2011–12 Southampton F.C. season

In their first game of the season on 6 August 2011, Southampton beat Leeds United 3–1. The home side opened the scoring after ten minutes, with captain Dean Hammond scoring a solo goal; this lead was doubled just 15 minutes later by Adam Lallana, converting an assist from striker Rickie Lambert.[22][23] Shortly after the break, David Connolly scored the Saints' third, but the clean sheet was denied in the very last minute of play when Max Gradel scored a penalty following a handball by defender Aaron Martin.[22][23] Southampton made it two wins out of two a week later, as they beat Barnsley by a solitary goal in their first away game of the season.[24][25] The visitors took the lead after half an hour, as David Connolly scored for the second game running after a defensive error by the hosts.[24][25] The Saints were dominant for most of the rest of the game, but could only hold on with one goal for the win, which was slightly soured by the dismissal of midfielder Richard Chaplow, who had only been on the pitch for 15 minutes.[24][25] Following the win, Southampton moved from second to first in the Championship league table.[24][25] Southampton travelled to Portman Road later in the week, beating Ipswich Town 5–2.[26][27] Rickie Lambert opened the scoring with two goals in the first 11 minutes of the match, and David Connolly made it three before the break.[26][27] Ipswich returned after half time with two goals in quick succession, but the Saints were able to secure the win with two goals from Adam Lallana to return to the top of the table.[26][27]

Back at St Mary's on 20 August, Southampton made it four wins out of four by beating Millwall 1–0.[28][29] Winger Guilherme do Prado scored the only goal of the match in the 18th minute, and the team held on for the rest of the match despite second-half Millwall pressure to pick up another three points.[28][29] This marks the first time in the club's history that Southampton have won all four of their opening league matches.[28][29] The club's winning run finally came to an end on 27 August, when they lost 3–2 to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.[30][31] Leicester broke the deadlock after only three minutes with a goal from Darius Vassell, and quickly made it two with a Richie Wellens effort.[30][31] Saints full back Dan Harding pulled one back for the visitors just before the half-hour mark, heading in an Adam Lallana cross, but on the stroke of half-time the hosts forced an own goal out of Rickie Lambert to retain their two-goal advantage going into the second half.[30][31] David Connolly scored in the 53rd minute, but despite overall dominance in the second half Southampton were unable to turn the tables, thanks largely to a string of saves by Kasper Schmeichel in the last ten minutes.[30][31]

After a two-week break, Southampton returned to winning ways by beating Nottingham Forest 3–2 at St Mary's in a closely contested match.[32][33] Matt Derbyshire opened the scoring for Forest in the seventh minute, but Southampton striker Rickie Lambert cancelled out the goal just a minute later.[32][33] Lambert scored a second for the Saints when he headed in a David Connolly assist on 24 minutes, but the visitors levelled the scoreline just before the break.[32][33] After periods of domination for both sides, Southampton finally scored a winner in the 82nd minute when Lambert completed his hat-trick from a Danny Fox free kick.[32][33] The following week Southampton hosted former Premier League side Birmingham City, winning the match by an assertive scoreline of 4–1.[34][35] The first goal of the match came in the eleventh minute from top scorer Rickie Lambert, who converted a penalty kick given when he was fouled in the box.[34][35] The tally was quickly doubled, as Guly do Prado converted a Frazer Richardson cross into a second, and a third was scored by Adam Lallana ten minutes before half-time to make it 3–0 at the break.[34][35] Birmingham got a goal back early in the second half, but substitute Richard Chaplow sealed the win in the 78th minute with Southampton's fourth.[34][35]

