Rickie Lambert's hat-trick earned Southampton a club record 12th successive home league win to keep them a point behind leaders Brighton.

The home side had to come from behind after Ishmael Miller set up Matt Derbyshire for the opener.

Within 60 seconds Lambert's shot pulled Saints level, before he headed home David Connolly's cross on 24 minutes.

Just before the break Radoslaw Majewski's low shot made it 2-2, but a Lambert header late on proved decisive.

Lambert's hat-trick ensured a Southampton victory for only the second time against Forest in the last 19 years, with the last win having come in 1997 at the City Ground.

Another Forest win had seemed on the cards when Derbyshire converted Miller's low cross from close range.

But Lambert had other ideas, almost immediately equalising as the Saints striker beat Lee Camp from 10 yards out and then nodding home Connolly's cross from the right.

Forest regrouped and after a penalty appeal was ignored by referee Iain Williamson when Miller went down under a challenge from Danny Fox. Majewski's shot beat Kelvin Davis to ensure the visitors went in at the break level.

Southampton started the second half strongly and only a superb save from Camp prevented them from regaining the lead as he tipped Adam Lallana's shot around the post.

Lallana had another goalbound effort blocked by Wes Morgan, while Camp produced a fine save to keep out Morgan Schneiderlin's driven shot.

But with eight minutes left Lambert's goalscoring instincts enabled him to head home Fox's free-kick at the far post even though Camp got a hand to the ball.

Lineup, Bookings (6) & Substitutions (5)

Southampton

  • 01 Davis
  • 06 Fonte
  • 13 Fox
  • 26 Hooiveld
  • 04 Schneiderlin
  • 08 Cork Booked
  • 10 Guly (Chaplow - 68' )
  • 14 Hammond
  • 20 Lallana
  • 07 Lambert
  • 22 Connolly Booked (De Ridder - 80' )

Substitutes

  • 21 Bialkowski
  • 16 Martin
  • 23 Dickson
  • 18 Chaplow
  • 33 De Ridder

Nott'm Forest

  • 01 Camp
  • 04 Chambers
  • 05 Morgan
  • 16 Gunter Booked
  • 11 Reid
  • 14 Greening (McGugan - 88' )
  • 15 Cohen
  • 19 Moussi Booked (Lynch - 77' Booked )
  • 28 Majewski
  • 08 Derbyshire Booked
  • 09 Miller (McGoldrick - 65' )

Substitutes

  • 21 Smith
  • 27 Moloney
  • 33 Lynch
  • 10 McGugan
  • 17 McGoldrick
Ref: Williamson
Att: 24,784

Match Stats

Shots

16 10

On target

12 7

Corners

8 6

Fouls

11 13

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:26 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +3:42

Adam Lallana gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Gunter. Lee Camp takes the free kick.

90:00 +3:18 Booking

Booking Joel Lynch booked for dissent.

90:00 +2:51

Richard Chaplow takes a shot. Blocked by Luke Chambers.

90:00 +2:10

Unfair challenge on Jack Cork by Andy Reid results in a free kick. Jack Cork takes the direct free kick.

89:43

Wes Morgan challenges Jose Fonte unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kelvin Davis takes the free kick.

87:02

Kelvin Davis takes the direct free kick.

87:02 Substitution

Substitution (Nottm Forest) makes a substitution, with Lewis McGugan coming on for Jonathan Greening.

87:02

David McGoldrick concedes a free kick for a foul on Jose Fonte.

83:54

Adam Lallana is ruled offside. Lee Camp takes the free kick.

83:10

David McGoldrick concedes a free kick for a foul on Jose Fonte. Direct free kick taken by Kelvin Davis.

81:52

Daniel Fox provided the assist for the goal.

81:52 Goal scored

Goal - Richard Lambert - Southamp'n 3 - 2 Nott'm For Richard Lambert scores a headed goal from close in. Southampton 3-2 Nottm Forest.

81:16

Steve De Ridder fouled by Joel Lynch, the ref awards a free kick. Daniel Fox takes the direct free kick.

