Saints came back from a goal down to record a third successive 3-1 win in League One.

The fifth successive victory in all competitions and fourth straight success at St. Mary's was far from straight forward though, as the high flying MK Dons showed the sort of resilience which had also seen them in recent fine form.

A goal from Jason Puncheon just before half time took the sting out of Saints, who had controlled much of the opening period, but a second half turnaround which saw goals from Dean Hammond, Rickie Lambert and substitute, David Connolly earned a deserved win for the hosts.

Saints: Davis, James, Jaidi, Trotman, Harding, Wotton (Connolly 53), Hammond, Schneiderlin, Lallana (Mills 86), Waigo (Antonio 53), Lambert. Subs (not used): Bialkowski, Thomas, Perry, Mellis.

MK Dons: Gueret, Lewington, Doumbe, Powell, McCracken, Gleeson, Gobern (Wilbraham 62), Johnson (Doran 46), Puncheon, Leven, Easter (Baldock 73). Subs (not used): Searle, Howell, Davis, Swailes.

Referee: Mr. M. Russell.

Attendance: 21, 387 (including 1,053 away)

Alan Pardew stuck with the same side that started at Oldham last weekend, with Adam Lallana recovering form an ankle knock to start, whilst the scorer of the third goal last Saturday, David Connolly began on the bench as he got his first taste of St. Mary's for his new club.

A bright day at St. Mary's with slight chill in the air was the backdrop as Saints kicked off towards the Northam End, with the Dons lining up in their changed strip of gold and white.

 Paul Ince was a notable absentee from the away team dugout as he served the second of his two match touchline ban from the stands. It was his side who had the first sight of goal in the game. A 7th minute corner from Jemal Johnson on the left was met by the head of centre back David McCracken who saw his effort flash wide of the far post.

Two minutes later though Saints almost caught the visitors out with their first chance on goal. Paul Wotton's header forward released Adam Lallana who cut inside and tried an audacious chip over Willy Gueret in the Dons' net. The 'keeper scrambled backwards and plucked the ball out of the air getting it under control at the second attempt.

Boosted by that opportunity, Alan Pardew's side were back on the attack a minute later with Morgan Schneidelrin picking out Waigo on the right. The Senegalese attacker drilled a cross a long the area which Lallana was narrowly denied a touch on by a sliding block.

Just before the quarter hour mark, the hosts had another chance at goal as Lambert headed a ball back across the six yard box and Papa Waigo saw his firm header held by Gueret from close range.

In the 23rd minute Saints were denied an opening goal which their early dominance had deserved by an offside decision. A move involving a countless number of passes in their opponents' half resulted in a header from Papa Waigo bouncing in off the crossbar, only to be ruled out by the linesman's flag.

On the half hour mark, Johnson showed the threat that he possesses on the left as he whipped a dangerous looking cross-shot which flew just wide of Davis' far post.

At the end of a quiet spell in the game, MK Dons broke the deadlock. Radhi Jaidi's foul on Easter 20 yards form goal saw the Tunisian defender booked. The resulting free-kick was dispatched into the bottom left corner by Jason Puncheon as the visitors stole a march going into the half time interval.

Half Time: Saints 0-1 MK Dons

The lively Johnson was withdrawn at the break after succumbing to an earlier injury, Aaron Doran replaced him.

Eight minutes into the new half Pardew made a double switch to try and reinvigorate the attacking play that Saints showed in the first period.

Michail Antonio and David Connolly replaced Wotton and Papa Waigo, with Irishman Connolly making his St. Mary's bow. The change almost immediately reaped dividends as Antonio burst his way through on the right and sent a low cross in which Connolly almost connected to from close range.

However, on 56 minutes Saints were back on level terms. Lloyd James's arching cross from the right was met at the back post by Dean Hammond who coolly finished past Gueret with the side of his foot for his second goal in as many games.

Ten minutes later Connolly almost pounced on some indecisive defending as a high ball was headed back towards goal by McCraken. The striker managed to flick a header of his own on which didn't quite have enough height on it to beat the on rushing goalkeeper.

Antonio continued to be a thorn in the Dons' side as he won a corner on the left, and as the ball was played back to the Reading loanee he delivered a cross which Jaidi headed goalwards, but both he and fellow defender Trotman were denied as they tried to force the ball home.

Antonio's endeavour won a free-kick on the by-line and from the right hand side Lallana and James hovered. The former shaped to shoot but it was the latter who cut the ball back to Lambert who struck home high into the centre of the goal from eight yards out on 73 minutes to make it 2-1.

In the next attack Connolly almost extended the advantage as he received the ball inside the Dons' area, however, just as he was primed to shoot a last ditch challenge nicked the ball from his feet.

As the final ten minutes of the match loomed, McCracken gave a warning as he firmly headed down a corner narrowly wide of the right hand post. The following effort from substitute Wilbraham looked as though Ince's side had started to run out of ideas as the striker shot wide from long range.

Connolly and Antonio both cleared the bar with close range strikes after Lallana received a standing ovation from the home fans having been replaced for the last five minutes of play by Joseph Mills.

The one goal margin as play entered four minutes of additional time, ensured a frenetic finish, but Saints need not have worried as Dean Lewington's weak pass back to his 'keeper was pounced upon by Connolly, who kept his cool to beat Gueret and earn a 3-1 win with the last kick of the game.

Full Time: Saints 3-1 MK Dons