SAINTS matchwinner Mario Lemina insists his Hawthorns blockbuster is NOT the best goal of his career.

Lemina’s equaliser against West Brom, a 25-yard screamer into the top corner, was the catalyst for a memorable win against the Baggies.

But the former Marseille star reckons his first Premier League goal is not in the same class as his last strike for his country.

Five months ago, Lemina scored a wonder goal for Gabon similar to Brighton winger Jose Izquierdo’s magnificent effort in his side’s 3-1 win against West Ham on Saturday.

Lemina cut in from the left before curling a wonder strike into the far, top corner to secure a 2-1 win against Ivory Coast in a World Cup qualifier.

Morrocco were the only country to qualify for the World Cup from Gabon’s group, but Lemina’s first goal since that magnificent effort could turn out to be a key moment in Saints staying in the Premier League

Lemina said: “The best goal of my career? No, I scored an even better one against the Ivory Coast for Gabon.

“But still, this was a very important one to get us off the mark. I am proud to have scored my first goal for the club.”

Speaking to southamptonfc.com, he said: “I’m very happy for the team.

“I know that you have to work hard to get the wins in moments like this and we got an important one. Let’s hope we can build on this momentum.

“This needs to be the standard that we set going forwards. We perhaps ought to have scored again to kill off the game quicker because they had chances and we conceded to let them back in.

“We’re pleased with the win but at 3-2 the result wasn’t as certain as it could have been.”

Lemina looks to be back to his best after recovering from the ankle injury that interrupted the encouraging start to his Saints career.

He made his 13th start at the Hawthorns, going on to play a full 90 minutes for the first time since Christmas.

Lemina scored three goals in Serie A for Juventus - two in his 15 starts and the other in one of his 16 substitute appearances - before his £18m move to Saints, which was a club record before Guido Carrillo’s £19m move from Monaco.

Prior to that he scored twice in the French top flight during his 41-game spell at Marseille (including 25 starts). His career-best strike was one of three goals in 15 appearances for Gabon.