Southampton's brilliant form (six wins and one loss) began to crumble when the team visited Turf Moor to face Burnley on 24 September, though. The first half of the match was largely balanced as both sides failed to break the deadlock and went into the break goalless.[36][37] Burnley piled on the pressure after the break, and finally scored the first goal of the game in the 53rd minute courtesy of Charlie Austin.[36][37] With Southampton constantly looking for an equaliser, the home side remained vigilant in defence and kept the league-toppers out until ten minutes before time, when substitute Morgan Schneiderlin scored his first goal of the season, finishing Danny Fox's assist to give the Saints a point and keep them at the top of the Championship table.[36][37] Southampton's luck only grew worse in midweek, however, when a visit to Cardiff City resulted in only their second loss of the campaign so far. The first half was largely a success for the visitors, as Southampton made a number of breaks but could not finish off their attacking moves.[38][39] It was the hosts who came out stronger in the second period though, as Kenny Miller headed in a long ball to open the scoring for the Bluebirds.[38][39] Steve De Ridder was brought on, but it wasn't enough as Miller doubled his tally just seven minutes later when he calmly slot the ball past Kelvin Davis.[38][39] The Saints battled on, but all they could achieve was a consolation goal in injury time courtesy of a neat finish from substitute De Ridder; Southampton remained top of the league however, due to draws at Middlesbrough and Derby County.[38][39]

On 1 October, Southampton returned to winning ways and extended their lead at the top of the Championship to two points by beating Watford 4–0.[40][41] The Saints opened the scoring when winger Steve De Ridder was brought down in the box and Rickie Lambert converted the penalty in the 22nd minute.[40][41] Southampton cruised to half-time, and were awarded a second penalty ten minutes after the break, which Lambert again scored to put the hosts two up.[40][41] A passage of play between Adam Lallana and Guly do Prado saw the Brazilian score his third of the season on 70 minutes, before substitute Lee Holmes – in his first appearance of the season and just two minutes after coming on – latched onto Morgan Schneiderlin's long ball to make it four.[40][41] On 15 October Southampton visited Derby County, drawing 1–1 at Pride Park Stadium.[42][43] Derby opened the scoring in the first half courtesy of a Theo Robinson strike, and held the lead until midway into the second half.[42][43] Rickie Lambert scored his ninth league goal of the season after 61 minutes, after an assist from David Connolly.[42][43] The game ended as a draw, with Southampton remaining at the top of the table.[42][43] Southampton extended their lead at the top to five points when they faced second-place West Ham United in midweek, winning by a single goal to nil.[44][45] Saints loanee defender Jos Hooiveld scored the only goal of the match on the cusp of half-time, heading in a corner from left back Danny Fox.[44][45] The match was marked by a relatively high amount of disciplinary action, with both sides picking up three cautions each.[44][45]

Southampton's lead dropped to three points on 22 October, when they drew 1–1 with Reading.[46][47] The Saints played at a largely mediocre level, with goalkeeper Kelvin Davis keeping the hosts from scoring on many occasions in the first half.[46][47] Reading finally made the break in the 71st minute when Antiguan midfielder Mikele Leigertwood scored from inside the penalty area to put pressure on Southampton.[46][47] The pressure was increased a few minutes later, when captain Dean Hammond was sent off for a second bookable offence, but winger Steve De Ridder made sure Saints got a point ten minutes from time when he completed a Guly do Prado setup.[46][47] On 29 October, Southampton picked up their 18th consecutive home win, against third-placed Middlesbrough, winning the match 3–0.[48][49] Guly do Prado opened the scoring after 15 minutes, heading in an assist from full-back Danny Butterfield who was making his first league appearance of the season.[48][49] Guly doubled his and the team's tally under 15 minutes later, scoring another header this time from a Rickie Lambert setup.[48][49] The Saints had to wait until ten minutes from time to secure the win, when substitute David Connolly finished off a long team move to put the club three points ahead at the top of the table.[48][49]

On 1 November the Saints extended their lead at the top to five points against fellow promotees Peterborough United.[50][51] The team won 2–1 at home, with both goals coming within the first 20 minutes of the match: midfielder Richard Chaplow scored his second of the season in the 14th minute from a Guly do Prado setup, and defender Jos Hooiveld also scored his second courtesy of do Prado just three minutes later.[50][51] Peterborough went down to ten men in the first half when Lee Frecklington fouled Morgan Schneiderlin and was sent off in the 35th minute, and Southampton held on despite a Peterborough consolation in the 76th minute, while second-placed West Ham drew to increase the gap between themselves and the lead.[50][51] Southampton remained at the top of the Championship when they beat Coventry City 4–2 on 5 November.[52][53] The Saints went two goals up in the first half, courtesy of strikes from Richard Chaplow and Adam Lallana, before the home side equalised in the second half.[52][53] Guly do Prado and Steve De Ridder scored a second brace of goals for the visitors, giving Southampton their third league win in a row.[52][53]

