Southampton FC legend Rickie Lambert looks back on Wembley triumph

It wasn’t just the opportunity to play in a cup final at the home of English football. It was the journey that this one moment represented and the future he and his team were so confident of reaching.

Facing Carlisle United in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final, nerves didn’t enter Lambert’s body.

You can say you never know in football, but Lambert knew. The talismanic striker knew his Saints team was destined for victory and he knew his Saints team was destined for greatness.

READ MORE: Saints legend Rickie Lambert relives St Mary's journey through 10 defining goals

“I can’t remember feeling any pressure," he tells the Daily Echo. "I can only remember feeling excitement.

"I couldn’t wait to get out there and witness the atmosphere, witness the stadium. I’d played at the Millennium Stadium before with Bristol Rovers but we’d lost.

"So this time around I was with Southampton thinking ‘we are going to win this today, I’m going to make sure we win this.’ There was nothing that was going to stop me from winning that day. I just couldn’t wait to get out there and get going. Everyone to the man was superb.”

Saints fans pictured at Wembley for the JPT final. (Image: DE Archive)

13 years to the day from Saints’ 4-1 triumph in the capital, the club find themselves clinging on to their Premier League status, something they’ve held for more than a decade. But the journey started long before they eventually reached the top flight under Nigel Adkins.

It started with relegation to the third tier and the fear of extinction that accompanies administration. It started with salvation under the ownership of Markus Liebherr. It started with the £1m signing of Rickie Lambert.

But really if there was one moment that said ‘SAINTS ARE BACK’ - or at least on the way back - then it was this late March afternoon at Wembley. The rebirth of a club that was just getting started.

When the Daily Echo calls legendary Saints striker Lambert on the day of the anniversary, the Liverpool native is shocked. Not shocked to receive the call, but shocked to find out it’s somehow been 13 years.

"Wow, I did not know that until you just told me! It all feels like yesterday. Especially that day, what a day it was,” he laughs.

“The ambition of the club, the ambition of the lads, that just wet the mouths of everyone and set the tone going forward. Without a doubt that was definitely one of the most important blocks along the path to our success.”

Saints approached the Wembley showpiece in the midst of a run that saw them lose just five times in 30 League One matches. Lambert concedes that the pressure was on Saints against League One strugglers Carlisle, but insists the players didn’t feel that immense weight.

“We were very confident," he recalls. "There probably was pressure on us because we were heavily favoured and we were taking by far the most fans, probably double Carlisle’s fans. So there was a lot of pressure but the lads didn’t feel it whatsoever. 

“We knew that if we played to our potential that no matter what Carlisle threw at us, we’d have too much for them. And we actually started well. We started bang on and we pushed them back straight away. We dominated from start to finish."

An encouraging start from Saints led to the 15th minute when Michail Antionio picked his head up on the right flank and crossed in the direction of the most dangerous player on the pitch.

Lambert’s eyes lit up. In his mind, he knew it was in.

That is until Carlisle defender Peter Murphy blocked his goalbound header with his arm.

“He puts his hand up and literally handballs it! Like it’s basketball!” Lambert recollects with a grin. 

“It was the most obvious handball ever. I was more gutted that I wasn’t going to score the header but I was just thinking ‘okay, I’ll score the pen.’ So then I had to switch my mentality with the realisation that I’ve got a pen in front of 80,000-odd fans. It was nerve-wracking. 

“The nerves were more than normal but I was confident. My confidence then was sky-high and I thought ‘I’m just going to hit this in an area the keeper won’t be able to get.’ 

“And he did! I couldn’t believe he got a hand to it, a strong hand. I crapped my pants when I saw him get across to it. But I just hit it hard enough where his wrist folded and it’s gone in. The celebrations could start then!”

With Saints already in control, they were never going to consider letting this opportunity slip away. Adam Lallana doubled their advantage just before half-time and Papa Waigo added a third five minutes after the break.

Antonio made it 4-0 on the hour-mark and while Carlisle notched a late consolation, it wasn’t nearly enough to ruin the special day for Saints.

"It was brilliant. And with each goal that goes in, our crowd gets louder and louder, they celebrate even more. The fans could just enjoy themselves. Honestly, I couldn’t have wished for it to go any better, it was perfect.

“It was amazing, just trying to soak it all in,” Lambert says of the full-time celebrations. 

“Papa doing his little dance, it was brilliant! Obviously just looking up and seeing the layer upon layer of Southampton fans, all the way around. It was incredible. 

“Knowing what this club had gone through. I obviously wasn’t there at the time but seeing the pictures of what was happening to the club, they were worried there wasn’t even going to be a club. And then being a part of a team that delivered a moment like that for them…it felt brilliant.

"I can’t remember exactly what (Alan) Pardew said but he basically said; 'let this be the start. Become Premier League players. Premier League players constantly play under this pressure, in these atmospheres. This is exactly what you want, go out and show the fans what you’re capable of doing. Show the chairman you want to be part of the plans.’

"It was everyone’s desire to be part of the journey going forward and that win, that cup, was a massive part of the journey going ahead."