[3] After an underwhelming first post-war league performance the previous season, Southampton manager Bill Dodgin made a number of new signings before the start of the 1947–48 campaign.

One of the biggest deals in the summer of 1947 was the sale of winger Don Roper to Arsenal, for whom the First Division side paid £12,000 as well as transferring two of their own forwards – George Curtis and Tommy Rudkin.

[7] Dodgin continued signing new players during the first half of the season, adding winger Billy Wrigglesworth and centre-forward Charlie Wayman in October,[8][9] followed by Scottish goalkeeper Ian Black in December.

[11] Charlie Wayman, who joined the club a few months after the season started, finished as Southampton's top scorer with 19 goals in all competitions – 17 in the league and two in the FA Cup.

[13] The team's performances picked up starting in November after they had signed prolific Newcastle United centre-forward Charlie Wayman, who helped them secure wins against title challengers Birmingham City, as well as mid-table sides Barnsley and Luton Town.

[14] In December, the club won three games in a row (including a season-record 6–1 return win over Doncaster) to reach the top five of the league table by Boxing Day.

The first half saw both sides enjoying chances on the opposition's goal, with Sunderland initially dominating possession but frequently being denied by the Saints defence (including goalkeeper Ian Black, who was making his home debut).

[16] Another home tie in the fourth round two weeks later saw Southampton hosting Blackburn Rovers who, like Sunderland, were fighting against relegation from the top tier of the Football League.

[12] In the final five minutes, with Southampton on the back foot and a replay looking likely, Day scored his second and the Saints' third of the game to send the Hampshire side through to the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1927.