Aston Villa relieved the pressure on manager John Gregory with an emphatic win over Southampton.

Goals from Steve Watson - his first for the club - Julian Joachim and a late Dion Dublin brace earned Villa a clash with West Ham United in the next round.

It was hardly a vintage performance in front of a sparse 17,608 crowd and Villa were definitely flattered by the final scoreline.

Early on Southampton had reasonable claims for a penalty turned down by referee Barry Knight when a cross-cum-shot from Marian Pahars looked to be handled by George Boateng.

But out of the blue Villa took the lead in the 22nd minute. A deep left-wing centre from Alan Wright was met by the onrushing Watson and his header looped back across goal and past goalkeeper Paul Jones into the far corner of the net.

After Pahars had a low drive saved by David James, Villa killed off the game with two goals between the 66th and 72nd minutes. First Joachim seized on to a headed back pass from Patrick Colleter, skipped past Jones and drilled the ball into an empty net.

Then Watson turned provider with a low cross which found Dublin in so much space that he had time to control the ball before firing past the exposed Jones.

That looked to be the end of the scoring but in injury-time another threatening cross from Wright was meat and drink for Dublin who headed powerfully past Jones.

Aston Villa: James, Calderwood, Southgate, Barry, Watson, Boateng, Taylor (Stone 74), Hendrie (Thompson 79), Wright, Dublin, Joachim (Merson 75). Subs Not Used: Ghrayib, Enckelman. Booked: Joachim, Boateng. Goals: Watson 22, Joachim 66, Dublin 72, 90.

Southampton: Jones, Tessem, Lundekvam, Richards, Colleter, Ripley (Dodd 84), Soltvedt (Le Tissier 44), Oakley, Hughes, Kachloul (Boa Morte 84), Pahars. Subs Not Used: Beattie, Moss. Booked: Oakley.

Referee: B Knight (Orpington).