Southampton outclassed Tottenham in all departments to register a comprehensive victory in the first FA Cup tie played at the St Mary's Stadium.

The home team - who beat Tottenham at the same venue on New Year's Day - deservedly took the lead through Michael Svensson.

And two goals in six minutes early in the second half settled the contest, with Jo Tessem and substitute Anders Svensson on the scoresheet.

Tottenham were distressingly poor, while Southampton bristled with ideas and added a fourth through the prolific James Beattie close to full-time.

Southampton's bright start was soon rewarded with a goal.

Chris Perry fouled Wayne Bridge on the edge of the Spurs area and goalkeeper Kasey Keller could only parry Beattie's subsequent free kick, which took a nasty kick off the pitch.

Michael Svensson won the race to reach the rebound and stabbed the ball home from close range.

Beattie knocked a brilliantly inviting ball to Tessem as Saints hit Spurs on the break but the Norwegian midfielder could not control the ball with the goal at his mercy and Perry bundled the ball out.

After the Tottenham goalkeeper's error with the opening goal, Saints peppered Keller from long-range and both Paul Telfer and Anders Svensson forced the American into action.

Spurs had virtually nothing to show for their first-half endeavour except for a Robbie Keane shot that took a wicked deflection and missed Antti Niemi's goal by inches.

Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle introduced Darren Anderton for Perry at the start of the second half.

But his team's new 4-4-2 formation lasted just five minutes before conceding.

Tessem ran on to Beattie's deft flick and shot across Keller to double his team's advantage.

Spurs almost bounced straight back through some magical dribbling from Keane but Niemi brilliantly parried the Irishman's shot and Teddy Sheringham's shot on the rebound was blocked.

But Hoddle's half-time team-talk lay in tatters shortly afterwards later when Anders Svensson scored Southampton's third.

The Spurs defence fatally backed off while a superb dummy run from Tessem pulled the back four across goal, allowing Svensson the opportunity to blast the ball past an increasingly beleaguered Keller.

Spurs did attempt to force their way back into the contest but Keane - who excels at the spectacular - wasted two very scorable opportunities to get his side back into the fixture.

And Beattie scored a headed fourth for Saints with 10 minutes left after his initial shot was parried to complete a superb display.