After a two-week break, Southampton upheld their 100% home win record with a 3–0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.[54][55] All three goals came within 20 minutes of each other in the second-half, all courtesy of Rickie Lambert.[54][55] In the 49th minute Lambert headed in a Frazer Richardson cross; in the 58th minute he scored a penalty, after Mauricio Taricco was sent off; and in the 69th minute he scored a second penalty following a booking for Iñigo Calderón.[54][55] The Saints picked up their first loss in two months the following week, when they lost at Bristol City due to second half goals from Albert Adomah and Nicky Maynard.[56][57] Later in the week Southampton hosted Hull City, and after going a goal down at the end of the first period were able to claw back the three points in the second half.[58][59] Guly do Prado scored the first shortly after the break, converting a Rickie Lambert setup, and Adam Lallana headed in a Frazer Richardson cross just a few minutes later to win the match.[58][59] The game was made slightly easier to ride out later in the match as Hull went down to ten men with the dismissal of winger Robbie Brady.[58][59]

December didn't start off well for the Saints, as they lost their fourth game of the season against bottom-placed Doncaster Rovers by a solitary goal.[60][61] A largely equal encounter, Southampton conceded the only goal of the match in the 60th minute, when striker Billy Sharp scored from a lay-off courtesy of fellow striker Marc-Antoine Fortuné.[60][61] Misfortune continued for the Hampshire club when they hosted Premier League relegation victims Blackpool the following week. The home side struck first, when striker Rickie Lambert converted a Jack Cork assist from the edge of the penalty area in the 30th minute, but the lead was short-lived as Chris Basham scored just six minutes later.[62][63] The teams went into half time level, and Blackpool broke the deadlock shortly after the break courtesy of a long-range effort from Callum McManaman.[62][63] The game looked lost for Southampton but a period of high pressure from the hosts culminated in a winning goal from a Lambert header in the third of five minutes of injury time.[62][63]

On 18 December the Saints travelled to Fratton Park for the first of two matches against local rivals Portsmouth in the South Coast derby. Southampton went into the match top of the table still, but only on goal difference due to a positive result for second-placed West Ham United the previous day. After a relatively tame and equal first half, in which Southampton arguably came closest to scoring through Guly do Prado and Rickie Lambert chances, Lambert opened the scoring shortly after the hour mark with a header from a Frazer Richardson cross.[64][65] Later into the game, Portsmouth increased their pressure on the Championship leaders and it eventually culminated in an equalising goal for Joel Ward, who headed in a scrappy chance to take the game to a draw.[64][65] Southampton continued their unbeaten home run when they beat Crystal Palace 2–0 at St Mary's on Boxing Day.[66][67] Both goals came courtesy of midfielder Guly do Prado, who headed in a Steve De Ridder cross in the 33rd minute and a Frazer Richardson assist in the 76th.[66][67] Southampton's 23-game unbeaten home run ended on 30 December, the final game of the year, when they lost 1–0 to Bristol City, thanks to a second-half goal from loanee midfielder Stephen Pearson.[68][69] Due to the results of Middlesbrough and West Ham United, Southampton remained top of the table by two points going into 2012.[70]

