Saints safely progressed through to the 2nd round of the Carling Cup with a convincing 2-0 win against Northampton with goals in each half from Lambert and Lallana...

Southampton: Davis, Murty (Thomson, 76), Thomas, Lancashire, Harding, James, Wotton, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Lambert (Gobern, 85), Paterson (Rasiak, 66). Subs: Bialkowski, Perry, Gillett, Holmes.

Northampton Town: Dunn, Beckwith, Marshall, Osman, Holt, McKay (Curtis, 55), McCready, Hinton (C), Guinan, Gilligan (Dyer, 62), Rose (Akinfenwa, 55). Subs: Rodgers, Walker, Benhamin, Jacobs.

Referee: Mr Simon Hooper

Attendance: 10,921 (616 Away)

Saints boss Alan Pardew had Polish striker Grzegorz Rasiak back in his squad after a back injury, but kept faith with youngster Matt Paterson after his impressive opeining display against Millwall.

Centre-back Chris Perry was also rested, with Olly Lancashire brought in to deputise.

New signing Rickie Lambert got in an early touch as Northampton kicked things off in the bright evening sunshine at St. Mary's.

And he was quickly involved again as a handball by Ryan Gilligan gave him the chance to test the Northampton 'keeper from 25 yards out.

His first attempt swung wide of the right hand post, but drew a ripple of excitement from a relaxed St. Mary's crowd, eager to see the new arrival announce himself in style.

Saints continued to dominate possesion in the opening stages, with another central Lambert free-kick well held by Chris Dunn as it bounced awkwardly in front of him.

Lloyd James was next to try his luck, but his 11th minute shot from an acute angle was always rising over the bar from the moment he struck it.

The home side had a penalty claim waved away by referee Simon Hooper a minute later, as Lambert became tangled between Dunn and a defender after a promising delivery from Murty.

Northampton had a rare foray forward on 18 minutes and Steve Guinan got off a left-footed shot that flew well wide of its intended target.

Holt then headed the ball over the Saints bar from a corner on the right as ex-Saint boss Stuart Gray's side began to assert themselves more on proceedings.

A loose touch from Matthew Paterson in the 24th minute almost lost his side possession, but the youngster recovered well and played a quick cross-field ball over to Lallana on the left.

The number 20 then turned on his heels and let fly a strong shot that was unfortunatly too close to the 'keeper to cause any real danger.

Saints fans got the goal they had been waiting for in the 29th minute as who else but Rickie LAMBERT put the ball into the back of the net after a cross in from Lloyd James from the byline.

A low shot from distance by Lallana on 33 minutes almost crept inside the left-hand post, but was pushed wide by a stong hand from Dunn to concede a corner.

Opportunity then knocked for Guinen at the opposite end of the field, but the former Cheltenham man managed to lift the ball over Davis' bar as he slid in to meet it.

Lallana had one further attempt to extend the lead three minutes before the break, as he cut inside after being played in by Harding, but his shot was deflected wide and out for a corner.

Half-Time: Saints 1-0 Northampton Town.

Both sides emerged unchanged at the start of the second half and Alan Pardew's men continued to make the early running as they went in search of another goal.

Wayne Thomas was spoken to by the referee in the 51st minute after a challenge on Guinan left the Northampton man in a heap on the half-way line, but play was soon back underway.

Saints were awarded a corner shortly after and Lallana's short delivery from the left was deflected behind at the first attempt and then provided Wayne Thomas with a shooting chance that was well blocked by Beckwith.

Stuart Gray made two substitutions in the 55th minute with Billy McKay and Ramone Rose making way for John Curtis and Adebayo Akinfenwa.

With the lead still narrow and the game opening up, the visitors won a corner when Guinan's shot from the edge of the box was deflected over the bar by Thomas, but the Cobblers were unable to capitalise.

Ryan Gilligan also made way for Alex Dyer on 62 minutes in Gray's last throw of the dice, but it was Marshall who found himself in space a minute later, only to fire over the Saints bar.

Saints boss Alan Pardew introduced Rasiak for Paterson in the 66th minute and Saints scored immediately as the Pole headed Lloyd James' free-kick across the face of goal to give Adam LALLANA an easy tap-in.

Rasiak was looking good and fired in a shot of his own on 73 minutes, but the 'keeper did well to grasp an awkward ball, as Saints continued to put pressure on the visitors.

With a two goal cushion behind them and just under quarter of an hour left to play, Pardew substituted Murty for Thomson in order to keep the former Reading captain fresh for Saturday's trip to Huddersfield.

Goalscoring debutant Rickie Lambert left the field to warm applause in the 85th minute, as Oscar Gobern was sent on replace him, but the game was all but over as a spectacle as Saints looked to close the things out.

Lallana and Rasiak almost combined to steal a cheeky third goal at the death, as the former lobbed the ball to the far post and Rasiak headed it back to Gobern, although it had already gone out of play when the young sub's shot crossed the line.

Three minutes of stoppage time were added, and Thomson forced a diving save from Dunn, although play was later called back for a foul.

Saints looked comfortable throughout and were never really troubled by a lacklustre Northampton side that is undergoing a rebuilding process of its own.

Lambert's goal was taken well and, with two goals in both of the games he has started so far this season, he looks set to be a regular fixture on the score sheet as the campaign continues.

Full-Time: Saints 2-0 Northampton Town

The draw for the 2nd Round of the 2009-10 Carling Cup will take place on Wednesday evening. Check the site for full details.