Tranmere Rovers4-3Southampton

Tranmere Rovers produced one of the greatest comebacks in FA Cup history, recovering from three goals down at half-time to beat Premier League Southampton 4-3 at Prenton Park.

Paul Rideout scored a remarkable 21-minute hat-trick to drag Rovers level before substitute Stuart Barlow completed the turnaround with the winning goal six minutes from time. The victory earned John Aldridge's side a home quarter-final against Liverpool.

There was little indication of what was to come during a first half dominated by Southampton. Hassan Kachloul opened the scoring after 11 minutes, curling a skilful 20-yard effort beyond John Achterberg.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 25th minute. Marian Pahars delivered a cross-field pass to Kachloul, whose low centre was turned in from close range by Jo Tessem.

Southampton appeared to have settled the tie during first-half stoppage time. Achterberg was unable to hold Tessem's header from a Kachloul free-kick and Dean Richards reacted quickest to force home the loose ball.

Rovers left the pitch 3-0 down and apparently heading out of the competition. Aldridge responded with a furious interval team talk and an attacking change, replacing defender Dave Challinor with Barlow.

The adjustment transformed the contest. Tranmere played with renewed intensity and reduced the deficit after 59 minutes. Jason Koumas delivered a corner, Andy Parkinson sent the ball towards goal and Rideout supplied the decisive touch.

That goal gave Rovers belief and Southampton began to retreat. The second arrived after 71 minutes, again following a Koumas corner. Southampton goalkeeper Paul Jones initially produced an excellent save to deny Steve Yates, but Rideout met the resulting delivery with a powerful header to make it 3-2.

Jones briefly preserved Southampton's lead with another superb stop from Barlow, but the pressure continued. With ten minutes remaining, Parkinson crossed into the area and Rideout headed home his third goal to complete a stunning hat-trick and bring Rovers level.

Prenton Park had barely recovered when the winning goal arrived. Rideout turned provider, releasing Barlow to slide the ball past Jones in the 84th minute and complete an astonishing transformation from 3-0 down to 4-3 ahead.

Southampton had looked certain to progress after a commanding first half, but they had no answer to Tranmere's spirit after the interval. Rovers played with the urgency and determination which had already made them formidable cup opponents, while Rideout and Barlow punished an increasingly unsettled visiting defence.

The victory added another top-flight scalp to an extraordinary period of knockout football at Prenton Park. Rovers had already reached the Worthington Cup final during a campaign in which they repeatedly refused to accept defeat, and this comeback provided the most dramatic example yet.

After appearing dead and buried at half-time, Tranmere scored four times in 25 unforgettable minutes. Rideout's hat-trick supplied the inspiration, Barlow delivered the final blow and Aldridge's side secured a dream quarter-final meeting with Liverpool.