A Rickie Lambert hat-trick secured a fourth Saints victory of the season over MK Dons in a 3-0 success at stadium:mk.

All three goals of varying quality arrived in the second half as the striker took his tally to 30 for the campaign, and his landmark last strike is likely to live long in the memory as he found the back of the net with a tremendous long range shot.

The final scoreline seemed a long way off in a first half which failed to live up to the high standards set in the previous meetings between the two earlier in the season, but once Lambert knocked in his first with a looping header, Saints didn't look back.

The Liverpudlian got his second from the penalty spot after José Fonte was fouled inside the area, but the stunning third put the icing on the cake for Lambert who celebrated his first hat-trick for the Club.

MK Dons: Gueret, Lewington, Doumbe, McCracken, Tunnicliffe, Leven, Randall, Carrington (Gleeson 53), Chadwick, Wilbraham, Easter (Gobern 63). Subs (not used): Howell, Woodards, Davis, Powell, Morgan.

Saints: Davis, Harding, Fonte, Seaborne, Mills, Puncheon, Hammond, Schneiderlin (Wotton 90), Lallana, Barnard (Connolly 81), Lambert (Papa Waigo 76). Subs (not used): Bialkowski, Perry, James, Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Referee: Mr. C. Webster (Tyne & Wear)

Attendance: 10, 570 (including 1,584 away)

Wayne Thomas and Radhi Jadhi both suffered knocks in the build up to the match and were rested ahead of next week's busy schedule.

The visitors kicked off in the changed strip of blue and yellow on a cool day inside stadium:mk and Alan Pardew's side wasted little time as they set about attacking the hosts' goal. Jason Puncheon, making his first return to Milton Keynes since he left the Dons in January, carried the early threat from the right, supplying the first chance insisde the opening two minutes of play.

His cross was nodded down by Rickie Lambert into the path of Adam Lallana, whose powerful shot was headed off the line by Luke Chadwick.

Lambert's former Stockport teammate Aaron Wilbraham had the first Dons attempt on target as he headed Chadwick's cross into Kelvin Davis' arms.

The lively start soon settled down with much of the action remaining in the middle, as both sets of midfielders battled for a way through the centre.

José Fonte had to be alert to end Chadwick's run before Puncheon was similarly thwarted at the other end. Puncheon did get his first sight of goal on 20 minutes as he drilled a low effort that Gueret turned behind for a corner.

Mark Randall's deflected shot was pushed away to safety by Davis five minutes later as the number of clear chances dried up inside the first half hour's play.

On 32 minutes a free-kick awarded for a foul on Lambert provided an opportunity for the Liverpudlian to strike an effort on goal, but his shot from 35 yards flew wide of Gueret's left post.

Lallana went down awkwardly towards the half's end as he challenged for the ball, but after receiving treatment on the sidelines, he returned to the field in time to get a sight of goal in stoppage time. However, his firmly struck shot was headed clear as the game remained scoreless going into the break.

Half Time: MK Dons 0-0 Saints

The deadlock was broken shortly after the interval with a goal in front of the travelling support which arrived from a long free-kick hit downfield by Davis.

The 'keeper's punt into the area was met by the head of Lambert who beat Dons stopper Gueret to it in the air, and the ball looped effortlessly into the back of the net less than three minutes after the re-start.

Hammond almost added another moments later, as he got a shot off from the edge of the area which was turned out for a corner, prompting the hosts to make a change as Mark Carrington was replaced by Stephen Gleeson in midfield.

Dean Lewington went into the referee's notebook for a foul before Morgan Schneiderlin followed suit for a sliding challenge on the increasingly slick surface from the rainfall.

As the match reached the hour mark, Randall blazed a shot narrowly over the top from a corner which served as a warning to Saints who had Davis to thank for keeping out Jermaine Easter's acrobatic effort from eight yards, with a smart save.

The Dons replaced Easter with Lewis Gobern just a few minutes later, as the striker succumbed to a knock.

David McCracken was booked for an off the ball challenge on Lee Barnard and moments later, Alan Pardew's men doubled their advantage.

A penalty was awarded to Saints on 68 minutes when Mathias Doumbe brought down Fonte on the left hand side of the area and Lambert stepped up to dispatch the spot kick for his 29th goal of the campaign.

Fonte was the second Saint to be cautioned as he challenged Wilbraham on halfway which left the striker with a bloodied head as he received treatment for a few minutes on the pitch, but was soon ok to carry on again.

The Dons responded with Chadwick getting the better of Mills and teeing up Gleeson, but the midfielder couldn't get a shot at goal.

On 75 Saints made the game safe as Lambert completed his hat-trick with a sublime goal from distance. The striker spotted Gueret off his line and from over 35 yards lobbed the 'keeper with a perfectly measured shot.

He went off a minute later to a standing ovation as Papa Waigo got a run out for the final quarter of an hour or so.

Waigo was joined in attack by David Connolly for the last ten minutes of play as the visitors refused to let up on their opponents.

The hosts had Gobern's free-kick and James Tunnicliffe's skewed shot to show for themselves before Davis was called into action to deny Chadwick and then more spectacularly, Randall in quick succession, as a response from the Paul Ince's side seemed increasingly unlikely.

Paul Wotton replaced Schneiderlin as four minutes of stoppage time was added on where Saints saw out the game comfortably to record an impressive win away from home.

Full Time: MK Dons 0-3 Saints