Southampton's first game of 2012 was a disaster: the side lost 3–0 to Brighton & Hove Albion – their worst result of the season, and the inverse of the season's first meeting of the teams – and striker Rickie Lambert was sent off for violent conduct.[71][72] Tensions were high in the first half, when defender Dan Harding was taken off by Nigel Adkins for fear of him getting sent off; but going into half-time the match was goalless.[71][72] Early in the second half, referee Andy D'Urso showed Rickie Lambert a red card after violent conduct between the striker and Brighton defender Adam El-Abd.[71][72] With ten men, Southampton conceded three goals in the remaining match time, one from youngster Jake Forster-Caskey and two from midfielder Matt Sparrow.[71][72] In the last five minutes, Brighton also lost a player when captain Gordon Greer was dismissed for a foul on striker Jonathan Forte, but Southampton were unable to change the result.[71][72] The Saints bounced back in their next game, winning 3–0 away against Nottingham Forest.[73][74] Guly do Prado kicked off the scoring in the 27th minute, and made it two courtesy of David Connolly in the second half after Forest went down to ten men shortly after the break.[73][74] Morgan Schneiderlin finished off the game with a long-range effort to secure Southampton's place at the top of the table.[73][74] Southampton dropped to second in the table for the first time since September when they lost 2–0 to Leicester City on 23 January.[75][76] Both goals were scored early in the first half, in the 15th minute by David Nugent and in the 26th minute by captain Matt Mills, and due to West Ham United's win over Nottingham Forest the Saints dropped to second place in the Championship table.[75][76]

Against Cardiff City the Saints began to gain points again, drawing at home 1–1.[77][78] After being down a goal at half-time, Rickie Lambert scored from the penalty spot just before the hour mark to give Southampton a much-needed point.[77][78] On 4 February, the team travelled to face Birmingham City, with the match ending in a goalless draw.[79][80] The game was marked by a red card for full back Danny Fox, who was dismissed in the second half due to persistent fouling.[79][80] Southampton won their first game in almost a month the following week, when they beat Burnley 2–0.[81][82] Adam Lallana broke the deadlock in the eighth minute with a close-range header set up by Frazer Richardson, and new signing Billy Sharp scored on his first start for the club 25 minutes later, latching onto a Lambert pass to double the home side's lead.[81][82] Due to a postponement in the West Ham game, the result meant Southampton closed the gap at the top to just one point.[81][82] In a top-of-the-table match against West Ham on 14 February, Southampton scored late to secure a point and remain one behind the league leaders.[83][84] Controversy began early when Saints striker Billy Sharp gave away a penalty, receiving a booking in the process, and became involved in an altercation with West Ham midfielder Matthew Taylor, who was sent off for the incident.[83][84] Mark Noble scored the spot kick, putting the hosts a goal up after just 20 minutes.[83][84] More cautions for both sides followed in the first and second halves, and after much pressure Southampton finally scored courtesy of a Jos Hooiveld effort in the 75th minute to leave them at the same disadvantage in the table as before the match.[83][84]

Southampton returned to winning ways later in the week, thrashing Derby County 4–0.[85][86] A close range goal from Jos Hooiveld gave the Saints a one-goal lead at half time, and in the second half the home side added a further three goals courtesy of defender Aaron Martin, winger Adam Lallana and Japanese striker Tadanari Lee, sending the club back to the top of the table.[85][86] Travelling away the following week, the Saints kept their second clean sheet in a row by beating Watford 3–0.[87][88] All three goals came from striker Rickie Lambert, who put the Saints up by two goals within 21 minutes and scored a penalty in the 72nd minute to extend Southampton's unbeaten run to six matches.[87][88]

It was Lambert who again won three points for Southampton in the club's first match in March, when the team travelled to Elland Road to face Leeds United.[89][90] The goal came after just quarter of an hour, when the season's top scorer volleyed in a Jack Cork cross, extending Southampton's lead at the top of the table to four points.[89][90] The next match against Ipswich Town dealt Southampton's Championship-winning hopes a slight blow, as the match ended a three-win streak with a 1–1 draw at St Mary's.[91][92] After a match largely dominated by Southampton, Rickie Lambert opened the scoring in the 74th minute before Jason Scotland equalised just before full-time to leave the match in a deadlock.[91][92] The Saints faced Barnley later in the week, winning 2–0 thanks to two goals from Adam Lallana.[93][94] The following week, the Saints faced Millwall at The Den in a match decided in the last five minutes.[95][96] Rickie Lambert scored in the 16th minute, before a José Fonte own goal equalised the match for Millwall.[95][96] A second goal for the home side put the Saints behind before half time, and it took until the 85th minute for Southampton to equalise with a penalty from Lambert; Lambert completed his hat trick in the 88th minute, extending Southampton's unbeaten run to ten games and retaining their place at the top of the Championship table.[95][96]

