Rickie Lambert's 19th goal of the season registered the first point at St. Mary's of 2012.

The club's top scorer stepped up from the penalty spot to earn the hosts a share of the spoils against third placed Cardiff, who stretched their own impressive unbeaten run to nine league games away from home.

The Welsh side took the lead with a contentious effort less than ten minutes before the break when Craig Conway turned home a corner whilst Kelvin Davis was grounded following a collision in the build up to the finish.

Saints had a couple of penalty shouts turned down before the most clear cut of all was awarded on 56 minutes when Adam Lallana's cross was handled by full back Kevin McNaughton, and with the spot-kick converted by Lambert, Nigel Adkins' men consolidated their position of second in the table, moving to within two points of West Ham.

Saints: Davis, Richardson, Fonte, Martin, Fox, Puncheon (Lee 62), Cork, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Connolly (Hammond 87), Lambert. Subs (not used): Bialkowski, Harding, Falque.

Cardiff: Marshall, McNaughton, Taylor, Turner, Gerrard, Whittingham, Cowie, Conway (Gestede 63), Gunnarsson, McPhail (Kiss 78), Miller. Subs (not used): Heaton, Mason, Blake.

Referee: Mr. M. Haywood (West Yorkshire)

Attendance: 24, 356 (including 1,842 away)

Adam Lallana and Jose Fonte both returned to the starting eleven after their respective injury lay-offs, with the latter skippering the side as Dean Hammond dropped to the bench.

David Connolly was reunited with Rickie Lambert in attack for the first time since the defeat at Brighton last month.

The visitors got the game underway attacking the Chapel End on a bitterly cold evening inside St. Mary's.

There was a lively atmosphere from the start as the division's second and third placed sides warmed up for a key clash at the top of the table which could have a significant bearing on both teams' aspirations of getting into the top flight this term.

The Bluebirds settled quickly with Aron Gunnarsson almost stealing in on the end of Don Cowie's early cross, but he couldn't direct his header on target from inside the area.

Saints were pressed back in every area by a determined Cardiff side in the opening exchanges as the hosts looked to make use of playing on the break utilising the outlets of Puncheon and Lallana on either flank.

The hosts generated some forward momentum on 12 minutes with a series of passes eventually finding its way to Lallana, who tricked his way into an opening on the left where he was able to deliver an inviting cross towards Lambert at the far post, but the striker couldn't get enough on the ball to guide his effort on target from six yards.

A cagey spell in the game where neither side could maintain a foothold, was awoken from its slumber when Lambert strode into the Cardiff area spinning away from ben Turner before the Bluebirds defender hauled the striker down inside the area.

It looked a strong claim for a penalty, but there was nothing doing according to the match official who increased the home fans' frustration by not awarding a foul on Lallana as he tried to break forward from his own half moments later.

Saints were victims of overplaying too though, as another well crafted move from the left saw one pass too many as Connolly lost the space he found himself in to try and profit from a quick counter attack.

The hosts went close from Danny Fox's 32nd minute corner which Fonte headed back across the area to Lambert, who could only head over from close range as a swarm of blue shirts attempted to put him off.

To further increase the frustrations at the officials, the game's opening goal arrived in controversial circumstances on 37 minutes when a corner from the right was swept home by Craig CONWAY, whilst Kelvin Davis, who had been fouled in the build up remained grounded.

Conway was involved as the visitors looked for another break, which was abruptly ended by Schneiderlin, who correctly went into the referee's notebook for his check on the goal scorer by the touchline.

A tremendous reaction save from Davis kept full back Andrew Taylor's rising drive out to keep the hosts in the game before the break, which Saints almost made the most of as Lallana flashed two efforts wide in stoppage time at the end of the half, which they could consider themselves unfortunate to be behind in at the interval.

Half Time: Saints 0-1 Cardiff

Renewed fighting spirit from the hosts at the start of the second period resulted in Puncheon getting the first effort in on goal as he linked up with Richardson on the right side of the area before drilling a low shot in at Marshall's near post which the 'keeper got a firm grasp of as the ball threatened to spill out again.

On 54 Saints thought they had been given a penalty when Lallana went to ground under McPhail's challenge on the byline, but a goal kick was awarded instead.

However, the visitors were found guilty a minute later when Lallana's trickery again forced the issue, and Kevin McNaughton's handball, gave Saints a way back into the contest.

Rickie LAMBERT stepped up and made no mistake from 12 yards as his impeccable record from the spot continued to celebrate his 19th goal of the season in all competitions.

Kenny Miller's rushed effort at the other end seemed to signal the visitors' worry as they began to misplace their passes.

The introduction of Tadanari Lee for his home debut off the substitutes' bench in place of Puncheon gave the crowd another lift, and with St. Mary's rocking, the Bluebirds were forced to respond with Conway making way for Rudy Gestede on 63.

Lee had taken his place alongside Lambert in attack with Connolly dropping deeper to support the front two, and the link up nearly worked a treat in the 68th minute when Lee reacted quickest to pick up the Irishman's pass inside the area, but he was deemed to be offside.

A brief lull in the game was ended when Gerrard brought down Lee with a crunching challenge just inside the Cardiff half.

The Bluebirds took their captain McPhail off and replaced him with Filip Kiss with just over twelve minutes remaining, whilst Miller continued to be wasteful with the chances that came his way as he blazed over from a promising position as the clock ticked into the final ten minutes.

Gunnarsson similarly wasted an opportunity on the back of a free-kick which dropped for the midfielder on the edge of the area, with the contest remaining on a knife edge.

Dean Hammond replaced Connolly on 87 as Saints continued to push for a winner, and a chance almost arrived for Lee when Lambert cushioned Cork's cross down, but at full stretch the Japanese striker couldn't get enough on his toe poke to test Marshall.

As four minutes of time were added on for stoppages Peter Whittingham went into the book for a foul on Schneiderlin. From the resulting free-kick, the ball found its way to Martin who headed down for Lallana to spin an effort at the near post which was kept out by Cardiff's shot stopper.

The hosts laid siege to the Bluebirds goal with every Saints defender involved at the other end late on, but the visitors managed to hold on.

Full Time: Saints 1-1 Cardiff