Saints moved off the bottom of the table as they maintained their fine form with a 3-1 success in Lancashire.

First goals in Saints colours for Dean Hammond and debutant David Connolly sandwiched Rickie Lambert's direct free-kick which won't make pleasant viewing for Oldham 'keeper Dean Brill who saw the striker's 30 yard effort squirm in underneath him.

A competitive match at Boundary Park was settled by the third goal which came eight minutes from time as Connolly scored with the first move he was involved in with a firm shot in front of the traveling support.

Oldham: Brill, Marrow, Gregan, Hazell, Lomax, Whitaker, Worthington (Lee 15), Furman, Colbeck (Blackman 56), Parker, Abbott. Subs: Ollerenshaw, Black, Brooke, Rowney, McKerr.

Saints: Davis, Harding, Jaidi, Trotman, James, Wotton, Hammond, Schneiderlin (Connolly 74), N'Diaye (Antonio 68), Lallana (Mills 90), Lambert. Subs: Bialkowski, Thomas, Perry, Mellis.

Referee: Mr D. Foster (Tyne & Wear)

Attendance: 5,341 (including 924 away)

Alan Pardew had named an unchanged line up at Boundary Park as they defended the end housing the fans who made the long journey north.

The match started at a high tempo, with the hosts providing an early scare as striker Keigan Parker burst through into the area on the left before Dan Harding was able to shepherd the ball out for a corner.

Oldham were bright in the early stages, and Parker's fellow front man Pawel Abbott almost worked an opening from a similar position.

After a spell of end to end play Saints took the lead in the eleventh minute, with midfielder Dean Hammond celebrating his first goal for the club since joining from Colchester United in the summer. Harding won a corner on the left as he tried to create some space on the left hand side.

The resulting set-piece was curled to the far post by Lloyd James, and Dean Hammond pounced to power home a header from six yards out.

Latics' midfielder Jon Worthington was forced off with a serious looking injury just past the quarter hour mark and was replaced by former Manchester United trainee Kieran Lee.

Alan Pardew's side doubled their advantage on 22 minutes from another set piece. A direct free-kick from just over 25 yards out was struck strongly by Rickie Lambert, but looked comfortable enough for goalkeeper Dean Brill to deal with. However, the strike had enough on it to find the bottom corner as it squirmed in under an embarrassed looking custodian.

Lambert's confidence was now sky high, and it saw him make two audacious attempts at worsening the plight of the hapless 'keeper. The latter effort from nearly 45 yards out dinked the crossbar on its way out.

Kelvin Davis was called back into action on 28 minutes though as Parker broke through one on one with the Saints shot stopper, but the captain denied the forward with a strong one handed save.

The game continued in a spirited fashion, as the hosts showed signs of their recent form but Saints were comfortable in both retrieving the ball and when in possession.

It was almost 3-0 just minutes before the break as James delivered another well measured cross which Lambert got his head to. This time Saints' top goalscorer nodded the ball back across the area which Lallana met with his head but narrowly missed the target as it went wide of the right hand post.

In the four minutes of additional time at the end of the half Abbott tried his luck at the other end with a chip which Davis collected easily, and Saints were able to see the time through to take a lead into the break.

Half Time: Oldham 0-2 Saints

Saints got the second period underway and some clever footwork from Lallana on the left almost provided Papa Waigo with a chance in the first minute of the new half. As the loanee controlled the ball with his head, the ball was cleared away at his feet, but it fell to Paul Wotton who struck a fierce drive over the bar from long range.

Five minutes later, Morgan Schneiderlin went close to extending the lead as he benefited from Lallana's pressure on a back pass to Dean Brill. The midfielder created the space but couldn't find the target as his shot went wide.

Just before the hour mark, Nick Blackman was introduced from the bench for the home side and the striker was immediately involved in the action as he broke free inside the area. Davis rushed out and thwarted the initial danger but Hammond made the vital interception which denied Danny Whitaker from getting a shot on target.

On 65 minutes Oldham were back in the match after a battling spell in the game. Full back Alex Marrow bombed forward on the left and sent a shot across Davis which Abbott forced home to make it 2-1.

Two minutes later another direct free-kick from the centre around 25 yards from goal, saw Lambert connect a sweet shot on to the bar which had too much pace on it as it came back out to be met by any Saints' player following in.

Michail Antonio replaced Papa Waigo shortly afterwards and the winger on loan from Reading quickly set about his task by going on a mazy run which won his team a corner.

Connolly's moment arrived shortly after he replaced Morgan Schneiderlin with just over fifteen minutes left to play with Saints moving into a 4-4-2 formation in direct competition to the hosts' line up.

It paid off for Saints and for the debutant as inside the last ten minutes of play, the Irishman capitalised on a loose ball and took one touch to set himself before firing the ball past Brill at the near post to seal the win.

Full Time: Oldham 1-3 Saints