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Rickie Lambert’s treble top
NIGEL ADKINS claimed he never doubted Southampton would win as two late penalties saw Rickie Lambert grab a hat-trick and the Saints cling on to top spot thanks to a 3-2 victory at Millwall.
Adkins’ side found themselves 2-1 down with five minutes to go but Lambert levelled when he was brought down in the box before snatching the winner in the 88th minute after Alan Dunne was deemed to have handled.
It was a fourth hat-trick of the season for Lambert, who now has 28 goals for the campaign and it kept in-form Reading at bay, two points adrift.
Adkins insists he knew his side would not panic against a well-drilled Millwall side.
“I still believed we would win with seven minutes to go,” he said. “We’ve got goalscorers, we were on the front foot and you’ve just got to believe a little bit.”
Reading kept the pressure on with a 4-0 thumping at Barnsley and are now three points clear of third-placed West Ham, who were held 1-1 at Leeds.
Birmingham climbed back up to fourth after a 3-0 home win over Middlesbrough.
We’ve got goalscorers, we were on the front foot and you’ve just got to believe a little bit
Blues boss Chris Hughton said: “It is going to be very tight, involving a lot of clubs.”