ADAM Lallana hailed the impact of Richard Chaplow’s second half substitute appearance as Saints went top of the table with a 4-1 victory against Birmingham at St Mary’s.

Chaplow was introduced to the action on 71 minutes with Saints under pressure as Birmingham rallied and looked to close the 3-1 scoreline.

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In today's Daily Echo, there are six pages of reaction and analysis to Saints' superb 4-1 win.

However, the momentum switched again after Chaplow’s introduction and the midfielder netted the fourth Saints goal to kill the game off.

Lallana said: “We rode our luck at times and we said at half time we have got to come out all guns blazing again, but reflecting on it I don’t think we did.

“We let them back in it with a sloppy free kick and a goal – we can’t give three or four sloppy fouls away, which we did, or teams will score.

“We got the vital goal when Chaplow came on.

“He was excellent.

“It wasn’t just the goal but he brought energy to the team, and Steve De Ridder and Morgan (Schneiderlin) came on and played well and we saw the game out.

“There’s always room for improvement and we do realise that and we want to improve.

“We are not just happy winning 4-1 because we know we let them in rather easily in the second half.

“We let them back in the game and Kelvin made some good saves.

“We are scoring goals, we are creating chances and taking chances, which is brilliant and what the fans want to see.”

Lallana got himself on the scoresheet again – his fourth league goal of the campaign.

Fellow wide man Guly Do Prado also scored and linked up well with right back Frazer Richardson throughout the game.

“He (Richardson) got two assists coming down the right which was brilliant. He’s got bags of energy coming down the right and bags of power and there were two great crosses and balls the likes of me and Guly thrive off of,” reflected Lallana.

“It was great to get on the scoresheet and to have four different goalscorers.

“He’s got that in the locker, Guly.

“He’s a winger who is not really a winger who is playing there, doing it for the team and also scoring goals.

“That takes the pressure of Rickie and David Connolly who have been excellent and have great goalscoring records already this season.”

Saints’ dream start to the season continues and with 13 successive home league wins in a row now – a run stretching back to last February – it’s hard to see it ending.

“We have been starting the games really well and to be 3-0 up inside half an hour is brilliant,” beamed Lallana.

“It’s not going to be like that all season so we want to capitalise on that when we can.

“Our record at home with goals, consistency and wins just breeds confidence.

“That’s what we’re playing with at the moment.

“We have great competition for places and we have a cup game Wednesday (home to Preston in the Carling Cup) and we could play a different team.

“That just emphasises the strength we have.”