Leyton Orient 2 - 2 Southampton
Coca-Cola League One

RICKIE LAMBERT'S late double snatched a fourth home win in five away from the O's as Geraint Williams' men saw a two-goal lead slip against Southampton on Saturday.

Orient were subjected to almost constant pressure from the Saints, but still held a healthy lead going into the final 16 minutes thanks to Tamika Mkandawire's second minute header and an own goal from Neal Trotman.

But Lambert hauled his side back onto the game and struck twice inside 10 minutes to earn a point for his side from an absorbing encounter.

It was a dream start for the home side, with Mkandawire nodding them into the lead with just 70 seconds on the clock. A Luke Summerfield free-kick wasn't cleared properly and the on-loan midfielder collected the ball again and passed wide for Melligan to stand up a cross for Mkandawire.

However, it was a goal that came at a price for the home side as Mkandawire clashed heads with Trotman in meeting Melligan's cross and had to be withdrawn with a head injury.

Southampton responded with a good spell of pressure and Rickie Lambert - who already had a goal against the O's for Bristol Rovers to his name this season - shot wide from range.

Summerfield's 32nd minute corner might have resulted in a second for the O's when Jimmy Smith headed it back across goal for Ben Chorley, but his volley went into the ground and over the top.

The Saints continued to press, but it wasn't until five minutes before the break that they created their first clear chance when Adam Lallana diverted Dean Hammond's long-range shot towards goal. Lallana was inside the six yard box and a goal looked inevitable, but fortunately for the O's his effort was directed straight at Glenn Morris.

Lambert then shot wide following a Papa Waigo cross, but Orient's defence was holding firm and they reached the break with their lead intact.

The home side must have been braced for a Saints onslaught in the second half, but it was the O's who forced the next goal - with a big helping hand from their visitors.

11 second half minutes had been played when Andros Townsend whipped in a vicious cross from the left that missed Adrian Patulea, but not Saints defender Trotman, who chested the ball past his own keeper.

Lallana wasted a glorious chance to reduce the deficit when he fired wide after the ball popped out to him in a goalmouth scramble.

16 minutes from time though, Lallana went some way for atoning for that miss by providing the cross for Lambert to tuck away and ensure a granstand finish.

Orient could not hold out and Lambert lashed home from 15 yards with just six minutes left to play.

Southampton threw everything at the O's as they went for a winner and twice Morris had to make smart stops to deny sub Michail Antonio.

But the Saints could not find a third and Orient held on by the skin of their teeth to claim a point.

Leyton Orient: Morris; Purches, Chorley, Mkandawire (Ashworth 4), Daniels; Melligan, Summerfield, Smith, Townsend; McGleish (Scowcroft 71), Patulea (Jarvis 80)
Subs: Demetriou, Cave-Brown, Pires, Butcher (GK)

Goals: Mkandawire 2, Trotman og 56

Southampton: Davis; James, Jaidi, Trotman, Harding; Hammond, Wotton (Connolly 57), Schneiderlin, Lallana; Lambert, Waigo (Antonio 64)
Subs: Thomas, Perry, Mills, Bialkowski (GK), Mellis

Goals: Lambert 74, Lambert 84

Booked: Waigo, Trotman

Referee: James Linington

Attendance: 7,544 (3,208 away)