On 20 March Southampton won their third game in a row when they visited Hull City, despite Hull enjoying the best periods of the game.[97][98] The opening goal came in the 14th minute, when Hull defender and captain Jack Hobbs turned an Adam Lallana cross into his own goal.[97][98] Hull held off until the second half, when defender Jos Hooiveld finished off a Frazer Richardson assist to make it 2–0 to the Saints.[97][98] The winning run continued later in the week, when Southampton hosted Doncaster Rovers and picked up another 2–0 win.[99][100] The home side dominated most of the match, but it took until the second half for the deadlock to be broken; both goals were scored by former Doncaster striker Billy Sharp, who turned in a Danny Fox corner in the 58th minute and later scored a close-range goal in the 75th minute to keep the Saints at the top of the table.[99][100] Southampton lost their first game in over two months on the last day of March, as Blackpool hosted the Championship leaders and won 3–0.[101][102] Billy Sharp had a penalty saved before two goals were scored in the first half, both by Stephen Dobbie and one of which was a penalty for a foul by Morgan Schneiderlin, and the third came just after the break when Ian Evatt headed in a corner to secure the win for Blackpool.[101][102]

In their first match of April, Southampton hosted relegation potentials Portsmouth in the second South Coast derby of the season. The match was appropriately competitive given the occasion, and was opened by Saints striker Billy Sharp after 27 minutes who scored from close range.[103][104] Portsmouth levelled less than ten minutes later, when Chris Maguire scored from the edge of the penalty area, leaving the score at 1–1 going into the break.[103][104] The second half offered few opportunities to either side, and it took until the final minute of normal time for the deadlock to finally be broken, when Sharp scored his second of the match to put the Saints ahead, despite strong calls from Portsmouth for offside.[103][104] Despite this apparent winner, the controversy continued when midfielder David Norris scored a second equaliser for the visitors, ending the match 2–2.[103][104] Despite the result, Southampton remained top of the table ahead of Reading on goal difference.[103][104] Two days later the Saints travelled to face Crystal Palace, and secured their place at the top of the table with another win.[105][106] Both goals came courtesy of top scorer Rickie Lambert, one a headed effort from a Danny Butterfield cross before half time and the second a mid-range low strike in the second period.[105][106]

On 13 April Southampton hosted second-placed Reading, in a match deemed to be extremely important to the potential final make-up of the Championship table; with St Mary's almost sold out, Southampton dropped crucial points in the title race by losing to their closest rivals 3–1 as Reading all but secured their own promotion.[107][108] Reading opened the scoring after 19 minutes with a Jason Roberts header, and it took until early in the second half for Rickie Lambert to score the Saints' equaliser.[107][108] The match remained in a deadlock for almost half an hour, only for the visitors to take the victory with two late goals, both coming from striker Adam le Fondre, putting Reading three points ahead at the top of the table.[107][108] Southampton bounced back later in the week, beating Peterborough United by the same scoreline.[109][110] Southampton took an early lead with a goal from Jos Hooiveld after just five minutes, and a mere five minutes later the scoreline was doubled when Billy Sharp also converted.[109][110] Sharp then scored his second of the game in the second half, converting an Adam Lallana setup to make it 3–0 to the Saints, although Peterborough did manage a consolation goal in the final five minutes of the match.[109][110]

