'We are really proud of the Saints'

"We stuck at it, we scored probably the best goal of the game. So proud of the boys."

Southampton came very close to reaching another FA Cup final, as Finn Azaz gave Saints the lead against Manchester City with just 11 minutes to go in their semi-final on Saturday but late goals from Manchester City ended the game 2-1.

Despite the defeat, fans described the goal as "such a nice cherry on the cake" and that they "will not stop singing until we get back to Southampton".

Head coach Tonda Eckert said it had been "a fantastic moment" to see the fans and that they would "need that support and that connection again" as they focus on the Championship and their game against Ipswich Town on Tuesday.

More than 35,000 Southampton fans traveled to Wembley yesterday.

One man, who had watched games there a few times, said the team "put up a really good fight".

"We are still proud Saints," he said.

A woman accompanying him said the game "was emotional but it was good".

"It was just pandemonium, wasn't it? It was nice to score but it was a shame about the result.

"It was heartbreaking but we move on."

Another fan, who had brought his granddaughter to a football match for the first time, described the scene after the goal as "mental".

"It's not our first time at Wembley, we've done this rodeo before so I enjoyed it," he said.

"My granddaughter was up cheering and going mad, she's just got into football, so a brilliant day for us."

A group of fans said they were "so proud of the boys".

"We stuck at it, we scored probably a brilliant goal, probably the best goal of the game and at the end of the day, their quality shone through," one of them said.

Another one recalls she thought she "was going to faint".

"It was chaos because it was such a good goal," she said.

"To score the first goal, it was just such a nice cherry on the cake - disappointing result, but it was a good day."

"It's been incredible, our fans just sang from the beginning to the end," said a woman wearing the Saints colours.

"I've been shaking the whole time. It really felt like it was written in the stars after the 50-year anniversary but Man City are too good in the end.

"It's disappointing but we will not stop singing until we get back to Southampton."

BBC Radio Solent's sports editor Adam Blackmore and former Saints midfielder Jo Tessem gave insights and analysis after the game.

"It's been a really proud, tough effort from Saints," Blackmore said.

"They have hung in against this mega-money, talented City-side and they have absolutely, under Tonda Eckert, got the pride back into Southampton, that is for sure."