80:04 Booking

Booking Caution for Matt Derbyshire.

79:03 Substitution

Substitution David Connolly leaves the field to be replaced by Steve De Ridder.

77:19

Inswinging corner taken by Chris Cohen from the right by-line.

76:37 Substitution

Substitution Joel Lynch is brought on as a substitute for Guy Moussi.

75:17

Short corner taken by David Connolly, Adam Lallana takes a shot. Save by Lee Camp. Handball by Radoslaw Majewski. Richard Lambert produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick, save by Lee Camp.

73:39

The official flags Dean Hammond offside. Lee Camp takes the free kick.

73:07

Matt Derbyshire takes a shot. Kelvin Davis makes a save.

72:23

David Connolly produces a cross, clearance by Luke Chambers.

71:48

Corner taken by Andy Reid, clearance made by Richard Lambert.

71:43

The ball is sent over by Matt Derbyshire, Jack Cork manages to make a clearance.

70:52

Centre by Daniel Fox.

68:55

David McGoldrick fouled by Jos Hooiveld, the ref awards a free kick. Shot comes in from Andy Reid from the free kick.

67:30 Substitution

Substitution Guly Do Prado goes off and Richard Chaplow comes on.

66:53

Shot from 20 yards by Morgan Schneiderlin. Lee Camp makes a save. Short corner taken by Adam Lallana from the left by-line. The assistant referee flags for offside against Adam Lallana. Lee Camp takes the indirect free kick.

66:26

Free kick awarded for a foul by Matt Derbyshire on Jos Hooiveld. Direct free kick taken by Kelvin Davis.

65:51

Header on goal by Jos Hooiveld from just inside the area goes over the goal.

65:29

Adam Lallana decides to take a short corner.

64:03 Substitution

Substitution Ishmael Miller leaves the field to be replaced by David McGoldrick.

63:36

Handball by Adam Lallana. Direct free kick taken by Luke Chambers.

62:26

Chris Gunter produces a cross, clearance made by Daniel Fox. Corner taken left-footed by Chris Gunter, Jos Hooiveld manages to make a clearance.

60:51

Adam Lallana takes a shot. Wes Morgan gets a block in. Corner taken right-footed by Adam Lallana, Jose Fonte takes a shot.

60:21

Radoslaw Majewski delivers the ball, Matt Derbyshire takes a shot. Save by Kelvin Davis.

59:50

The official flags Dean Hammond offside. Lee Camp takes the indirect free kick.

58:13

Luke Chambers challenges Jose Fonte unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kelvin Davis takes the direct free kick.

57:27

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Chris Gunter by Richard Lambert. Free kick taken by Chris Cohen.

55:02

Guly Do Prado crosses the ball, blocked by Luke Chambers. Corner taken by Guly Do Prado from the right by-line, Adam Lallana takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.

54:16

Centre by Andy Reid.

53:33

Free kick awarded for a foul by Dean Hammond on Radoslaw Majewski. Lee Camp takes the direct free kick.

52:24

Radoslaw Majewski has a drilled shot. Save made by Kelvin Davis.

52:17

Centre by Ishmael Miller, Jos Hooiveld makes a clearance.

51:29

Shot by Adam Lallana. Save by Lee Camp. Corner from the left by-line taken by Adam Lallana, save by Lee Camp.

50:44

Chris Cohen takes the direct free kick.

50:44 Booking

Booking The referee shows Jack Cork a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

50:29

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jack Cork on Ishmael Miller.

49:35

A cross is delivered by Jack Cork, Andy Reid gets a block in. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Guly Do Prado from the right by-line, clearance by Matt Derbyshire.

49:22

The ball is swung over by Adam Lallana, save by Lee Camp.

48:36

Ishmael Miller takes a shot. Kelvin Davis makes a save.

47:58

The ball is delivered by Chris Gunter, Jose Fonte manages to make a clearance.

47:29

Chris Gunter sends in a cross, Jos Hooiveld manages to make a clearance.

45:54

Guy Moussi takes a shot. Save by Kelvin Davis.

