Dan Harding was pleased to notch his first goal for the club but felt that a lapse in concentration cost Saints three points against Brentford.

The 25 year-old left back ventured forward to try and give his team an advantage, and was rewarded as he collected Rickie Lambert's header back across goal to finish from close range.

"It was a quality finish!" he joked. "I think I would've looked a bit silly if I hadn't scored it so thankfully I made a good connection and it went into the back of the net.

"The gaffer was encouraging us to push forward to try and win the game and when a ball to Lambert at the far post came in, I thought to myself, 'he's been winning those all day'. Fortunately he did again, and I was at the far post with no-one around me where I just managed to put in."

The defender's fourth goal of his career and first for Saints came against a former teammate, Bees 'keeper Lewis Price, and Harding admitted that it was extra special to put one over the former Ipswich stopper.

"I don't get many so it was nice to get one against him. He was ok about it though when he came up and saw me after the game."

Harding puts Saints in front against Brentford

Harding's goal was ultimately cancelled out by Brentford winger Cleveland Taylor's header, but the defender felt that it was an improved performance on the whole.

"It's disappointing but I think we've got to take the positives from the game," he said. "We looked good in patches considering the disappointment of the recent games and I think we did really well. We needed a reaction and I think we gave one. The gaffer made a few changes and the lads reacted well other than a lapse in concentration late on.

"Unfortunately the lapse at the end of the game has cost us three points again so we've got to get back to the training ground and work on that."

Another game on Tuesday in the Carling Cup represents another opportunity for Saints to kick start their campaign and Harding is happy for the games to keep coming, not just for the team, but for his own sake.

"It's good to be playing regularly, as a footballer it's what you want because you want to show the coaching staff and the fans what you can do.

"We're still a new team and a young one at that, but we'll be an exciting team when it comes right. It looks very, very good. Obviously teams don't click straightaway so it will take time, but we will only get better.

"Tuesday is another opportunity for us to play as a team and hopefully we can set about correcting the wrongs from our game."