purpose ahead of a middle line which took control of the game.

Saints almost levelled on 68 minutes when Beattie found space to the right of goal and prodded past Jaaskelainen only for Djibril Diawara to get back and clear off the line.

There was an almost identical chance four minutes into the second half of extra-time when Michael Ricketts latched onto a pass from Nicky Southall.

From a similar angle he beat Jones with a shot which just had enough to get over the line in painful contrast to Beattie's luckless effort.

That looked to be the game won but the home defence dozed off to allow Saints to level within a minute.

Oakley chipped forward and Tahar El Khalej was left alone to control neatly, turn and sweep home

In the final seconds Beattie rifled a 25-yard free-kick over the bar but by then the game was destined for a penalty shoot-out - Southampton's first since their memorable FA Cup win at Old Trafford in February 1992.

But while the outcome this time was desperately disappointing, it was tempered by the knowledge that their league win here earlier in the season was by far the more important of the two games.

No-one would swap those three points for victory last night - apart from possibly Sam Allardyce!