45:09

Unfair challenge on Ishmael Miller by Jose Fonte results in a free kick. Chris Cohen takes the direct free kick.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +5:45 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

45:00

Corner taken left-footed by Andy Reid, Unfair challenge on Lee Camp by Richard Lambert results in a free kick. Lee Camp takes the direct free kick.

44:00

Corner from the left by-line taken by Andy Reid, Radoslaw Majewski has a headed effort at goal from just inside the penalty area that misses to the left of the goal.

41:58

Matt Derbyshire provided the assist for the goal.

41:58 Goal scored

Goal - Radoslaw Majewski - Southamp'n 2 - 2 Nott'm For Radoslaw Majewski gets on the score sheet with a goal from just inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Southampton 2-2 Nottm Forest.

37:31

A cross is delivered by Chris Gunter, Matt Derbyshire produces a header from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the goal.

36:47

A cross is delivered by Andy Reid.

36:03

David Connolly crosses the ball, save by Lee Camp.

32:58 Booking

Booking David Connolly is cautioned.

32:48 Booking

Booking Chris Gunter is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

31:45

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Daniel Fox.

31:38

The ball is crossed by Richard Lambert, blocked by Chris Cohen.

29:42

Adam Lallana produces a cross, Chris Cohen makes a clearance.

28:23

Jonathan Greening fouled by Richard Lambert, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jonathan Greening.

27:24

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Richard Lambert by Radoslaw Majewski. Direct free kick taken by Morgan Schneiderlin.

25:41

Shot comes in from Richard Lambert from the free kick, save made by Lee Camp.

25:41 Booking

Booking Guy Moussi is shown a yellow card.

25:21

Adam Lallana fouled by Guy Moussi, the ref awards a free kick.

24:00

The assist for the goal came from David Connolly.

24:00 Goal scored

Goal - Richard Lambert - Southamp'n 2 - 1 Nott'm For Richard Lambert finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close range. Southampton 2-1 Nottm Forest.

21:07

Wes Morgan concedes a free kick for a foul on David Connolly. Richard Lambert shoots direct from the free kick.

20:59

The ball is sent over by Guly Do Prado, Radoslaw Majewski makes a clearance.

20:24

Foul by Morgan Schneiderlin on Guy Moussi, free kick awarded. Jonathan Greening takes the direct free kick.

19:45

Daniel Fox produces a cross, Wes Morgan makes a clearance.

19:09

The assistant referee signals for offside against David Connolly. Lee Camp restarts play with the free kick.

18:34

Adam Lallana takes a shot. Blocked by Chris Gunter.

16:21

Andy Reid challenges Jack Cork unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Jack Cork.

15:23

Free kick awarded for a foul by Guly Do Prado on Chris Gunter. Jonathan Greening takes the direct free kick.

14:12

Centre by Richard Lambert.

13:40

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Morgan Schneiderlin by Chris Gunter. Jos Hooiveld takes the direct free kick.

12:56

Adam Lallana produces a cross, Luke Chambers manages to make a clearance.

10:34

Richard Lambert takes a shot. Blocked by Wes Morgan.

7:56 Goal scored

Goal - Richard Lambert - Southamp'n 1 - 1 Nott'm For Richard Lambert finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Southampton 1-1 Nottm Forest.

6:41

The assist for the goal came from Ishmael Miller.

6:41 Goal scored

Goal - Matt Derbyshire - Southamp'n 0 - 1 Nott'm For A goal is scored by Matt Derbyshire from inside the six-yard box to the top right corner of the goal. Southampton 0-1 Nottm Forest.

4:46

Free kick awarded for a foul by Richard Lambert on Chris Gunter. Lee Camp takes the direct free kick.

4:09

Andy Reid challenges David Connolly unfairly and gives away a free kick. Daniel Fox takes the free kick.

0:59

The assistant referee signals for offside against Richard Lambert. Lee Camp takes the indirect free kick.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

0:00

Andy Reid takes the inswinging corner, Jose Fonte manages to make a clearance.

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