LEAGUE Two Grimsby Town pulled off the shock of the FA Cup fifth round as they knocked Premier League Saints out with a 2-1 win.

It was much down to the self-destruction of Ruben Selles’s side as Gavan Holohan scored not one but two penalties for the fourth-tier outfit.

Duje Caleta-Car, who gave away the second one with an off-the-ball incident, pulled a goal back and Theo Walcott saw a leveller ruled out for offside.

Saints toiled into six minutes of additional time, inspired by captain James Ward-Prowse and little else, but the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition progressed to the quarter-finals.

New manager Selles opted to make nine changes from the defeat at Leeds United in an opportunity to rotate the squad, with only Romain Perraud and Romeo Lavia retaining their places. 

Despite sitting bottom of the Premier League with four points to make up in their final 14 fixtures, this one, however, represented a chance to reach Wembley with just one more win after needed.

Grimsby town were roared on by a strong travelling contingent of over 4,000 supporters and as many inflatable fish – named Harry Haddock, to be specific.

They were more vocal than the rest of the St Mary’s bowl, with the wings of each stand relatively empty even up to a few minutes before kick-off.

‘We’ve got Ruben Selles,’ was the first home chant to break through the noise but was met shortly after by the response of ‘you’re going down’.

Sekou Mara thought he’d silenced them inside 20 minutes but Moussa Djenepo had run too early during his part in the creation and the goal was ruled out for offside.

Mislav Orsic went close when his shot just curled around the post and Romeo Lavia was classy in his orchestrating from the middle.

But it was Grimsby who took a shock lead at St Mary’s. Holohan converted from the spot after a calamitous spot-kick concession.

The Mariners went close in open play, but for an Alex McCarthy save, after Lyanco unintentionally armed the ball in the area – and after a lengthy VAR check the penalty was given by Thomas Bramall.

A small smattering of boos greeted the referee’s half-time whistle but Selles sent the same XI back out and it was Deja Vu within five minutes of the second period.

Caleta-Car was punished for appearing to lash out and lay a hand on the back of a Grimsby forward in the area, with Holohan converting a second penalty of the night.

Substitute Ward-Prowse was called on to do something and he did exactly that. The captain whipped a ball into the back post and Caleta-Car was there to finish and atone for his penalty concession with 25 minutes still to play.

Romain Perraud’s touch on the halfway line gifted Grimsby a one-on-one but it was just about resolved with McCarthy diving to feet, before Walcott had an equaliser ruled out by VAR for offside.

Saints: McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Lyanco, Caleta-Car, Perraud; Lavia (Ward-Prowse, 58), Alcaraz, Djenepo (Ballard, 86), Orsic (Edozie, 58); A Armstrong (Aribo, 67), Mara (Walcott, 67).

Unused subs: Maitland-Niles, Bella-Kotchap, Doyle, Caballero (g/k).

Booked: Caleta-Car

Grimsby Town: Crocombe; Efete, Driscoll-Glennon, Waterfall, Emmanuel, Holohan, McAtee, Clifton, Hunt, Orsi, Maher.

Subs: Pearson, Khan, Morris, Dickson-Peters, Amos, Smith, Taylor, Khouri, Battersby (g/k).

Booked: Hunt

Referee: Thomas Bramall.

VAR: Craig Pawson.