Notts County 1 Saints 3

Nigel Adkins’ men were well below par at Meadow Lane and looked like slipping to defeat after Mike Edwards had headed County into a first-half lead.

But the game turned on it’s head in the space of five second-half minutes as County were reduced to ten men in an incident that allowed Rickie Lambert to level the scores from the penalty spot before he turned provider for Lee Barnard to grab the goal that secured three points.

Adam Lallana added a third deep into stoppage time to give the scoreline a flattering look.

Notts County came flying out of the traps at Saints, no doubt buoyed by the opportunity to impress new manager Paul Ince in his first game in charge of the club.

And they took the lead after nine minutes in the most simple of fashions.

Ben Davies whipped in a right-wing corner that was met by the head of Mike Edwards who slammed his unchallenged header into the back of the net for 1-0.

Saints were angry and claimed a foul in penalty area to allow Edwards his header but the referee was not going to change his mind and the goal stood.

They were lucky to get away with another one on 18 minutes but this time Edwards’ job was much tougher and he missed the target.

County were very strong and physical and with Saints getting little protection from the referee they were just struggling to find their composure.

After a while referee Jock Waugh tired of the Saints complaining and booked Rickie Lambert for dissent.

The penalty area tussling from County corners later saw Edwards optimistically claim a penalty for a foul by Jose Fonte but it wasn’t given.

Lambert came up with the first moment of inspiration in front of goal for Saints on 26 minutes.

He stepped up and curled a 30-yard free kick to the right of centre around the outside of the wall but Rob Burch dived to his left and produced a brilliant save to turn the ball onto his post before it was hacked clear.

The game was starting to get a little bit tetchy with a few meaty tackles flying in.

Saints had penalty appeals waved away when Dean Hammond’s shot from inside the area was blocked but it was fired at the defender from close range.

Jason Puncheon had a go from inside the area for Saints but, from an acute angle, slashed wide.

Adam Lallana came a little closer after Dan Harding’s excellent first time pass from a cleared corner picked him out on the left wing. He cut inside the box onto his right foot but curled his effort wide.

Saints were certainly ending the half looking far better than they had done for the majority of it, putting County under a bit of pressure, getting their heads back on the game and mixing up their play.

When the half-time whistle went they were trailing but only by a one-goal margin and it was still all to play for.

The second half started with Puncheon and Lallana having switched wings.

However, the second period started in a fairly flat manner for Saints who just needed something to get themselves going.

It wasn’t easy though against a hard working County team who were playing a little deeper and more compact with a lead to protect which left Saints with less space to knock the ball around in when it came to the final third.

They a bit of luck on 53 minutes as David dwelt on the ball after receiving a backpass.

Davis was closed down by Karl Hawley who blocked the attempted ball out and with the keeper stranded the Saints man was grateful to see the deflection take it wide.

Up the other end Saints could have got level two minutes later as Puncheon’s cross field pass picked out Lallana.

He brilliantly controlled to take the ball into his stride and his cross from the right was straight across the front of goal but Hammond couldn’t quite get there.

Davis was called into action again moments later diving to his left to save a powerful drive from the edge of the area by Hawley.

He made a better save on 57 minutes to turn away Davies’ inswinging free kick from out on the left wing before the ball was lashed back in and deflected narrowly wide from close range by the head of Hawley.

Saints should have been two behind on 63 minutes when Davies’ right wing free was flicked on to the far post but John Thompson put his free header from six yards out off target.

Saints got a huge lift out of nowhere when Lallana’s superb touch played Lee Barnard in on goal.

He went to shoot but went down in the area under the challenge of Thompson with the referee awarding a penalty and showing the Notts County man a red card.

Lambert stepped up to take the penalty on 68 minutes and buried his right footed spot kick into the keeper’s bottom right hand corner for 1-0.

Saints made a double change with Alex Chamberlain and Richard Chaplow coming on for Puncheon and Schneiderlin as they sensed they had a great chance to win a game that was moments before just drifting away.

They almost snatched the lead when Fonte’s looping header was knocked away before Hammond could turn it in.

But from the corner on 73 minutes they did make it 2-1 as the ball found its way to Lambert on the left side of the area six yards out, he slid it across the six-yard box and Barnard was there to tap it in.

County got their defensive house in order with Graeme Lee replacing Judge but the game had completely turned on its head in the space of five minutes – from looking in total control County suddenly looked like losing.

Luke Rodgers replaced Hawley in an attacking change moments later.

Davis had to make a save from Harley though as he tried a volley from outside the area.

Nicholas Bignall came on for Barnard while Jake Jervis replaced Rickey Ravenhill for County.

But the only moment of note left in the game was a positive one for Saints as four minutes into stoppage time Lallana came inside from the right and saw his shot take a deflection and beat Burch for a 3-1 win.

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