TOWN were left shell-shocked on the south coast as Southampton inflicted their heaviest defeat of the season.

First goals from Rickie Lambert, Lee Barnard and Jason Puncheon left little way back for Lee Clark’s side.

And Dean Hammond and Papa Waigo N’Diaye compounded the misery for Town’s 684 travelling fans with further goals in the final 15 minutes.

It was the second successive game in which the Saints have scored five goals, and a first defeat in 12 games in the League for Town, who must regroup before Saturday’s trip to Gillingham.

Town were forced into one change after Lee Peltier failed a fitness test on his ankle injury, Tom Clarke coming in at right-back and Robbie Simpson taking his place on the bench.

Southampton, like Town unbeaten in League I in 2010, had 16-year-old winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain among their substitutes.

Clarke, up against the dangerous Adam Lallana, was soon in the thick of things being forced to concede a second minute corner from which Dean Hammond headed just wide.

Southampton had the better of the opening exchanges, but town came close to scoring on 12 minutes.

Striker Jordan Rhodes pressurised Radhi Jaidi into giving away a corner and Peter Clarke’s glancing header from Gary Roberts cross was only just off target.

Southampton responded instantly with a curling 20 yard shot by Lallana which Alex Smithies saved.

However, there was little the keeper could do two minutes later as the home side went ahead.

Peter Clarke prevented a corner, but from the subsequent throw-in the ball was worked across to Lambert to head home at the far post.

Town tried hard to try and force their way back into the game and Lee Barnard did well to clear a Roberts corner before Lee Novak brought a fine save from Kelvin Davies in the Southampton goal with a hooked shot again after Roberts had produced a neat delivery.

Town, however, were rocked when Saints scored a second in the 25th minute.

Hammond did the damage with a run and cross from then right and Barnard climbed high to loop a header over Smithies’ reach.

The home side were looking strong and Barnard came close to netting his second with a shot on the turn.

The third goal duly arrived in the 34th minute with Barnard the creator.

His break through the middle set up Puncheon who cut in to penalty area and left Smithies flailing with curling left foot shot into the corner of the net.

Town were reeling and it took a great save from Smithies to prevent Lambert increasingly the lead still further on 38 minutes with a 30 yard free kick which the keeper tipped on to the bar.

On the stroke of half-time Smithies parried a Barnard shot and Lallana put the follow up wide.

Town boss Lee Clark rang the changes early in the second half.

Having replaced Dean Heffernan with Krystian Pearce at the break, giving the former Birmingham City man his Town debut at right back, he brought on Nathan Eccleston for Roberts after 56 minutes and Theo Robinson for Lee Novak after 63 minutes.

But the Saints were still having the better of the game with Puncheon firing over from 25 yards and then sending in a corner from which Hammond brought another good save from Smithies with a strong header.

In the 63rd minute Morgan Schneiderlin had a low shot through a ruck of players parried by the Town keeper.

In a rare Town attack Robinson’s header from a Danny Drinkwater free kick was comfortably collected by Davies.

Town conceded a fourth goal when Hammond burst through to meet Puncheon’s corner and head home on 64 minutes. The rout was completed with six minutes remaining when N’Diaye broke through one-on-one with Smithies and slid the ball home despite the keeper’s effort to keep the ball out.