Southampton missed their final chance to win the Championship in their penultimate game of the season, when their trip to Middlesbrough ended in a 2–1 defeat; Reading drew their game, making it impossible for Southampton to catch up and crowning them the champions of the league.[111][112] Southampton started off the game perfectly, when Billy Sharp scored after just 40 seconds to put the visitors up by a goal early on.[111][112] Unfortunately the title hopes of Southampton were dented late in the match: Nicky Bailey equalised at the very end of the first half, before Merouane Zemmama scored a winner to keep Middlesbrough's play-off hopes alive.[111][112] The club was promoted to the Premier League for the first time in seven years on the final day of the Championship season when they beat Coventry City (who had already been relegated) 4–0.[16] The Saints opened the scoring just after the quarter-hour mark, as striker Billy Sharp touched in Adam Lallana's volley, and the lead was doubled just three minutes later when defender José Fonte headed in his only goal of the season from another Lallana setup.[16] In the second half, defender Jos Hooiveld made it three for the home side with a close range effort, before Adam Lallana finally sealed the victory with a goal of his own just four minutes later.[16] Southampton were thus promoted as runners-up of the Championship, one point behind Reading (who lost their last game of the season) and two points ahead of West Ham United (who won their last two games of the season).[16]

Southampton v Leeds United

6 August 2011 1	Southampton	3–1	Leeds United	Southampton
17:20 BST	Hammond  10' Lallana  25' Connolly  52'	Report	Gradel  90+5' (pen.)	Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 25,860 Referee: Kevin Wright

Barnsley v Southampton

13 August 2011 2	Barnsley	0–1	Southampton	Barnsley
15:00 BST		Report	Connolly  30'	Stadium: Oakwell Attendance: 10,501 Referee: Colin Webster

Ipswich Town v Southampton

16 August 2011 3	Ipswich Town	2–5	Southampton	Ipswich
19:45 BST	Andrews  56' Emmanuel-Thomas  62'	Report	Lambert  4', 11' Connolly  42' Lallana  76', 90+2'	Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 18,553 Referee: Jon Moss

Southampton v Millwall

20 August 2011 4	Southampton	1–0	Millwall	Southampton
15:00 BST	do Prado  18'	Report		Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 23,333 Referee: Andy D'Urso

Leicester City v Southampton

27 August 2011 5	Leicester City	3–2	Southampton	Leicester
15:00 BST	Vassell  3' Wellens  22' Lambert  45+3' (o.g.)	Report	Harding  28' Connolly  53'	Stadium: King Power Stadium Attendance: 23,808 Referee: Scott Mathieson

Southampton v Nottingham Forest

10 September 2011 6	Southampton	3–2	Nottingham Forest	Southampton
15:00 BST	Lambert  8', 25', 82'	Report	Derbyshire  7' Majewski  42'	Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 24,784 Referee: Iain Williamson

Southampton v Birmingham City

18 September 2011 7	Southampton	4–1	Birmingham City	Southampton
15:00 BST	Lambert  11' (pen.) do Prado  21' Lallana  34' Chaplow  78'	Report	Wood  49'	Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 22,155 Referee: Dean Whitestone

Burnley v Southampton

24 September 2011 8	Burnley	1–1	Southampton	Burnley
15:00 BST	Austin  53'	Report	Schneiderlin  80'	Stadium: Turf Moor Attendance: 14,170 Referee: Anthony Taylor

Cardiff City v Southampton

27 September 2011 9	Cardiff City	2–1	Southampton	Cardiff
19:45 BST	Miller  56', 63'	Report	De Ridder  90+3'	Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium Attendance: 22,502 Referee: Philip Gibbs

Southampton v Watford

1 October 2011 10	Southampton	4–0	Watford	Southampton
15:00 BST	Lambert  22' (pen.), 55' (pen.) do Prado  70' Holmes  88'	Report		Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 23,574 Referee: Carl Boyeson

Derby County v Southampton

15 October 2011 11	Derby County	1–1	Southampton	Derby
15:00 BST	Robinson  3'	Report	Lambert  61'	Stadium: Pride Park Stadium Attendance: 33,010 Referee: Mark Brown

Southampton v West Ham United

18 October 2011 12	Southampton	1–0	West Ham United	Southampton
19:45 BST	Hooiveld  45'	Report		Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 32,152 Referee: Darren Deadman

