NEW ENGLAND CALL-UP Adam Lallana impressed in front of watching national coach Roy Hodgson as surprise package Southampton climbed to third in the table with a 4-1 win at home to Hull City.
Lallana has been called into the England squad alongside uncapped team-mate Jay Rodriguez, but it was another of Southampton’s England internationals, Rickie Lambert, who tipped the game in the home side’s favour.
It was from a Lambert knock-down that Morgan Schneiderlin headed Southampton into a 16th-minute lead and the 31-year-old striker made it 2-0 with an emphatic penalty after Lallana was felled by Steve Harper.
Lallana added a fine third eight minutes before half-time, wriggling down the left-hand channel and beating Harper with a cool finish, with Steven Davis completing victory after Yannick Sagbo replied for Hull.
A Leandro Bacuna free-kick and a Libor Kozak header gave Aston Villa 2-0 win at home to Cardiff City to hand Paul Lambert’s side a first win in five league matches.
Kick-off in Everton’s game at Crystal Palace was delayed by 15 minutes due to traffic problems around Selhurst Park ahead of the game.
The game eventually finished 0-0.
The day’s late match, meanwhile, sees third-bottom Norwich City host West Ham United.
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