CHELTENHAM Town boss Mark Yates had vowed his side would arrive at St Mary’s with the intention of attacking Saints.

But that message never seemed to filter through to the Robins players, as Nigel Adkins’ men strolled to a 3-0 FA Cup second round victory that was as routine as you could imagine.

Saints went into yesterday's match protecting a 25-year record of never having lost to a lower league side at home in the competition.

And, while Yates had insisted Cheltenham would bring a sense of adventure with them on their journey south, that run was never remotely in threat.

“We want to be positive and take the game to them,” Yates had said.

“We won’t sit back and soak things up, we want to go there and make an impression.”

If they did, it certainly wasn’t a lasting one.

Saints cruised to victory, and they did so without ever really getting close to top gear.

It was so simple for them that they never needed to.

Yates threw just one striker onto the pitch – Jeff Goulding – with Brian Smikle playing behind him.

But Saints’ centre halves Jose Fonte and Radhi Jaidi dealt with the rare threats that the visitors did pose fairly comfortably.

The midfield was totally dominated by the hosts and Adkins’ side did enough in attack to ease past their League Two opponents.

Brighton had arrived at St Mary’s on Tuesday with the intention of not losing and, whether it was by design or not, Cheltenham seemed to have a similar outlook.

Yet, unlike the Seagulls, the Robins didn’t have enough quality or discipline to see it through.

And credit to Saints for disposing of them with such ease.

Having failed to break down that unadventurous Brighton outfit on Tuesday, it was a timely confidence boost to see them cruise past another cautious side so soon after.

It’s certainly an approach Saints have to get used to from opponents at St Mary’s and another chance to gain some experience against it will have done them no harm at all – especially as they dismantled it so comfortably.