Reading v Southampton

22 October 2011 13	Reading	1–1	Southampton	Reading
17:20 BST	Leigertwood  71'	Report	De Ridder  80'	Stadium: Madejski Stadium Attendance: 21,889 Referee: Jon Moss

Southampton v Middlesbrough

29 October 2011 14	Southampton	3–0	Middlesbrough	Southampton
15:00 BST	do Prado  15', 29' Connolly  80'	Report		Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 26,630 Referee: Roger East

Southampton v Peterborough United

1 November 2011 15	Southampton	2–1	Peterborough United	Southampton
19:45 GMT	Chaplow  14' Hooiveld  17'	Report	Sinclair  76'	Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 21,350 Referee: Gavin Ward

Coventry City v Southampton

5 November 2011 16	Coventry City	2–4	Southampton	Coventry
15:00 GMT	Jutkiewicz  47' Platt  70'	Report	Chaplow  34' Lallana  39' do Prado  77' De Ridder  85'	Stadium: Ricoh Arena Attendance: 15,621 Referee: Michael Naylor

Southampton v Brighton & Hove Albion

19 November 2011 17	Southampton	3–0	Brighton & Hove Albion	Southampton
15:00 GMT	Lambert  49', 58' (pen.), 69' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 31,812 Referee: Peter Walton

Bristol City v Southampton

26 November 2011 18	Bristol City	2–0	Southampton	Bristol
15:00 GMT	Adomah  48' Maynard  84'	Report		Stadium: Ashton Gate Stadium Attendance: 16,346 Referee: Chris Sarginson

Southampton v Hull City

29 November 2011 19	Southampton	2–1	Hull City	Southampton
19:45 GMT	do Prado  47' Lallana  55'	Report	Koren  43'	Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 22,983 Referee: Oliver Langford

Doncaster Rovers v Southampton

3 December 2011 20	Doncaster Rovers	1–0	Southampton	Doncaster
15:00 GMT	Sharp  60'	Report		Stadium: Keepmoat Stadium Attendance: 9,527 Referee: Geoff Eltringham

Southampton v Blackpool

10 December 2011 21	Southampton	2–2	Blackpool	Southampton
12:45 GMT	Lambert  30', 90+3'	Report	Basham  36' McManaman  49'	Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 22,776 Referee: Geoff Eltringham

Portsmouth v Southampton

18 December 2011 22	Portsmouth	1–1	Southampton	Portsmouth
13:00 GMT	Ward  84'	Report	Lambert  63'	Stadium: Fratton Park Attendance: 19,879 Referee: Mark Halsey

Southampton v Crystal Palace

26 December 2011 23	Southampton	2–0	Crystal Palace	Southampton
13:00 GMT	do Prado  34', 77'	Report		Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 31,524 Referee: Graham Salisbury

Southampton v Bristol City

30 December 2011 24	Southampton	0–1	Bristol City	Southampton
19:45 GMT		Report	Pearson  78'	Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 30,328 Referee: Darren Deadman

Brighton & Hove Albion v Southampton

2 January 2012 25	Brighton & Hove Albion	3–0	Southampton	Brighton
15:00 GMT	Forster-Caskey  66' Sparrow  76', 86'	Report		Stadium: Falmer Stadium Attendance: 20,773 Referee: Andy D'Urso

Nottingham Forest v Southampton

14 January 2012 26	Nottingham Forest	0–3	Southampton	Nottingham
15:00 GMT		Details	do Prado  27' Connolly  65' Schneiderlin  79'	Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 20,221 Referee: Eddie Ilderton

Southampton v Leicester City

23 January 2012 27	Southampton	0–2	Leicester City	Southampton
19:45 GMT		Report	Nugent  16' Mills  26'	Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 21,014 Referee: Neil Swarbrick

Southampton v Cardiff City

31 January 2012 28	Southampton	1–1	Cardiff City	Southampton
19:45 GMT	Lambert  57' (pen.)	Report	Conway  36'	Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 24,356 Referee: Mark Haywood

Southampton v Burnley

11 February 2012 30	Southampton	2–0	Burnley	Southampton
15:00 GMT	Lallana  8' Sharp  33'	Report		Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 24,099 Referee: Trevor Kettle

