635 hardy Saints fans were rewarded for making the long trip up to Victoria Park on Tuesday night as Alan Pardew's men came from behind to beat Hartlepool 3-1.

The first meeting between the two clubs ended in a win for Southampton which was secured thanks to goals from Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert.

Hartlepool took the lead in the game, but Lallana's tenth goal of the season squared things up before half time. Saints took the lead shortly after the re-start with Lallana grabbing his second, a fine long range effort mirroring David Connolly's effort at the weekend. Rickie Lambert pounced on a mistake by United 'keeper Scott Flinders to poach a third.

However, it wasn't all plain sailing for the visitors. The loss of goalkeeper Kelvin Davis to an injury on the hour mark looked serious and was later confirmed as a tweaked groin with rule the 'keeper out until Christmas. Saints also picked up a spate of bookings towards the end of the match around the time that United's Ritchie Jones was dismissed for a second yellow card.

Hartlepool: Flinders, Austin, Collins, Jones, Liddle, Monkhouse, Hartley, Brown, Humphreys, Behan (Greulich 65), Boyd. Subs (not used): Cook, Clark, McSweeney, Sweeney, Fredriksen, Bjornsson.

Saints: Davis (Bialkowski 60), Murty, Jaidi, Trotman, Harding, James, Hammond, Schneiderlin (Wotton 68), Lallana, Lambert, Connolly (Antonio 81). Subs (not used): Perry, Thomas, Mellis, Papa Waigo.

Referee: Mr. N. Swarbrick (Lancashire)

Attendance: 3,818 (including 635 away)

Pardew made one change to the team that drew with Norwich at the weekend, Graeme Murty replacing Michail Antonio. Lloyd James moved up to fill the right wing role, with the former Reading captain taking up his natural right-back berth.

The hosts also made just the one change, striker Colin Larkin missing out with a hamstring strain, so Denis Behan took his place in the starting eleven.

Hartlepool got things underway after an impeccably observed minutes silence in memory of Pools' legend Tony Parry.

Saints were the first to go close in the game with David Connolly attempting to replicate his spectacular goal against Norwich in just the second minute. The former Irish international again cut in from the left, but this time his right footed curling effort went straight into the arms of 'keeper Scott Flinders.

Hartlepool took the lead in the 16th minute, slightly against the run of play. Saints were attacking freely in search for the opener, but looked open to the counter attack, and Hartlepool took advantage. Lallana was unable to connect with Connolly's back-heel and the Pool midfield were able to get the ball out wide to James Brown unchallenged. Brown took his time, allowing his team-mates to pile forward before delivering a great ball into the box, leaving Andy Monkhouse the simple task of rising unmarked to head the ball past Kelvin Davis.

The conditions were causing both teams problems as the swirling winds made judging the flight of the ball almost impossible. The hosts appeared to adjust better, and went close twice more as Saints struggled to get a foothold on the game.

However, Southampton were level just before the half hour mark. Rickie Lambert had gone close on 27 minutes, but was unable to convert after Flinders had spilled Lallana's header, but the forward made amends just two minutes later. Saints number 7 picked the ball up in the middle of the Hartlepool half, and threaded a terrific ball through to Adam Lallana, who calmly slipped the ball under the advancing keeper in front of the traveling army of fans.

Saints nearly took the lead in the 43rd minute as they started to get a grip on the game. A short corner by Lallana was taken quickly, allowing Lloyd James to deliver a ball into the box. Hartlepool tried to clear their lines, but only managed to do so as far as Lallana, whose driven ball across the six yard box fell to Trotman, but the defender's effort was cleared off the line.

The game sprang to life as the half came to a close, with David Connolly going close again as he made some space for himself inside a crowded area, but saw his shot collected comfortably by Flinders. At the other end, the Saints defenders had to be on their guard to clear their lines as Pool again put Kelvin Davis' goal under pressure, this time with a series of late corners.

Half Time: Hartlepool 1-1 Saints

The second half started in much the same way as the first had finished. Saints got the action underway, playing straight into the strong wind that was whipping around inside Victoria Park, as both teams went searching for the lead. Connolly released James down the right hand side, his cross was caught by United's 'keeper, before the hosts broke down the other side, which led to James Brown firing an erratic shot well over Davis' crossbar.

Saints finally took the lead in the 53rd minute with an absolute screamer of an effort from Adam Lallana. The youngster picked the ball up on the Saints left and in almost exactly the same manner as David Connolly's strike against Norwich City at the weekend. The midfielder cut inside along the edge of the Hartlepool box and curled an unstoppable strike right footed into the top corner of Flinders' goal for 1-2.

Saints were looking good for their lead, as they looked to keep possession in the middle of the pitch, passing the ball well as Hammond and Schneiderlin quickly stifled any Hartlepool attacks.

Alan Pardew had to shuffle his pack in the 61st minute. Kelvin Davis had just kept the visitors in the game with a fantastic reaction save from close range following a corner, but picked an injury in doing so, and had to be replaced by Bartosz Bialkowski, who made his first league appearance of the season for Saints.

The game was beginning to lose a little urgency as disruption for a Hartlepool injury allowed both sets of players a breather. As ever though, Saints were looking dangerous on the attack, Adam Lallana proving to be a real thorn in the oppositions' side with good work down the left, before Connolly again went close.

With a little over 20 minutes remaining Pardew sent on veteran midfielder Paul Wotton to replace Schneiderlin as the manager sought to toughen up in midfield and maintain Saints' dominance in the centre of the park.

Pardew made his third and final change with nine minutes left on the clock, replacing Connolly with Michail Antonio as Saints switched to a 4-5-1 formation. Two minutes later that move paid dividends. Rickie Lambert closed down a routine looking clearance by Flinders in the Hartlepool goal, but his clearance hit the striker, who was left with the simple task of walking the ball into the back of the net to give Saints the two goal cushion they had been craving with just seven minutes left to go.

The game was stopped five minutes from time as Ritchie Jones was dismissed for a late lunge on the far side of the pitch. Paul Wotton and Neal Trotman also picked up bookings in the aftermath as Saints began to frustrate the 3,000 or so home fans by letting the clock tick down as they continued to pass the ball around well.

Six minutes of additional time were added by the fourth official, but Saints saw out the game without a hitch to send the fantastic away support home happy.

Full Time: Hartlepool 1-3 Saints