RYAN Fraser scored a brace as Saints thrashed League Two side Walsall 4-0 to progress to the FA Cup fourth round at St Mary's.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis' excellent pass found Fraser who struck low into the bottom corner to set the home side on their way to a comfortable victory.

Fraser then turned provider as his driving run set up Mara to swivel and shoot high into the roof of the net at the beginning of the second half.

The Scot brilliantly curled in a third before substitute Che Adams added a fourth for the rampant hosts.

Russell Martin made a host of changes for the cup tie with Joe Lumley included in the line-up for the first time, while Sam Amo-Ameyaw made his first start since August.

That was two of nine changes from the Saints side which drew 1-1 with Norwich City as Martin looked to give some of the fringe players opportunities against the lower-ranked opposition.

Amo-Ameyaw started the game brightly as he jinked his way to the by-line before delivering a chipped cross to the back post but Fraser was unable to get a solid contact on his header.

Saints took the lead on six minutes when Harwood-Bellis' ball over the top found Fraser who fired low past Jackson Smith.

The hosts almost went two to the good shortly after but Jayden Meghoma's cross was headed over by Mara.

The French forward then missed another golden opportunity when Amo-Ameyaw's driving run set up Fraser, his shot was deflected into the path of Mara but he slipped and fired over.

Walsall had spent the majority of the first half hoping to catch Saints on the break, and that plan almost came to fruition when Tom Knowles fired wide in the latter stages of the half.

Saints started the second period sloppily and were almost punished by Walsall after a mistake when trying to play the ball out from the back.

Mason Holgate presented Jack Earing with a one-on-one but he could only curl the ball wide of the far post.

That scare was only short-lived and Saints were soon celebrating making it 2-0 in the 59th minute when Fraser found Mara who swivelled and struck high into the roof of the net.

The Saints supporters were nearly on their feet again within minutes when Will Smallbone was picked out but he directed his effort just wide.

Fraser then produced a moment of real quality to put the game firmly beyond doubt with just over 20 minutes remaining.

A combination of Mara and Charly Alcaraz worked the ball out to the Scot, who still had a lot to do but he stepped onto the ball and curled a superb low effort inside the far post.

Adams, who has been linked with a move away in January, managed to get himself on the scoresheet when he held off the defender before his scuffed effort went just over the line.

Cameron Bragg was brought on for his debut in the final stages, while Tyler Dibling made his first senior St Mary's appearance.

The draw for the fourth round takes place on Monday while Saints are back in action against Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship next Saturday.

Saints: Lumley; Holgate, Stephens, Harwood-Bellis (Adams, 66), Meghoma; Charles, Smallbone, Alcaraz; Amo-Ameyaw (Bragg, 84), Fraser, Mara (Dibling, 76)

Unused Subs: Mccarthy, Manning, Bednarek, Downes, S Armstrong, A Armstrong

Booked: Amo-Ameyaw

Walsall: Smith; Okagbue, Daniels (Adegboyega, 76), Farquharson; Knowles, Comley, Hutchinson, Earing (Allen, 76), Gordon; Johnson (Foulkes, 84), James-Taylor

Unused Subs: Evans, Menayese, Wragg

Booked:

Referee: David Webb

Attendance: 22,627

Goals: Fraser 6'

Mara 59'

Fraser 69'

Adams 79'