Lambert is armed and dangerous
RICKIE LAMBERT almost missed this fixture because of a sore buttock. In the end he proved to be a real pain in the backside for Swansea City.
His shoulder ultimately proved to be the difference, a gentle nudge over the line from the substitute in stoppage time giving Southampton a win that neither side particularly deserved.
In short, it was a game between teams with nothing to play for and it showed. The home support found they had more fun following Cardiff’s demise in the North East.
The result gave Southampton their record points haul for a Premier League season; the result gave Swansea’s interim manager Garry Monk the hump, even if it is likely he will be given the job on a permanent basis this week.
He was in no mood or position to discuss that scenario last night. He said: ‘I have not spoken to the chairman yet. There will be an announcement before the end of the season.’
Sothampton manager Mauricio Pochettino was more upbeat, saying: ‘In the history of football there have been stranger goals than Lambert’s. But we are pleased. Overall I thought we did very well.
‘It was a difficult game to play. Both clubs have achieved their goals for their season. Perhaps it wasn’t a great game but we achieved a record points total.’
Swansea created a superb opening within five minutes when Jonjo Shelvey outmuscled Steven Davis down the left and rolled a pass to Wilfried Bony, who flicked the ball on to Pablo Hernandez. His shot was saved and Jonathan De Guzman skied the rebound.
Bony then glanced a header wide, before Southampton found a way back in. Morgan Schneiderlin, starting in place of Lambert, missed the target with a free header before wasting an even better chance from six yards.
Then Ashley Williams made a hash of a clearance, Vorm failed to gather and Lambert scored his ugliest goal of an excellent season.
Monk said: ‘How we came away from that game with nothing is hard to take. Our defending was very good for 90 minutes and then we let ourselves down with some schoolboy defending.’