Southampton's miserable season was boosted as the Premier League's bottom side cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win over Championship side Swansea City to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Teenager Tyler Dibling scored twice after Kamaldeen Sulemana had opened the scoring for the Saints, who were dominant throughout.

Sulemana lofted the ball over Swansea's stranded stand-in goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin to open the scoring and, but for some wayward finishing, Saints would have won by a bigger margin.

Dibling tapped home to complete a flowing move to make it 2-0 and scored his second on 64 minutes as Swansea failed to clear.

The hosts were able to cruise home in the final stages with Swansea only threatening through a Joe Allen effort that struck the post.

Bottom of the Premier League win just one win all season, Southampton have had little to celebrate this season, but they were far too good for Swansea.

The visitors were ripped apart 5-0 last season in the last meeting between these two sides and the hosts could easily have replicated that scoreline.

It said much about the predicament Southampton find themselves in, in terms of confidence and form, that it was the Premier League side who fielded a less rotated XI, making just two changes from their 5-0 Premier League defeat by Brentford, as Ivan Juric recalled Mateus Fernandes and Ryan Manning.

Swansea boss Luke Williams opted to make four changes from the Welsh club's 1-1 draw with West Brom, including a debut for goalkeeper McLaughlin after a season on the sidelines.

Southampton lined up without a recognised striker in their side and defender Kyle Walker-Peters had the first chance of the contest, but he lashed the ball over the crossbar with time and space to apply a more considered finish.

Swansea's backline featured no recognised central defenders and the hosts almost capitalised on defensive hesitancy moments after Walker-Peters' chance, but Sulemana just missed the target after gliding through unchallenged.

However, Sulemana made no mistake on 20 minutes as McLaughlin raced out of his goal with little hope of making an interception as Sulemana lofted the ball into the empty net. "We've scored a goal," the Saints faithful sang.

The hosts are having a torrid season in the Premier League, but the gulf between the Premier League and the middle of the Championship was clear on 35 minutes as a flowing Southampton move culminated with Sulemana crossing for teenager Dibling to convert with a tap-in.

The Swans had lost each of their last seven FA Cup ties against Premier League sides and four on the spin against Southampton, so the prospect of a comeback from the visitors looked unlikely after a first half in which they failed to produce an effort on target.

McLaughlin saved instinctively from Jan Bendnarek's close-range header as the hosts continued to dominate after the interval and it was little surprise when they scored a third goal as Dibling fired home after reacting quickest in a crowded penalty area after Manning's cross.

Southampton might have added to their advantage with substitutes Cameron Archer and Adam Armstrong both denied by McLaughlin.

Swansea did come close to a consolation goal, but Wales midfielder Allen saw his effort from 20-yards bounce off the inside of the post.

Southampton have now won their last six FA Cup third round games and can look forward to a home tie against Burnley in round four.