IT TOOK a salvage operation Nigel Adkins would rather not have launched to see Saints into the last 16 of the Carling Cup.

Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Jose Fonte all started last night’s 2-1 third round win over Preston on the bench.

They might as well have been enclosed in a glass box labelled ‘in case of emergency’.

As it was, all three had been dispatched to the pitch by the end of the match, as Saints ultimately made hard work of what was a deserved win over their League One opponents.

Lallana, introduced just after the hour mark, was rescuer-in-chief.

As he crossed the white line, the scoreboard read Saints 1 Preston 1.

Within seconds, the midfielder had headed in what proved to be the winner.

Such was the desire to avoid extra-time, Fonte and Lambert were then introduced in a bid to close out the tie.

Perhaps it was no surprise the match had reached such a stage.

The Carling Cup seems to hold increasingly less esteem with each passing season.

It certainly wasn’t held in particularly high regard by either Adkins or his counterpart Phil Brown.

Both managers made ten changes from their teams that had played league fixtures at the weekend.

Even the prospect of a place in the last 16 of what supposedly remains a ‘major’ competition wasn’t enough to tempt either into fielding anything that resembled a first-choice side.

If anything, the game seemed more of a nuisance to both clubs.

And the fans too. Just under 7,500 – one of the worst ever attendances for a competitive match at St Mary’s – were there to watch.

It was understandable. The prospect of a weakened Saints side battling what was, in effect, a Preston reserve team, was hardly great motivation to part with up to £14 for a ticket.

That wasn’t to say there weren’t some impressive understudy performances for Saints to enjoy.

It was a useful exercise for Adkins to see how some of his fringe players could cope if a more established star is forced out.

Lee Holmes was particularly sharp, while fellow winger Steve De Ridder proved a tormenting figure.

Ben Reeves, making his first start for the club, also enjoyed a night to remember.

The 19-year-old left-back probably never expected his full debut to come in an attacking position.

But, while he faded in the second half, he can take plenty of satisfaction from an encouraging display in the opening 45 minutes just behind Jonathan Forte.

The selection seemed a strange one, but Adkins’ tactics worked well in that area early on.

The pace of Forte meant Preston’s backline had to play deep, opening up plenty of space between defence and midfield for the skilful Reeves to operate. On another night, he may even have had a goal.

As it was, he could be content with his role in Jos Hooiveld’s opener, nodding Holmes’ corner back across goal for the Dutchman to turn in.

Saints were so superior in the first half that it almost required a double take to believe Adam Barton had managed to force in an equaliser shortly after the break.

Thankfully, though, Saints had enough in reserve to overcome the setback.

It was hardly an inspiring start to the night, but Saints quickly took control.

Jonathan Forte had the first real chance, being played in down the left, only to slice his shot high and wide.

Saints prodded away, particularly with flankers De Ridder and Holmes. The latter breezed past an admittedly immobile Seanan Clucas on countless occasions down the left, while De Ridder gave Preston’s other full-back, Steven Smith, plenty of trouble too, with the pair occasionally switching sides.

Reeves had a couple of shots from the edge of the area that just missed their target, before the visitors finally registered an effort, with Juvhel Tsoumou’s weak 24th minute effort no bother for Bartosz Bialkowski.

It was little surprise when Saints did take the lead – the goal arriving in the 27th minute.

Holmes’ in-swinging corner found Reeves, who had pulled away to the back post.

The youngster intelligently nodded the ball back across the six-yard box, where centre-half Hooiveld turned it in for his first Saints goal.

The strike sparked the hosts into a higher level of performance, with Morgan Schneiderlin – captaining the team – dictating play from the centre of midfield, alongside the tenacious Richard Chaplow.

Despite their domination of the ball, Saints failed to capitalise further, and had to make do with a one-goal advantage at the break.

Seven minutes after the restart, they paid the price.

Darel Russell’s skidding left-foot shot across goal was palmed towards the penalty spot by Bialkowski, and Barton reacted quickest to force the ball slowly over the line.

Adkins decided to call on the cavalry in the 64th minute, sending Lallana on for De Ridder.

It took mere moments for the substitution to pay dividends.

Lallana spun Clucas brilliantly in midfield, fed a nice pass out to Holmes on the right, and drove into the area to meet the resulting cross with a near post header that gave keeper Andreas Arestidou no chance.

Immediately, Adkins introduced Fonte in place of Hooiveld to shore up the backline.

Brown would counter with the introduction of star striker Neil Mellor, before Lambert was sent on for Saints.

The game was disjointed, but Adkins’ men still looked in control.

Lallana nearly finished the tie off in injury time, shifting the ball onto his right foot on the edge of the area, before crashing a shot just over the bar.

Preston were pumping the ball into the Saints area at every opportunity, trying to force another leveller, but the home backline held firm.