Lambert: The lads are buzzing

23 September 2012 15:19
Rickie Lambert is delighted his goals actually counted for something as Southampton got their first Premier League points of the season. Saints started their first campaign back in the top flight for seven years in the worst possible fashion, losing all four opening fixtures. Lambert, who had never previously played in the Premier League, was one of the shining lights of Nigel Adkins' side in those defeats, scoring against both Manchester sides. The 30-year-old netted a further two on Saturday and was the catalyst to Saints picking up their first points of the season with a 4-1 defeat of Aston Villa at St Mary's. "It means everything to me," said Lambert, who has four goals to his name so far. "I think everyone can see in my face when I score a goal it means everything. "I am just happy that the goals I managed got us the three points. "As nice as those feelings were the other weeks, we ended up getting nothing so those feelings were a little bit bittersweet. "To get those three points was what matters. It was a massive win. The first points are the hardest and we have managed to get off the mark. "We believe we should have been on at least three points before we started the match so we were a little disappointed but there wasn't any pressure on us. "We knew we were confident we would win and we managed to get three points, so the lads are buzzing." Saints had looked on course for another loss when Darren Bent gave Villa a first-half lead at St Mary's. However, Lambert's brace along with a Nathaniel Clyne drive and Jason Puncheon's deflected effort handed the hosts all three points. "He highlighted things we weren't doing properly in the first half," Lambert said. "We weren't getting in behind them enough. "I don't think we played badly in the first half. I thought we were the better team, just unlucky to go 1-0 down. "We weren't penetrating enough and in the second half I think we started to move. We pushed them back." It was quite a return to form by Southampton after their 6-1 mauling by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last weekend. Adkins made three changes from that side, including giving a full Premier League debut to club-record signing Gaston Ramirez. The £12million man did not disappoint, putting in a mesmeric display behind Lambert and exquisitely setting up Clyne for his goal. "He is something special," Lambert said of the Uruguay international. "Straight away when he came in the building I knew at training he was a bit special. "He showed everyone against Villa how good he actually is. To play alongside him, Adam Lallana and 'Punch' (Puncheon) makes my job a lot, lot easier." Saints will be hoping to build a winning momentum on Tuesday in their Capital One Cup tie with Sheffield Wednesday. Opponents Villa, meanwhile, face a tough test against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City - a match Paul Lambert is hoping for a surprise victory from. "I don't lie in the past, I just go to the next game," the Villa boss said. "The good thing is we are playing again on Tuesday, albeit against one of the best teams in Europe, but we will go to try and win it. "You can't ask for any more effort. We win, we lose, I don't blame anybody. "The lads have done fine when I've asked them to do it but you don't defend that way."

Source: team_talk