Saints striker primed for more penalty glory

Southampton striker Rickie Lambert insists his best form is yet to come after scoring the winner from the penalty spot against Aston Villa.

After an unsuccessful start to the season, the Saints have improved to 14th in the table having gone unbeaten in their past four league matches, with Lambert getting three goals and two.

The 30-year-old said he is not yet satisfied with his haul of nine goals though, telling the Daily Mirror: “I kind of hoped I would be on more. I’m going to try to push on.

“I’m going to get fitter with each game. I’m properly match-fit early on, but the longer the season goes the fitter I feel and the better I feel. I’m hoping you’re going to see a better Rickie Lambert in the second half.”

The striker has a perfect record from the penalty spot, scoring 31 so far in his career, but he says he is more interested in the team’s results than personal accolades.

He added: “I’m happy I’m scoring the pens and getting my team points – that’s all I’m concentrating on at the moment.

“I’m not counting. I try not to pay too much attention to it.

“I’m always confident taking a pen. I just concentrate on the technique and I’m always confident in myself, and hopefully that will continue.”

He also described his technique, and explained: “Sometimes it’s clear what I’m going to do, – sometimes it’s not, and today it wasn’t.

“I wasn’t sure which side I was going to put it. At the last minute I’ve gone to the right. I reckoned the keeper thought I was going to his right, and I managed to guess right this time.

“I’ve connected with it well, it’s gone right in the corner where I wanted it.”