Alan Pardew secured his first league win as Saints boss as two Rickie Lambert penalties saw off Yeovil 2-0 at St Mary’s.

In what had been billed as a vital game for Saints, Lambert buried two spot kicks either side of half-time, the first awarded for a foul on Marek Saganowski and the second for handball, to give his team a much needed victory.

The first League One win of the campaign has reduced Saints’ deficit to minus two.

Saints piled the pressure on Yeovil in the early stages and got a good early indication of a possible avenue for success as rookie keeper Richard Martin came and unconvincingly punched a Lloyd James cross straight up in the air when he should have caught it.

But Yeovil’s tactics were no real surprise.

They were happy to sit deep and soak up pressure before using the plethora of pace they had in their side to break forward quickly on the counter attack.

They created a chance by doing just that after four minutes when Ryan Mason burst forward down the right and delivered a low cross that was met by a stooping header from Sam Williams but Kelvin Davis was able to make a fairly comfortable save.

Another opening came three minutes later as another quick break ended with Andrew Welsh drilling in a shot from 25 yards that was well struck but straight at Davis.

Yeovil came close again on 11 minutes as Craig Alcock’s cross from the right was headed over from ten yards by Gavin Tomlin.

Saints created their first real chance three minutes later as Adam Lallana whipped in a free kick from the left which was headed over from six yards by Dean Hammond.

And they got an even better chance after 18 minutes when they were awarded a penalty.

Marek Saganowski was on the left side of the area close to the line and seemed to be going nowhere but when he jinked inside Terrell Forbes chopped him down with a needless and clumsy challenge and referee Tony Bates pointed to the spot.

Rickie Lambert stepped up to take it and buried in the keeper’s bottom right hand corner. Martin guessed the right way and got close but there was too much power behind it and Saints led 1-0.

Welsh tried to bring his side level on 29 minutes but his low near post shot from just outside the area was conformably fielded by Davis.

Davis made a much better save from Welsh from point blank range on 35 minutes but the linesman’s flag was up for offside so it wouldn’t have counted.

With Yeovil still looking dangerous on the break you could just sense a bit of anxiety around St Mary’s that would dissipate should Saints get themselves a second goal and a bit of a cushion.

The nerves were not helped when Williams rose highest to meet a far post corner but his effort went over the bar.

Alcock had a very similar but arguably better chance as he had a free header from a free kick three minutes before the break but he also failed to hit the target.

That was the last chance of the half and when the whistle blew Saints were grateful to be in front but knew they needed another before the nerves really kicked in.

Those nerves were not helped any when Steven Caulker had a terrific chance from a left wing free kick a minute after the restart but sidefooted his shot from six yards out back across goal and out of the area.

Confusion took over on 50 minutes when James’ cross from the right was blocked in the area.

The referee appeared to see nothing wrong with it but the linesman waved his flag and Bates pointed to the spot and awarded Saints another penalty for a handball by Nathan Jones.

Lambert took it again and this time went the other way, as did Martin, but again it was clinical and Saints were 2-0 up.

Morgan Schneiderlin came close moments later with a curling cross that went just wide of the far post.

Saganowski got away down the left and squared across the face of goal as Saints kept possession and continued to press but there was nobody able to catch up in time and tap home.

Yeovil made a first change on 64 minutes with Ryan Smith replacing Welsh.

Hammond was the first man in the book for one late tackle too many.

Saints were looking pretty comfortable but Yeovil just needed to get one back to makes things interesting. Williams tried to do that with a shot from the edge of the area but Davis got his body behind it to save.

Pardew made a double switch on 72 minutes with Joseph Mills and Papa Waigo coming on for Schneiderlin and Saganowski. Mills went to the left of midfield with Lallana moving to the right and James in the centre.

Waigo’s first touch saw him shoot from 20 yards but it was straight at Martin before Neal Trotman was shown a yellow card for a foul with James following shortly afterwards.

Mason was the next to have an effort but again Saints were ensuring that it was from range and Davis was able to make a comfortable catch.

Pardew threw on Paul Wotton for the final ten minutes to make sure things stayed tight. Wayne Thomas came off with James going to right back and Wotton central midfield.

Waigo’s pace and trickery saw Jones receive a booking as he chopped him down.

Saints so nearly made the game completely safe from the free kick on 81 minutes as Lallana whipped it in and Trotman flicked it on with his head but Martin saved and it was hacked clear from inside the six yard box.

Waigo was booked for a bit over enthusiasm in chasing the ball away after the whistle had been blown.

Waigo was not short on confidence though and tried a shot from a difficult angle that the keeper had to turn wide.

The board showed three minutes of stoppage time but the game had long since been over as a contest and Saints ensured they finished with a clean sheet and a welcome three points on the board.