It was a fantastic five for Saints against Walsall as the hosts blew the Saddlers away at St. Mary's.

A first goal in the red and white stripes for Jason Puncheon was added to by a second brace in three games from Lee Barnard putting Alan Pardew's side firmly in control going into the half time interval.

Further strikes in the second half from top scorer Rickie Lambert and a poached effort from Adam Lallana with time running out was just reward for a superb performance.

It all looked so far away after three minutes of play, as the visitors took the lead through Matt Richards' well placed free-kick, but once Saints found top gear there was no way back for the Midlands side.

Saints: Davis, Otsemobor, Fonte, Jaidi (Thomas 72), Harding, Puncheon, Hammond, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Lambert (Antonio 83), Barnard (Papa Waigo 64). Subs (not used): Bialkowski, Wotton, Perry, Mills.

Walsall: Gilmartin, Richards, McDonald, Vincent, Westlake (Weston 68), Nicholls, Taundry, O'Keefe, Gray, Deeney, Byfield (Jones 68). Subs (not used): Ince, Sansara, Hughes, Bradley, Adkins.

Referee: Mr. Graham Scott (Oxfordshire)

Attendance: 20, 461 (including 605 away)

Saints got things underway attacking Northam End, but it was Walsall who took the lead with the first chance of the game.

The visitors, in their changed strip of black and green won a free-kick on the edge of the area just to the right of centre, presenting Saddlers' full-back Matt Richards with a free shot at goal which he dispatched into the top right corner of Kelvin Davis' goal to stun the home crowd with three minutes on the clock.

Alan Pardew's side didn't let the early strike affect them though as they went straight on to the offensive and went close three times in as many minutes with Lee Barnard and then Adam Lallana twice denied by goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin.

The best from the Walsall stopper was from striker Barnard, who saw his close range header brilliantly kept out by the outstretched hand of the 'keeper.

In the eighth minute Saints did find a way past the custodian, when Lambert played in Jason Puncheon on the edge of the box. The January transfer signing from Plymouth took a touch to steady himself before finding the back of the net via the left hand post to level the scores.

The hosts maintained their presence in the visitors' half with Saints looking dangerous every time they ventured forward on either side with Lallana and Puncheon moving the ball around with freedom.

It was the latter's ball in from the right which Saints thought they'd scored a second from on 19 minutes, as the cross found the head of Dean Hammond who saw his looping effort come back of the bar and tapped in by Barnard, but the striker was deemed to be in an offside position by the linesman.

Puncheon drilled another low shot narrowly wide on 22 having worked his way out to the left and then unleashing a powerful effort which hit the advertising boards behind Gilmartin's goal.

In the 32nd minute after sustained pressure, Saints did get in front. The ball pinged about inside the area with Lallana's close range effort kept out, which fell to Barnard who was well placed to notch his third goal in a week from six yards out.

At the other end Davis, who had not had much to do was alert to push Julian Gray's header out at his near post as Walsall briefly threatened to score again.

However, the hosts added a third on 36 with Barnard celebrating his second brace of goals in three games as he collected Jon Otsemobor's cross from the right on the edge of the area and showed a sublime piece of control before shooting high over the 'keeper to make it 3-1 ten minutes before the break.

Lambert went close two minutes before the interval with a fiercely struck effort inside the box, but it flew narrowly wide of the post. In the second minute of stoppage time Saints almost added a fourth when Lambert deceived everyone with a short pass to Lallana from a free-kick. The midfielder clipped the ball back into the area where Hammond was twice denied with a header and a low shot before Barnard scooped his shot over the bar.

Half Time: Saints 3-1 Walsall

The second half took a little longer to warm up than the first, but Alan Pardew's men continued to look dangerous going forward.

Puncheon nearly doubled his tally on 51 directly from a corner as he attempted to catch Gilmartin out at his near post with a curling effort.

Hammond was denied again just before the hour mark as Dan Harding split the Walsall defence open with lofted ball forward which Lambert cushioned down into the path of the captain, and the midfielder's low shot beat the 'keeper but was cleared off the line by Richards at the far post.

It was 4-1 on 61 minutes as Rickie Lambert registered his 26th goal of the campaign from inside the area. He brought down Otsemobor's ball to the far post and hit a shot high into the back of the net which gave a comfortable feel to the scoreline.

Papa Waigo replaced Barnard on 64 as the two goal striker went off to a standing ovation from the home support for his afternoon's efforts.

Saddlers boss Chris Hutchings made a double switch with Darren Byfield and Darryl Westlake replaced by Rhys Weston and Steve Jones.
A minute later, winger Alex Nicholls tested David with a low shot which the 'keeper gathered at the second attempt.

Play moved back up the other end and Saints sub Papa Waigo picked out Lallana, but the youngster couldn't keep his shot down as the effort cleared the crossbar.

Wayne Thomas replaced Radhi Jaidi with just under 20 minutes left on the clock with the experienced Tunisian centre half completing the best part of his third match in seven days.

Walsall substitute Jones dragged a shot wide from distance in the 75th minute before Lambert followed suit at the other end with the striker keen to show that Saints weren't finished for the day as the energetic front line continued to press forward in the latter part of the match.

For the final seven minutes or so of action, Lambert was replaced by Michail Antonio with half an eye perhaps on Tuesday evening's clash with Huddersfield Town at St. Mary's.

Saints proved that they weren't done for the day in the 89th minute when Lallana started and finished a move to add extra gloss to the result. The England Under-21 linked up with Puncheon, who in turn found Schneiderlin and Papa Waigo. The Senegalese front man fizzed a ball in across the six yard box where Lallana was on hand to finish from close range to make it 5-1.

Full Time: Saints 5-1 Walsall