Saints’ faint hopes of reaching the League One playoffs were effectively extinguished by a Charlie Austin goal early in the second half.

Dan Harding scored against his former club in what was one of the most comfortable 1-0 wins you’re ever likely to see to make it 11 wins from the last 12 home games.

Alan Pardew once again named an unchanged lineup, with the squad boosted by the long-awaited return of David Connolly on the bench. Leeds came into the game off the back of a big win at Tranmere in midweek, but that was only their third win this year.

Full report to follow…

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.

Saints stuck with the side that inflicted five goal drubbings upon Walsall and Huddersfield, but the confidence gained from those impressive victories was quickly shot to pieces as Tranmere took the lead after just three minutes.

Paul McLaren delivered a free kick into the box and Edds headed across the penalty area to MARLON BROOMES who saw his goal ward header flicked past the helpless Davis, by Fonte.

With Tranmere struggling down at the wrong end of the table, a one goal lead on their own turf was very valuable. With this in mind it was of the up most importance that Saints got back on level terms as quickly as possible, and they set about doing so with attacking intent.

Adam Lallana had already asked questions of the home defence with a penetrating run which was intercepted, before he managed to open their rearguard with a pin point pass out wide to Puncheon. The latter returned the ball to Lallana with a cross that hung up nicely to volley, but was blocked on the line - only for LEE BARNARD to lash home the rebound.

With the game all square again it gave the away side the chance to start playing some neat football to unlock a Rovers defence that looked shaky. Lallana and Puncheon looked like the chief threats on the wings, but even though the home side invited pressure and allowed too much space to attack, they resisted most attacks with some determined defending.

The hosts didn’t call Kelvin Davis into action for the remainder of the half and despite swift attacking build up from Saints, they also didn’t force the opposition keeper, Daniels, into making a save - with two decent chances both put wide.

First Puncheon got to the by-line and crossed dangerously towards the back post to Schneiderlin, but the Frenchman miscued his shot and it went wide from close range. Then Lallana broke past Goodison, leaving the Tranmere backline vulnerable, and his cross was volleyed inches wide first time from Lambert.

Half Time: Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Southampton

With the game all square at half time, it looked as though Rovers had the belief they could get at least a point from the match - this was noticeable when Les Parry’s men started to up their work rate further. Rovers were playing with 3 central midfielders in McLaren, Edds and Welsh and they started to stifle any neat build up play they had previously allowed in the first half. This coupled with the fact that the referee was constantly stopping the game for some ridiculous decisions, meant it was hard for Saints to get any rhythm or fluency when attacking.

Rickie Lambert was winning most flick-on’s, but not seeing much in the way of shooting opportunities. So when a free kick was awarded 25 yards from goal, it was a good chance for the specialist who netted a belter in the home fixture against Tranmere, but it was wasted and went wide.

Curran forced Davis into his first save of note on the hour mark when he turned well and saw his low shot held at full stretch. But with 25 minutes remaining the hosts moved to boost their attacking line by replacing the anonymous Sordell with Bas Savage, who returned after a long lay off with injury.

Saints should have taken the lead when Otsemobor overlapped down the right hand side and crossed for Lallana, but his contact with the ball was straight at Daniels and from then it was the home side on the front foot.

Rovers seemed galvanised as they reacted to an improved atmosphere in the home end where fans seemed buoyed by the return of Savage. And the striker almost celebrated an assist when he cut in well from the right and squared for Thomas-Moore, who looked certain to score but for the superb smothering intervention from Davis.

As Tranmere upped the pressure for a winning goal, Saints struggled on the break as they too looked for a winner. With some resolute defending on show, Lallana in particular seemed determined to score himself, rather than pass, as he twice ignored decent over laps from Schneiderlin and Harding, before losing possession.

A change of emphasis was needed with Waigo and Antonio obvious choices to bring on, but they were brought on all too late with 8 minutes to go and weren’t introduced until after Barnard wasted a glorious opportunity to win the game. Fonte pumped a long ball forward and the striker let the ball go over his shoulder, before turning and volleying straight at Daniels.

It seemed as though Tranmere’s dogged performance would earn them a decent point, until the referee saved his best gaff for late on, when Edds attempted a volley and fell over unopposed and a spot kick was given. IAN THOMAS-MOORE stepped up to calmly slot the penalty home and win the game.

Full Time: Tranmere Rovers 2-1 Southampton 

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…