RICKIE Lambert cannot wait for the chance to take Saints closer to the Premier League at Hull City tomorrow night.

Having completed his fourth hat-trick of the season in a sensational finish at Millwall, Lambert is ready for another big test away from home.

“We all know this was a hard game, and maybe we’re fortunate to have got the three points, but we’re all made up and we’re going to take that into Tuesday now,” he said.

“Honestly, we’re all buzzing, and the lads'

confidence is now even higher.”

Lambert has another match ball to add to his growing collection, but adding another three points to Saints’ total was more pleasing than increasing his goal tally.

“It’s another ball that will lay about in the house, but I’m more made up that we got the three points today,” he continued.

“It was frustrating to go into half time 2-1 down but we were always confident that we could come back and win it.

“I thought we were excellent in the first 25-30 minutes we went 1-0 up and were unlucky when the 'keeper made a good save off my shot to stop us from going 2-0 up.

“But we should never have got into the situation that we were at 2-1 down because we didn’t deserve to be.”

Lambert was brought down by a grounded Paul Robinson before scoring the equalising goal.

“There was contact there and it was a pen,” he said.

“It was good play leading up to it from Billy Sharp who I thought was excellent when he came on.

“He made some really good runs and I was hoping that he was going to pull it back and he put it exactly where I wanted it.

“I managed to get to it but the defender put his foot across me.

“It was a battle as it always is against both Robinson and Ward.”