A Rickie Lambert hat-trick helped secure our fourth straight victory this season over MK Dons. All three goals which were of varying quality arrived in the second half.
At half-time this scoreline seemed a long way off. The first half started brightly but Lallana had a shot cleared of the line and then he had an airshot when left in the clear. The game then seemed to fade and became rather scrappy.
Lambert got his first with a looping header over the keeper. The keeper came for the ball but simply didn’t get there.
The Scouser then scored his second from the penalty spot. Jose Fonte beat a player in the penalty area before being hacked down for a blatant penalty by Mathias Doumbe. The penalty was duly despatched with power.
The best was yet to come on 75 minutes as Lambert seeing that the keeper was off his line lobbed him from fully thirtyfive plus yards. Gueret could do no more than watch as the perfectly executed shot went over him and into the net.
A minute later Lambert went off to a rapturous round of applause. He was replaced by Papa Waigo. Barnard got replaced soon after by David Connolly as we ran the clock down.
The hosts kept trying and Kelvin Davis had to make a couple of smart saves to keep his clean sheet. As time ran out Paul Wotton came on for Morgan Schneiderlin. He still managed to break up an attack before the final whistle went.
Player Ratings
Kelvin Davis 8
Made some good saves and helped his defence keep a clean sheet.
Dan Harding 7
Did ok as our right back but at times his being left footed made our play awkward.
Jose Fonte 8
He is so so good and time and time again he rescues us from danger. big hand in getting the penalty.
Dan Seaborne 7
Will have gained a lot from this game. Did ok and showed promise for the future.
Joseph Mills 7
Did well for us and showed he will also be one for the near future. Made some good forward runs and linked well with Lallana.
Jason Puncheon 7
Jason started well and then gradually faded. Kept going and was always a thorn in Dons side.
Dean Hammond 7
There are times when we need our captain to take command. To me though he tries he is not a commanding figure.
Morgan Schneiderlin 6
Morgan gets into trouble every time we have to scrap. Booked and often caught out. Many wayward passes.
Adam Lallana 6
Adam looks as though he is getting nervous in front of goal. His overall form has dipped slightly of late.
Rickie Lambert 9
By his own admission Rickie had a poor first half. The second half was something else. A well taken hat-trick with a sublime finish for his third goal.
Lee Barnard 7
Lee sometimes suffers, being in the same side as Lambert. He doesn’t stop running though and always gives everything.
Papa Waigo 6
Showed a few nice touches.
David Connolly 6
Made a couple of runs and passes.
Came on in the last minute but still had time to stop an MK Dons attack with a good tackle.
Manager Rating
Alan Pardew must have said something at half time because the team came out firing in the second half.