Source: Daily_Mail
Southampton 4 Birmingham 1: Saints go top
Southampton swept to the top of the npower Championship as manager Nigel Adkins celebrated a year, and his 100th game, in charge in style.[LNB]A club-record 13th consecutive home win, courtesy of goals from Rickie Lambert, Guly do Prado, Adam Lallana and Richard Chaplow, made it Saints' best start to a season in 103 years.[LNB]Chris Wood pulled one back for City but Chris Hughton's side never really looked like breaking their away duck.[LNB] Opener: Rickie Lambert scores from the penalty spot[LNB] MATCH FACTS Southampton (4-4-2): Davis; Richardson, Fonte, Hooiveld, Fox; Guly (Chaplow 71), Cork (Schneiderlin 81), Hammond, Lallana (De Ridder 83); Connolly, Lambert.[LNB]Subs not used: Bialkowski, Martin.[LNB]Scorers: Lambert 11, Guly 21, Lallana 34, Chaplow 78.[LNB]Birmingham (4-4-2): Myhill; Carr, Caldwell, Davies, Ridgewell; Burke, Spector (Elliott 74), Gomis, Beausejour; King (Rooney 74), Wood.[LNB]Subs not used: Doyle, Murphy, Redmond.[LNB]Scorers: Wood 49.[LNB]Booked: Carr, Caldwell, Spector[LNB]Referee: Dean Whitestone[LNB]Attendance: 22,155[LNB]These are heady days down at Southampton, who were lying 22nd in League One when Adkins replaced AlanPardew 12 months ago this week.[LNB]With 38 wins from 54 matches in charge the former Scunthorpe boss has turned them into serious contenders for back-to-back promotions and a return to the top flight.[LNB]For Blues, however, their Europa League exertions may already be taking their toll.[LNB]They have taken just one point from matches following a European outing so far this season, although Hughtonwas able to make six changes from the side beaten by Braga on Thursday.[LNB]Birmingham actually made a bright start in the pouring rain and Wood should have put them ahead within a minute but prodded Jean Beausejour's cross wide.[LNB] [LNB]Top of the pile: Lambert's team-mates rush to congratulate him[LNB]Moments later Wood's deflected free-kick forced a fine save from Southampton keeper Kelvin Davis.[LNB]But Saints were gifted the lead after10 minutes when Steven Caldwell leant on Lambert in the area and referee Dean Whitestone pointed to the spot.[LNB] [LNB]Fast start: Guly do Prado (right) celebrates his goal with Adam Lallana[LNB] Year to remember: Nigel Adkins' side have won 13 home games in a row[LNB]Lambert, who like Wood hit a hat-trick last weekend, crashed the penalty in off the post for his eighth goal of the season.[LNB]They doubled their lead 10 minutes later with a slick move, putting full-back Frazer Richardson through down the right to cross for Brazilian forward Guly to sweep the ball first time past Boaz Myhill.[LNB][LNB]The third goal, in the 34th minute, was almost a carbon copy with Richardson allowed to reach the by-line before cutting the ball back for Lallana to tuck away.[LNB]Wood forced another sharp save from Davis with a free-kick before the break, and the New Zealander made it third time lucky at the start of the second half with a fierce effort from the edge of the area.[LNB]Stephen Carr then drove against a post and Davis denied Marlon King as Birmingham briefly threatened an unlikely comeback.[LNB]But in the 78th minute Lallana fed substitute Chaplow to tuck away the fourth and keep Adkins' Saints marching on.[LNB]Adkins said: 'I didn't realise this was my 100th win as a manager. It's pleasing to manage for 100 games let alone wins.[LNB]'It's pleasing at any stage to be top of the league but the time to be there is the end of the season. We'll have a good look around in January and as long as we're still in the top 10 we can push on from there. There are 15 or 16 of us clubs with aspirations to get promoted.'[LNB]Birmingham manager Chris Hughton said: 'It was a soft penalty and we could already have been a goal up. I was disappointed with the way we gave away the second and third goals but Southampton have the momentum and deserved to win.' [LNB] Birmingham 1 Braga 3: Red-hot Barbosa stuns makeshift BluesClick here to read our brilliant Football League blogNick Harris: Shamed O'Connor at same clinic as Tiger in battle with boozeMillwall 0 West Ham 0: Bentley sitter costs Hammers win over bitter rivalsCrystal Palace 0 Middlesbrough 1: Unbeaten Boro grab top spot through Marvin Emnes
