Southampton manager Claude Puel was pleased with the performance and the spirit displayed by his youth players in the EFL Cup win over Sunderland on Wednesday night.

The French manager gave starts to five Academy graduates in the game while another graduate, Olufela Olomola, made a first-half substitute appearance following an injury to Jay Rodriguez.

The hosts registered a 1-0 win thanks to a stunning second-half goal from summer signing Sofiane Boufal and will now travel to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the competition in late November.

Puel said: "It was a very hard game. I chose at the start to change the team to leave some players in the dressing room.

"I wanted to give the chance in this game to players like Boufal and all of the young players.

"We have some injuries, so some players didn't play in their position too, like (Jack) Stephens for example.

"He played at right-back, but with a good attitude he played a good game, like all of the young players."

Alongside Stephens and Olomola, the Saints boss gave invaluable game time to Lloyd Isgrove, Harrison Reed, Sam McQueen and regular senior James Ward-Prowse, who is also an academy product.