Saints came within seconds of their first league win of the campaign against Stockport, but were denied by an injury time spot-kick in a bizarre game at Edgeley Park.

Alan Pardew's side took the lead through Rickie Lambert at the end of the first 45 minutes in identical fashion, but were pegged back at the death in a dramatic final twist...

Stockport County: Williams, Mullins, Rose, Raynes (C) (Turnbull, 59), Vincent, Tansey, Thompson, Baker, Poole, Pilkington (Johnson, 69), Havern. Subs: Rigby, Griffin, Halls, Edwards, Rowe.

Southampton: Davis (C), Thomas, Perry, Trotman, Harding, James, Mellis, Hammond, Lallana, Saganowski (Paterson, 75), Lambert. Subs: Bialkowski, Wotton, Schneiderlin, Thomson, Gobern, Lancashire.

Referee: Mr C. Boyeson

Attendance: 4,680 (incl 710 Saints)

Cup-tied Neal Trotman and Dean Hammond were returned to the side, but Saints were almost caught out in the opening minutes as Stockport won an early free kick after a foul by Hammond, and Carl Baker fired wide of Kelvin Davis' right post after finding space inside the box.

Lloyd James was back in central midfield with Wayne Thomas at right-back and the new look defence looked solid as the game got into its stride.

Rickie Lambert received a predictably warm welcome on his return to one of his former clubs as he was brought down to earth by ex-Yeovil midfielder David Poole on 9 minutes.

After a tussle to win the ball, the Saints no. 7 stepped up for the kick, but curled the ball just over the right upright.

Poole then tried to pick out James Vincent after a strong run down the right flank, but Perry and Harding were on hand to mop up the loose ball.

With the sun beginning to shine, Carl Baker tried his luck from distance out on the right in the 15th minute, but could only loop the ball up and into the arms of the Saints 'keeper.

Pardew's men were having plenty of possession and created a chance of their own two minutes later as Lallana's cross was only cleared as far as Wayne Thomas on the edge of the box.

The former-Burnley captain looked up but opted to take on the defence himself, before firing wide with his left foot.

Stockport caused problems in the Saints box with a flurry of high deliveries from Rose and Pilkington, before a promising looking Saints break was halted inside the centre circle.

Goalkeeper Kelvin Davis had to be alert once again in the 22nd minute as a short pass picked out Pilkington in the box and he struck a low shot that the Saints stopper got down well to stop.

Referee Carl Boyeson was in the right place on 24 minutes as Mellis was brought down in the box by Michael Rose, but failed to spot enough in the challenge to award Saints a spot kick.

Mellis, to his credit, tried to stay on his feet and won the ball back well, only for the Stockport 'keeper to make a catch at the near post.

Alan Pardew's men were soon denied another golden chance by the man in the middle, as Saganowski broke through on goal with only the 'keeper to beat on the half hour, before being halted in his tracks as the ref blew up late for an innocuous looking challenge.

With the scores still goalless, Saints demonstrated a glimpse of their quality as Wayne Thomas found Lallana with a superb cross-field delivery that was eventually well held by the 'keeper as Lallana got his head to the ball.

Lallana's promising performance against Birmingham City saw him bag his second goal of the season so far, and the 21-year old went close again on 35 minutes with a low right-footed strike.

With five minutes to go before the break, Saints had another great opportunity to get off the mark as an in-swinging cross from Lallana was headed narrowly wide by Saganowski at the far post.

Home 'keeper Owain Fon Williams was then made to save with his feet from Lallana again, as the visitors took the game to their Cheshire hosts.

With the clock ticking down, a cute flick from Lambert found Hammond in the centre, but the former Colchester captain squared the ball to Saganowski instead of shooting and the chance went begging.

Southampton eventually took the lead from the penalty spot in injury time when the referee spotted a handball in a crowded box, with Trotman leaping highest and directing the ball towards the raised hand of Danny Pilkington.

With memories of his time at Edgeley Park still fresh in his mind, Rickie LAMBERT stepped up and buried the ball just out of Williams' reach in the bottom left corner.

Half-Time: Stockport County 0-1 Southampton

Both sides emerged unchanged after the break and Saints almost doubled their lead on 54 minutes as Lambert headed the ball against the Stockport bar from a Lallana corner.

The travelling Saints fans in the uncovered stand behind the goal then had the perfect view as Wayne Thomas headed onto the roof of the net a minute later.

Davis was forced into a diving save at the opposite end of the field shortly afterwards, but both sides took the chance for a breather as Michael Raynes was first treated and then withdrawn through injury.

County boss Gary Ablett sent on Paul Turnbull in the 59th minute to replace him, just as Kelvin Davis showed his bravery by going in with two defenders for the ball and coming out on top.

With pace on his side, Jacob Mellis then broke down the middle for Saints and found Lambert as he peeled off the to the right.

The visiting striker fired a diagonal ball back across the face of goal and almost snuck it into the bottom left corner with Williams beaten.

Southampton appeared to have doubled their lead in the 69th minute after Lallana miscued an overhead kick inside the box and Saganowski tapped the ball home from close range.

The Pole's celebrations were cut short, however, as the lineman's flag on the far side was raised for offside.

Stockport's second switch of the afternoon came in the 70th minute as Pilkington made way for Oli Johson, but play was held up again soon afterwards as Lallana went down injured.

Pardew's first intervention sent on Matt Paterson for Saganowski with 15 minutes left to play and the young forward instantly injected some energy up front as the match entered its final phase.

The three minutes of additional time were all but over, when things were decided in dramatic fashion. With more than a little sense of deja vu, the referee awarded Stockport County an injury time penalty of their own, after adjudging Neal Trotman's hand to have touched an incoming cross.

With just seconds of the game left to go, Carl BAKER stepped up to the mark and leveled the match with a carbon copy of Lambert's earlier spot kick.

With the end of the game and three points in clear sight, it was a cruel way to end another convincing Saints performance, but another point off the tally on the road nonetheless.

Full-Time: Stockport County 0-1 Southampton