Blues revival is halted by Lambert (From Bucks Free Press)

Blues revival is halted by Lambert

10:23pm Tuesday 1st December 2009

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Southampton 1, Wycombe 0.

WANDERERS' revival was halted in its tracks by Southampton as the Blues missed the chance to climb out of the relegation zone.

They became the latest side to feel the force of Saints £1m striker Rickie Lambert whose 14th goal of the season saw Southampton hop out of the relegation zone instead.

He scored the 40th minute winner on night when Blues keeper Scott Shearer kept the score down and his fine form, coupled with wasteful Saints finishing always kept the Blues in it.

They worried the Saints on the break but despite some tidy play they lacked the cutting edge they needed to nick a point against the fallen giants.

Just four years ago the Saints were in the Premiership and it was always going to be a tough ask for a Blues team stripped of the services of injured loan signing Gareth Ainsworth.

His form has been the cornerstone of Wanderers' revival which had seen them pocket two straight wins since his arrival but he picked up an injury in training on Friday and didn't even travel to St Mary's.

But even without him and midfielder Scott Davies, who was only fit enough for the bench after his trapped nerve problem, Blues might have enjoyed better fortunes against the once proud South Coast side.

They could have been hammered out of sight if Saints had taken their chances, but they also could have nicked a point in a game in which the 16,000 expectant home fans could never settle.

Stuart Beavon and Matt Harrold were both denied goals for Wycombe by last-ditch blocks from ex-Premiership defenders Chris Perry and Radhi Jaidi as the Blues could have made their hosts pay for all their misses.

Southampton started the season with a ten-point deduction and it was easy to understand their fans frustrations.

Over the years they have been used to watching the likes of Ryan Giggs visiting the South Coast on regular occasions and seeing both sides give the ball away in a League One relegation scrap is not what they wanted.

They showed their frustration early on as most of their side's best early moves floundered in Wycombe's well oiled offside trap.

And after home skipper Dean Hammond gave Blues keeper Scott Shearer an uncomfortable moment from distance, it was Wycombe on the counter attack that came closest to opening the scoring on 23 minutes.

Kevin Betsy skipped down the right wing and his low cross appeared to be a goal on a plate for Matt Harrold under home defender Radhi Jaidi used all his Premiership experience to eat up the yards and nick the ball away with a sliding tackle.

But Saints came roaring back. Adam Lallana hammered off target when he was left unmarked by the Wanderers defence and then the Blues had an amazing let-off when the equally unguarded Papa Waigo N'Diaye toed Lloyd James' low cross over the bar from six yards.

Then Blues skipper Michael Duberry had to head off his line as Shearer was left in no man's land after coming for and missing a corner.

Saints' increased pressure finally brought its rewards on 40 minutes though as again Wanderers' defending was brought into question.

Waigo Ndyiae ran into open space down Blues left before squaring to Lambert who squeezed in what turned out to be the winner.

Blues were denied an instant response just minutes later when Chris Perry's magnificent block denied Beavon on the break.

But having come close to levelling just before half time, Blues needed Shearer's fingertips to stop them going two down at the start of the second half as he pushed away a Lloyd James shot.

Saints were on a mission to kill off Wycombe early on and Lambert whistled a volley wide after chesting the ball down on the edge of the box.

But the Blues might have found a way back when Craig Woodman's corner found its way to the back stick where John Mousinho couldn't make the best of a good headed chance.

Saints' multi-ball tactics never gave Wycombe a rest and from another quick throw Shearer had to dive full length to deny the dangerous Lambert.

In the freezing cold swirling rain, the home side were beginning to warm to their task.

Duberry did well to deny Waigo N'Diaye as the Blues were asked to soak up plenty of pressure.

Boss Waddock tried to stem the tide by giving Southampton something to think and made all three of his substitututions before the 65 minute mark.

Wycombe looked better for the changes with John Akinde, Scott Davies and Matt Phillips on for Ian Westlake, Beavon and Mousinho.

But Lambert was still a huge problem. His crossfield pass fed James and Shearer needed to be at his best to foil Lallana when the ball came in.

Saints keeper Bartosz Bialkowski was then forced to show what he could do as Davies attempted to surprise him with a long range dasy cutter which the keeper pushed wide.

It was enough to encourage the 649 Blues fans to raise their voices but they should have been silenced moments later when Saints sub Michail Antonio capitalised on Woodman's poor control. But instead of shooting he insisted on trying to beat all of the Wycombe defenders who raced back to cover and he lost the ball.

Shearer then produced two huge stops in the space of seconds to deny first Lambert and then Lallana before then giving Hammond's header from the resultant corner the same treatment.

Shearer was proving a big barrier and Antonio was rightly booked for blatantly using his hand to stick the ball into his net as he tried measures beyond the rules to try and beat the Wycombe glovesman.

Antonio's night didn't get any better as he smashed the ball over after another excellent Lambert assist.

Next up it was Lambert's turn to catch the Antonio disease as he offered Duberry the chance to rob him when he really should have scored again to give the scoreline what would have been a more reflective look.

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