Swansea 0 Southampton 1 match report: Rickie Lambert makes Swansea pay for Ashley Williams error

England striker gives Roy Hodgson a reminder of his talents as Saints secure an eighth-place finish

Rickie Lambert celebrates with his teammates after scoring the winning goal (GETTY IMAGES)

Rickie Lambert’s bizarre injury-time winner ensured Southampton will finish the season with their highest ever Premier League points total.

The England international bundled the ball home from a yard after a mix-up in the Swansea defence in the 93rd minute, after pouncing on a mistake by Swansea captain Ashley Williams to give the Southampton their seventh away win of the season.

Victory takes Mauricio Pochettino’s side to 55 points for the campaign, the club’s biggest haul in a 38-game top flight season.

“There have been many bizarre goals in the history of football but these things happen,” Pochettino said afterwards. “It was a difficult game because both of the clubs have already achieved their goals [for the season].”

Swansea had threatened early in the contest with Pablo Hernandez forcing a fine save out of Artur Boruc but it was the visitors who controlled the first half. Sam Gallagher should have put the Saints in front on 33 minutes when he met a Nathaniel Clyne cross, but the 18-year-old glanced his header wide.

It looked destined to finish 0-0 until right at the death when Swansea defender Jordi Amat headed Steven Davis’ ball back towards his own goal. Williams then punted the loose ball into the air and when it dropped down into the Swansea goal, Lambert forced it home with a combination of his arm and back.

Swansea caretaker manager Garry Monk said: “Losing at home is always tough to take but especially when you concede a late goal and in the manner we did.

“I’ve said that so many times before, it has probably become the story of our season.”

Line-ups:

Swansea (4-3-3): Vorm; Tiendalli (Taylor, 77), Amat, Williams, Davies; Britton, De Guzman (Dyer, 66), Shelvey; Routledge, Bony, Hernandez (Emnes, 77).

Southampton (4-4-1-1): Boruc; Clyne, Lovren, Fonte, Shaw; Wanyama, Cork (Reed, 85), Schneiderlin, Davis; Lallana (Lambert, 62); Gallagher (Ward-Prowse, 78).

Referee: Anthony Taylor.

Man of the match: Shaw (Southampton)

Match rating: 3/10