An impressively abysmal refereeing performance was the main factor in Saints’ first league defeat in 2010 after a dubious late penalty gave Tranmere the three points.

Full report to follow…

Saints sent out a statement of intent with a 5-0 thrashing of playoff contenders Huddersfield Town to suggest that a late bid for the top 6 may not be out of the question. Goals from Rickie Lambert, Lee Barnard, Jason Puncheon, Dean Hammond and Papa Waigo did the damage, and it could have been more.

Full report to follow…

Saints turned in a performance of utter dominance as a brace from Lee Barnard and goals from Jason Puncheon, Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana gave them a 5-1 win over Walsall.

Full report to follow…

Saints were held to a goalless draw in what was quite frankly a terrible game at Adams Park, to leave them 20 points off the playoffs.

Saints made one change to the side that pulled off a 2-0 away win at Norwich at the weekend. With Morgan Schneiderlin missing out with injury, Michail Antonio was brought into the starting eleven; meaning Jason Puncheon was switched from the wing to central midfield in an attacking looking line-up.

The view was just as bad as it looks.

Wycombe started the game the better side and were unfortunate not to score early on. Striker Alex Revell chased a hopeful punt down the wing and his tireless attitude was enough to force Davis off his line to clear. The Saints number one misjudged his rushed headed cleared straight to McLeod though; who sent a lob goalwards. Jaidi momentarily relieved the danger with an interception that only went as far to Jon-Paul Pittman, but the recovering Davis was thankful to save a tame effort.

On a difficult Adams Park surface, both teams struggled with fluency in their passing, but the home side’s tactic to pass it neat and short, particularly down the right hand side was working best as they then looked to utilise Pittman’s pace with a ball over the top – pressure that saw them win a handful of first half corners.

It was from a corner that the home side threatened further to open the scoring. The ball was flicked on to the back post from the set piece and Kevin Betsy turned sharply to hook a volley that was repelled with a great smothering save from close range by Davis.

Given the conditions, and in an away match, it seemed odd that Pardew opted to play the attacking options of Lambert and Barnard upfront with Puncheon, Lallana and Antonio contributing (rarely) from midfield, when they really could have done with more bite in midfield to aid Hammond and combat Wanderers’ energetic approach.

And after seeing just one half chance created in the opening 35 minutes, a glanced header from Barnard that went harmlessly wide, Pardew opted to bring on Wotton in place of Antonio to add more balance to the side.

Still, Wycombe could have gone in at the half time interval with a one goal lead, as Keates broke from midfield and tried his luck with a powerful effort that Davis looked to have covered, but managed to spill through his legs, before eventually atoning to gather at the second attempt.

Half Time: Wycombe Wanderers 0-0 Southampton

The second half started with little risk from either side and no chances of note at all in the first fifteen minutes – in fact there was more entertainment and goalmouth action during the half time break, which involved local youngsters from either side competing in a penalty shoot-out, with some classy celebrations on display.

Unfortunately it looked as though there would be no goal celebrations from any of the senior players, as more chances started to be created, but no finishing touch on offer.

Jason Puncheon’s play for the away side had been slightly predictable for much of the game, as he continuously looked to cut in on his left foot, but the January transfer window signing started to get more involved and after a good run down the right, his teasing cross was too good for Lambert who didn’t connect properly from just a couple of yards.

Wycombe may be in a relegation dogfight, but their performance continued to belie their league position, as they did show glimpses of quality, as well as hard work. With twenty minutes remaining they almost got the goal some of their play had deserved, when Keates launched a ball forward to Pittman who raced onto the ball and hit a great first-time volley, which was denied by an even better save by Davis – tipping the ball onto the crossbar.

Papa Waigo was introduced to the game soon after in place of Barnard and almost made an immediate impact when he passed to Lambert, who in turn found Lallana to the left hand side of box. His eventual shot was curled just inches wide though - after routine neat footwork to set himself up.

And the game looked all set for a draw when Saints at last managed to get a testing shot on target, but were denied by good goalkeeping by Manchester United loan player Tom Heaton. Lambert lined up a free kick from 30 yards and his powerful low effort was kept out as the home side looked determined, that if they weren’t to score themselves, they’d at least hang onto a clean sheet for a vital point in their relegation battle, but a point that didn’t do too much good for Saints’ playoff aspirations.

Full Time: Wycombe Wanderers 0-0 Southampton

A Lee Barnard double - his first goals for the club - gave Saints a massive 2-0 win at league leaders Norwich City.

Guest report by Matt Hemsley:

Saints put in their most complete performance of this season to date to defeat table topping Norwich two nil at a subdued Carrow Road.  It was Paul Lambert’s first defeat in Norwich this season, having led the Colchester side that inflicted the only other home loss on the opening day of the season.

Jaidi kept his place in the back 4, but Saints new signings were all out in force after cup games had forced some to miss out.  Jason Puncheon controlled the play from the right of midfield, with several good touches.  Lee Barnard ran hard all game, playing slightly deeper than Lambert, and started to show what a good player he can be.

Lambert and Barnard both put early half chances over the bar, the latter after good work from Puncheon down the right.  But just after the half hour Saints deservedly broke the deadlock, a Lambert free kick bounced down and out off the bar, and Barnard nodded in to an unguarded net.

Saints continued to dominate possession, and Kelvin Davis had little to do in the Saints goal.  After half time Norwich had perhaps their only 5 minutes on top in the game.  Davis was called upon to make one brilliant save, after a deflected 30 yard shot threatened to loop into the top of the net.  He brilliantly tipped onto the bar.  Davis showing how important he is to the side’s success.

