IF THERE was one player who deserved to be a hero in this cup tie it was Matthew Oakley. The big question is - just how far can his talent take him?

After last night's FA Cup fourth round replay, in which Oakley scored both Saints' goals, Gordon Strachan suggested that his central midfield lynchpin should not be far off an England call-up.

While all the attention and hype has been around James Beattie's goalscoring feats, Oakley has quietly gone about his job in a highly effective way.

The goals are unusual for him as he normally plays a holding role, which Oakley recently admitted in an interview with The Echo could limit his international chances.

But his distribution is pretty much the best in the business, he's calm and clever on the ball, works hard, gets stuck in and can be the heartbeat of the Saints team.

There can certainly have been few better individual performances this season than his display against Arsenal.

It's already been said this season but, for my money, he's got to be in Sven's mind.

Strachan agreed: "I think James will be in the squad - Eriksson's already said that so it's expected but Matt Oakley's been one of our top men and, if anybody deserves it, it's him.

"Matt is a very talented player and has been as good as anyone - there's not too many, after Frank Lampard, as good in the middle of the park this season."

He added: "Mazza being in the centre with him gave him that wee bit of room to get forward.

"It's not Matt's fault he hasn't scored more goals, it's mine.

"In my team we have attacking midfield players like Rory or Anders who kick on and Oaks has to hold more, so it's my fault.

"They were terrific goals and two good strikes but we needed them because our finishing didn't look all that great.

"Our build-up play was excellent and that was brave football to play in a cup tie like that."

Oakley was the best player on the pitch and ultimately settled the entertaining, end-to-end replay which Saints just about shaded.

After Steven Reid had given Saints an early scare with a free-kick that flashed inches over the bar, Oakley put his side ahead on 21 minutes.

Paul Telfer's deflected cross was chested back by Anders Svensson to Oakley, who hit it, left foot, first time on the half-volley into the corner of the net from 25 yards - a real peach of a strike.

But, after enjoying long spells of possession, Saints were pegged back 16 minutes later when Steve Claridge got in a cross from the right wing which Reid converted at the second attempt after Antti Niemi had blocked his first effort.

In the second half there was plenty of blood and thunder stuff but not that many clear-cut openings - Niemi tipped over from Claridge, Beattie was unlucky with a header that hit the post and then a deflected shot.

Strachan used the tie to employ an interesting shift in tactics with Fabrice Fernandes switching from the right wing to the left, Chris Marsden pushing into the centre of midfield and Anders Svensson coming in on the right.

With Rory Dealp injured and David Prutton still to slot in, it certainly shows Strachan has plenty of options in the midfield department and he's not afraid to try them out.

The tie moved into extra-time and in the 102nd minute Oakley scored what proved to be the winner to shatter Millwall's 10-match unbeaten league and cup run.

He showed all that's good about his game - breaking up the play, playing a neat one-two with Anders Svensson and measuring a low right-foot shot into the same bottom corner that served him so well in the first half.

Saints now face Norwich a week on Saturday for a place in the quarter-finals.

And Oakley's talent could take him to the very top.