West Ham United v Southampton

14 February 2012 31	West Ham United	1–1	Southampton	London
19:45 GMT	Noble  21' (pen.)	Report	Hooiveld  75'	Stadium: Boleyn Ground Attendance: 32,875 Referee: Lee Probert

Southampton v Derby County

18 February 2012 32	Southampton	4–0	Derby County	Southampton
15:00 GMT	Hooiveld  15' Martin  57' Lallana  65' Lee  75'	Report		Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 24,536 Referee: Graham Scott

Watford v Southampton

25 February 2012 33	Watford	0–3	Southampton	Watford
15:00 GMT		Report	Lambert  13', 21', 72' (pen.)	Stadium: Vicarage Road Attendance: 13,424 Referee: Tony Bates

Leeds United v Southampton

3 March 2012 34	Leeds United	0–1	Southampton	Leeds
17:20 GMT		Report	Lambert  16'	Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 20,901 Referee: Nigel Miller

Southampton v Ipswich Town

6 March 2012 35	Southampton	1–1	Ipswich Town	Southampton
19:45 GMT	Lambert  74'	Report	Scotland  85'	Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 23,315 Referee: Darren Drysdale

Southampton v Barnsley

10 March 2012 36	Southampton	2–0	Barnsley	Southampton
15:00 GMT	Lallana  36', 54'	Report		Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 24,862 Referee: David Phillips

Millwall v Southampton

17 March 2012 37	Millwall	2–3	Southampton	Bermondsey
15:00 GMT	Fonte  23' (o.g.) Robinson  28'	Report	Lambert  16', 85' (pen.), 88' (pen.)	Stadium: The Den Attendance: 12,144 Referee: Fred Graham

Hull City v Southampton

20 March 2012 38	Hull City	0–2	Southampton	Hull
19:45 GMT		Report	Hobbs  14' (o.g.) Hooiveld  59'	Stadium: KC Stadium Attendance: 18,066 Referee: David Webb

Southampton v Doncaster Rovers

24 March 2012 39	Southampton	2–0	Doncaster Rovers	Southampton
15:00 GMT	Sharp  58', 75'	Report		Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 30,209 Referee: Danny McDermid

Blackpool v Southampton

31 March 2012 40	Blackpool	3–0	Southampton	Blackpool
17:45 BST	Dobbie  22' (pen.), 31' Evatt  52'	Report		Stadium: Bloomfield Road Attendance: 13,499 Referee: Dean Whitestone

Southampton v Portsmouth

7 April 2012 41	Southampton	2–2	Portsmouth	Southampton
13:00 BST	Sharp  27', 89'	Report	Maguire  36' Norris  90+4'	Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 31,743 Referee: Neil Swarbrick

Crystal Palace v Southampton

9 April 2012 42	Crystal Palace	0–2	Southampton	London
15:00 BST		Report	Lambert  39', 56'	Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 18,753 Referee: Gary Sutton

Southampton v Reading

13 April 2012 43	Southampton	1–3	Reading	Southampton
19:45 BST	Lambert  48'	Report	Roberts  19' le Fondre  72', 90'	Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 31,892 Referee: Mike Dean

Peterborough United v Southampton

17 April 2012 44	Peterborough United	1–3	Southampton	Peterborough
19:45 BST	Rowe  86'	Report	Hooiveld  5' Sharp  10', 57'	Stadium: London Road Stadium Attendance: 9,478 Referee: Jock Waugh

Middlesbrough v Southampton

21 April 2012 45	Middlesbrough	2–1	Southampton	Middlesbrough
17:20 BST	Bailey  45+2' Zemmama  77'	Report	Sharp  1'	Stadium: Riverside Stadium Attendance: 19,002 Referee: Tony Bates

Southampton v Coventry City

28 April 2012 46	Southampton	4–0	Coventry City	Southampton
12:30 BST	Sharp  16' Fonte  19' Hooiveld  59' Lallana  63'	Report		Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 32,363 Referee: Anthony Taylor

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points