Puncheon wasted a great opportunity when put through one-on-one.  He attempted to round the ‘keeper rather than shoot, and was denied.

Darel Russell was sent off for a high challenge on Schneiderlin, perhaps harshly, and Saints looked to push forward again.  Norwich were still menacing, but Saints creating the better chances, an unlucky Lallana hitting the post twice in only a couple of minutes.

It was Puncheon who created the decisive goal, beating 2 players on the right wing, getting to the bye-line and pulling back for Barnard to drive home.  The rest of the game mattered little, as Saints comfortably closed out the game.

Alan Pardew has added players cannily this season, and his January signings appear to have fallen into place.  It will still be an uphill struggle to make the play-offs, but this team could dominate the rest of the season.

Three late goals on the break saw the Blue Few take the local bragging rights for at least a few days after Saints had dominated large parts of the game but failed to take numerous chances.

Full report to follow…

Goals from Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana as well as a freak Dan Woodards own goal saw Saints book a trip to Wembley against Carlisle United for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final at the end of March.

Full report to follow…

Saints dropped two more points in Sunday League conditions at St James’ Park as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Exeter City.

Full report to follow…

Second-half goals from Rickie Lambert and Papa Waigo saw Saints labour to an ultimately-comfortable 2-0 win over bottom club Stockport County.

Full report to follow…

Another Jekyll-and-Hyde performance saw Saints dominate the first half but cling on to a point in the second period. Lloyd James gave Saints the lead early on, but Leon Legge equalised with 7 minutes to go.

Day on the beer and camera = poor photo.

With Saints still competing in three competitions, Alan Pardew dealt with the congestion of the fixture schedule by recalling Seaborne, Fonte and Otsemobor to the defence at the expense of Jaidi, Perry and Thomas, who had featured in the FA Cup at the weekend. Lee Barnard made his first league start since his move from Southend United and Morgan Schneiderlin lined up on the bench after seeing his three match ban for a red card successfully rescinded.

Saints made their intentions for the game known very early on, as they attacked from the kick off. Michail Antonio hurried onto a long ball through the middle and lobbed over the onrushing Brentford goalkeeper Szczesny, but the ball went harmlessly wide.

They found their range soon after though with a wonderful strike in just the fourth minute. A long throw down the left hand side found Lambert, who saw his chipped pass sit up perfectly for LLOYD JAMES to hit a dipping volley into the top corner of the net, which saw the keeper well beaten.

Brentford looked particularly threatening down the left hand side, where Jon Otsemobor struggled to deal with winger, Weston and full back, Dickson, who both were willing to bomb forward whenever possible. And after Weston saw his low effort go across the face of goal, Dickson made a good run down the flank and crossed for Macdonald who flicked the ball inches wide.

The away side continued to produce chances and after Barnard headed wide and Antonio shot into the side netting, the pair combined for a great chance to double the lead. Barnard fed Antonio and the winger cut inside well, before seeing his low drive tipped agonisingly onto the post by Szczesny.

Uncertainty at the heart of the Brentford almost cost them dear when they had three chances to clear the ball, but couldn’t get it away. Smith’s interception only went as far to Lallana on the edge of the box and the midfielder had goal number 13 of a productive season in his sights, but saw his curling effort crash back off the cross bar.

But as the half went by it was The Bees who started to get better control on the game in midfield and they, themselves were unlucky not to find the net when captain, O’Connor’s volley tested Davis at full stretch.

The half ended in disappointment though as Lloyd James was forced off with injury, depleting midfield options further with Hammond already out injured. And so it proved fortunate that Schneiderlin was able to come on after just serving a one match ban, rather than three.

Half Time: Brentford 0-1 Southampton

Southampton came out for the second half looking to start it as they had the first and almost did exactly that. Lallana’s long ball forward was inch perfect for Barnard, who brought the ball down well, left Legge for dead and turned Smith inside out, before somehow failing to do the easy bit and firing the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.

The hosts started to attack with more urgency as they looked to level the game and again were unfortunate to find Davis in great form - Macdonald found Weston in space in the penalty area and the midfielder’s ferocious shot was somehow tipped over the bar at point blank range.

The Saints defence started to ride their luck a little bit, not least when from the resulting corner, Bean was found with too much space and his goal bound effort was desperately scrambled off the line by Mills.

Lambert tried his luck from distance; after Barnard’s pressure had forced a poor clearance from Szczesny, but saw his speculative effort go well wide, while Barnard continued to atone for his earlier miss by working hard around the box; setting up Lallana who saw his curling effort parried wide.

And with the away side failing to extend their lead, it was starting to look a fragile one. Wotton’s legs were looking tired and weary; similarly Schneiderlin was struggling to get to grips with a very poor pitch, as the centre of midfield looked vulnerable.

Brentford had just introduced Saunders to the game and he looked energetic in midfield and didn’t take long to make an impact. He picked up the ball and played a one two with Macdonald, before seeing his near post shot parried by Davis into the path of to Macdonald, but the striker could only find the post with his shot from a tight angle.

The game’s turning point came when the referee awarded a questionably soft penalty to the home side - after Wotton was judged to have handled in the area. Justice was done when O’Connor stepped up to take the spot kick, but saw his low effort met with a strong hand by Davis, to his right.

Despite this miss, the hosts continued, and upped their pressure in the game and netted a deserved equaliser with just seven minutes to go. Dickson again got forward down the left hand side and his cross was met with a thumping header by LEGGE who had ghosted into the box unnoticed in-between Fonte and Seaborne.

Full Time: Brentford 1-1 Southampton