Saints made it five wins in a row as they defeated Tranmere 3-0 at St Mary’s.

After an edgy first half Alan Pardew’s men stepped it up in the second period and blew their visitors away.

Dan Harding fired home a well taken opener before Rickie Lambert followed up with his 15th and 16th league goals since joining Saints.

The win moved Saints up to 14th in the table, still nine points off the play-off places.

The opening stages of the game were fairly tight as Tranmere came out aiming to squeeze a bit of pressure on Saints.

Tranmere’s formation was virtually a 4-5-1 when they were defending but when they pushed forward they tried to make it a 4-3-3. All of this was against Saints’ regular 4-4-2.

As Saints stepped it up Ian Goodison just managed to cut out Dean Hammond’s attempted through ball to David Connolly which would have set him free.

Ian Thomas-Moore was the first man to have a go for Tranmere on 12 minutes, swerving just inside the area but putting his half volley over the bar.

Saints were not finding it easy going against a spirited and organised Tranmere side with a bit of a battle in the midfield area.

Craig Curran gave Saints another reminder with a quickly taken shot that was off target before Lloyd James had a chance to whip in a free kick but it was fairly easily cleared.

Another decent piece of build-up play from Tranmere ended with John Welsh dragging a shot well wide. Tranmere keeper Luke Daniels took a bit of a risk when he decided to take a touch before clearing but although the pace of Michail Antonio gave him a scare as he quickly closed down the keeper just managed to get it away before the Saints man block.

Welsh came close when he curled a free kick just past the post on 31 minutes but with the game having passed the half hour mark neither side had managed a shot on target.

As frustration rose there was a bit of a shoving match in the middle of the pitch involving Rickie Lambert and Goodison and both men ended up in the referee’s book, receiving a yellow card each.

Lambert responded brilliantly though, getting the first shot on target on 37 minutes in dramatic fashion, pile driving the ball at the Tranmere goal where Daniels did well to make a diving stop.

There were a few bizarre moments as Tranmere picked up a few knocks meaning their caretaker manager Les Parry came on to the field as he is also the club’s physio.

As the game entered three minutes of first half stoppage time Dan Harding’s ball from the left was just too high for anybody to get on the end of.

Bartosz Bialkowski was nearly called into action moments later as Welsh drilled in an effort that flashed just wide.

But as the half time whistle went the score remained frustratingly goalless but with Saints’ attacking prowess they knew they always had the power to change that.

Saints started the second period with plenty of determination with Connolly almost getting in after a neat pass from Lambert.

Morgan Schneiderlin was the second Saints player in the book after a foul that resulted in Gareth Edds hitting a free kick which went over the bar.

Saints’ patience paid off when they took the lead on 52 minutes with a terrific goal.

Connolly held the ball up in the area and fed it out to Dan Harding overlapping from left back.

From an acute angle on the left side Harding decided to drill the ball first time low and hard across Daniels and into the far corner for 1-0.

Having only just been booked Schneiderlin was lucky to get just a warning from the referee after what appeared to be a deliberate trip.

Antonio caused more concern when he used his pace to spin in behind but nobody could get on the end of his cross.

Next up for Saints as they piled on the pressure in search of a second goal was Hammond who got in at the far post to head James’ cross towards goal but it was blocked.

Saints were handed a great chance to double their lead and give themselves a cushion from the corner when Marlon Broomes inexplicably jumped up and hit away James’ corner with his hand.

Referee Danny McDermid had no doubt in awarding a penalty and booking Broomes.

Lambert stepped up to take it right footed on 64 minutes and smashed the ball to Daniels’ left to make it 2-0.

Pardew opted to try and ensure Saints kept the lead by bringing on Paul Wotton for Schneiderlin.

Tranmere responded with a double change as Michael Ricketts and Chris Shuker replaced Terry Gornall and Edds.

Saints pretty much sealed the win on 70 minutes when Lambert stepped up to take a free kick and from 30 yards brilliantly curled it into Daniels’ top left corner for 3-0.

Pardew made another switch with Papa Waigo coming on for Connolly on 74 minutes.

That was followed by Paul McLaren coming on for Welsh for Tranmere.

Saints almost immediately got another goal as Daniels nearly spilled a corner into his own net before Tranmere desperately managed to hook it away.

Saints’ two goal hero Lambert was given the final seven minutes to put his feet up as he came off for Jacob Mellis.

Ash Taylor had a chance to pull one back late on but put a free header straight into the arms of Bialkowski.

As the game moved into injury time Mellis found Waigo in the area but Broomes was back to block the shot as the striker went to pull the trigger.

But it didn’t matter because the damage had been done, Saints had made it five wins in a row in all competitions and an impressive one defeat in 15.