Two goals from Adam Lallana saw Saints come back after going behind early on to Leyton Orient at St. Mary's.

The visitors struck an advantage inside the opening two minutes of play when John Spicer capitalised on a loose ball in the area to give Orient the lead from close range.

Saints struggled to get going but were rejuvenated five minutes before the break when Lallana scored his first with a stunning curling shot from outside the area on the left as the ball nestled into the far corner.

A livelier start to the second half from the hosts was rewarded less than ten minutes after the re-start when Rickie Lambert's header back across the face of goal was met by an on-rushing Lallana who crashed home a diving header form six yards to complete the turnaround and earn Saints three precious points to close the gap to the top six once more.

Saints: Davis, Otsemobor, Fonte, Jaidi (Seaborne 5), Harding, Puncheon, Hammond, Schneiderlin (Wotton 74), Lallana, Lambert, Barnard (Antonio 68). Subs (not used): Bialkowski, James, Mills, Papa Waigo.

Leyton Orient: Jones, Chorley, Mkandawire, Chambers, Lichaj, Demetriou, Daniels (Cave-Brown 65), Jarvis (Tehoue 52) (Patulea 60), Spicer, Smith, Scowcroft. Subs (not used): Morris, Ashworth, Pires, Baker.

Referee: Mr. G. Ward (Surrey)

Attendance: 21, 559 (including 929 away)

Morgan Schneiderlin returned to the starting line up after recovering from a hamstring knock suffered before the JPT Final with Paul Wotton making way in midfield, whilst Lee Barnard earned his place in the side following his late goal at Brighton last week.
Managerless Orient got things underway defending the Northam End and having already had half a chance they then took the lead within ninety seconds of play.

Ryan Jarvis delivered a harmless looking ball into the area from the left which nicked off the head of Radhi Jaidi and into the path of midfielder John Spicer, who took a touch before lashing home past Kelvin Davis inside the six yard box to put the O's one up.

A warning followed shortly after when James Scowcroft headed over the bar and then Saints were forced into an early change when Jaidi pulled up with a seeming recurrence of his hamstring injury. The Tunisian was replaced by Dan Seaborne just five minutes into the match.

In the hosts' first foray forward Schneiderlin went close as he flicked on Jason Puncheon's corner from the left at the near post, only to see his skilful effort fly just wide.

On 16 Saints almost hit back with two opportunities in quick succession through Barnard. He didn't know too much about the first as the striker charged down Ben Chorley's clearance only to see the ball pushed out of harms way as it spun goalwards. The second came on the end of a cross sent in by Puncheon on the right which Rickie Lambert headed back across the area that Barnard could only nod narrowly wide from close range.

With 25 minutes on the clock the visitors lined up a sight of goal again from a free-kick played short into the path of goal scorer Spicer, who arrowed a low strike from distance just past the left post as he collected Charlie Daniels' short pass.

Saints knocked the ball around comfortably in Orient's half, but found the East Londoner's difficult to break down as a well organised O's side put every black shirt behind the ball.

But the hosts eventually found a way past and did so in style inside the last five minutes of the half. Puncheon picked out Lallana on the left with a ranging pass which the winger controlled before cutting inside and unleashing a brilliant curling strike into the far corner to level the scores and bring the game to life again.

Orient seemed content to see out the half and no further chances were created as the scores remained level going into the break.

Half Time: Saints 1-1 Leyton Orient

Saints started the second half much stronger and Schneiderlin was unfortunate to see his header at the far post drop out of play as he connected to Hammond's cross from the right in the 48th minute.

On 52 Orient made their first change when Ryan Jarvis was replaced by John Tehoue, but the switch didn't stifle Alan Pardew's side as they turned the game on its head two minutes later.

A move on the on the right led to Puncheon swinging the ball to the far post where Lambert headed back across into the path of Lallana who crashed home a diving header as he arrived into the six yard box at pace.

On the hour mark the visitors were forced to make their second change of the afternoon as the substitute Tehoue went off on a stretcher just eight minutes after his introduction, his place was taken by Adrian Patulea who netted Orient's solitary goal against Hartlepool at the weekend.

Full back Eric Lichaj tested Davis with a venomous strike from distance in 64 which the 'keeper turned past the post with a stunning one handed stop.
Andrew Cave-Brown replaced Charlie Daniels for the O's but the match remained a little scruffy until Saints switched Barnard for Michail Antonio on 68.

Puncheon's endeavour created an opportunity for Lambert on the left who still had a lot to do before he eventually struck in a fierce shot at the near post which 'keeper Jamie Jones pushed behind for a corner.

Saints made their final change just over a quarter of an hour from the end when Paul Wotton replaced Schneiderlin but the flow of the match remained unsteady as the hosts slowly started to see out the game.

An additional four minutes were added on for stoppages during which time Orient sub Patulea gave the hosts a scare with a volley from the right which flew narrowly wide of Davis' goal, but Saints held on to see off the battling O's.

Full Time: Saints 2-1 Leyton Orient