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Armstrong: The cup is always interesting

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Relief was the overriding emotion for Stuart Armstrong following a gruelling FA Cup tie with Championship side Coventry City, which Southampton edged in extra-time.

Armstrong was on the scoresheet for the first time this term, with a thunderbolt effort to draw Saints level in the second period, forcing additional time and giving Kyle Walker-Peters the chance to score the decider.

The midfielder had been absent for much of the season with reoccurring injuries, but feels as if he's back on the right track following a standout performance and a goal worthy of any victory.

"It wasn't the best of starts for us," Armstrong confessed. "To be fair to them [Coventry], they made it difficult for us in the first half. When they scored they retreated a little bit, tried to defend. But luckily we managed to get the breakthrough.

"I don't think either team wanted to go to extra-time, but that's what it took. We're just very happy we managed to get over the line before penalties.

"The cup is always interesting. You can never quite predict what is going to happen. Two late wins. Hopefully in the next round we can have a bit of a cleaner performance. But I think everyone enjoyed it tonight.

"It was a frustrating first six months of the season for me. I'm very happy to score the first goal and help the team. The main objective is to build on that performance and stay in the team now."