Southampton came from behind to claim all three points against South Coast promotion rivals Bournemouth.
Lauri Dalla Valle, who appeared to be offside, put the hosts ahead with a thumping shot into the top corner.
Rickie Lambert crossed for Lee Barnard, whose header squirmed under Cherries keeper Shwan Jalal to level the scores.
Dean Hammond put Saints ahead from close in and Lambert's superb free-kick sealed the win before Southampton sub Oscar Gobern was given a straight red.
The result, Bournemouth's first home defeat this year, sees them slide down to fifth, while the Saints leapfrog them to go fourth.
It was the first time the teams had met in the league at Bournemouth in over 50 years.
In an end-to-end opening period it was the Cherries who drew first blood.
Dalla Valle was initially flagged offside only for the referee Andre Marriner to overrule the decision, leaving the young Finn to fire past Saints keeper Kelvin Davies.
The lead was short-lived as Saints equalised after Lambert robbed home defender Jason Pearce before crossing for Barnard, whose header fortuitously found the net.
After a quiet opening to the second period, Southampton skipper Hammond met Danny Butterfield's free-kick at the back post to the delight of the visiting fans.
Bournemouth threw on player-assistant manager Steve Fletcher in search of an equaliser and they almost grabbed one when Anton Robinson's strike from distance was brilliantly tipped on to the crossbar by Davies.
Having survived that scare, Lambert made sure the points would be heading back to St Mary's when his 25-yard free kick arced past Jalal.
Southampton sub Gobern was then given a red card in injury time for a bad foul on Adam Smith.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 12 March 2011
Npower League One
Dalla Valle 6
05 Pearce yellow card
16 Wiggins yellow card (Cummings 33)
04 Cooper yellow card
19 Hollands yellow card
23 Dalla Valle (Partington 84)
34 Ings (Fletcher 74)
03 Harding (Seaborne 66)
15 Jaidi yellow card
30 Chaplow (Richardson 88)
09 Barnard (Gobern 78 red card)
Ref: MarrinerAtt: 10,008
Attempts on target
Attempts off target
90:00+5:14 The referee signals the end of the game.
90:00+4:15 The ball is crossed by Joe Partington.
90:00+2:59 Liam Feeney has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.
90:00+2:09 A cross is delivered by Adam Smith, Anton Robinson takes a shot. Save by Kelvin Davis.
90:00+1:44 Danny Hollands crosses the ball, Jose Fonte manages to make a clearance.
90:00+0:10 Oscar Gobern concedes a free kick for a foul on Shaun Cooper. Direct free kick taken by Shaun Cooper.
90:00+0:10 Sent off Red card for Oscar Gobern.
89:29 Oscar Gobern challenges Adam Smith unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Marc Pugh, clearance
by Adam Lallana.
88:45 The ball is sent over by Warren Cummings.
87:39 Jason Pearce challenges Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain unfairly and gives away a free kick.
87:39 GOAL - Richard Lambert:Bournemouth 1 - 3 Southampton Richard Lambert scores a goal from outside the penalty box to the top right corner of the goal. Bournemouth 1-3 Southampton.
86:26 Substitution Frazer Richardson replaces Richard Chaplow.
86:26 Booking Jason Pearce receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
83:48 Inswinging corner taken by Marc Pugh, Steve Fletcher gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kelvin Davis. Direct
free kick taken by Kelvin Davis.
83:48 Substitution Joe Partington replaces Lauri Dalla Valle.
83:12 The ball is swung over by Adam Smith, Danny Butterfield manages to make a clearance.
83:00 Anton Robinson takes a shot. Save made by Kelvin Davis.
81:57 Effort from outside the penalty box by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain goes wide left of the goal.
81:06 Danny Hollands sends in a cross, save by Kelvin Davis.
79:54 Marc Pugh fouled by Danny Butterfield, the ref awards a free kick. Marc Pugh delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed
from left wing, clearance made by Daniel Seaborne.
78:56 Centre by Richard Chaplow.
77:14 Substitution Oscar Gobern replaces Lee Barnard.
76:15 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adam Lallana by Adam Smith. Strike comes in from Richard Lambert from the free
73:39 Substitution Steve Fletcher joins the action as a substitute, replacing Danny Ings.
72:39 Unfair challenge on Danny Hollands by Lee Barnard results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jason Pearce.
70:24 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adam Lallana by Danny Hollands. Assist on the goal came from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
70:24 GOAL - Dean Hammond:Bournemouth 1 - 2 Southampton Dean Hammond fires in a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Bournemouth 1-2 Southampton.
69:44 Booking The referee cautions Danny Hollands for unsporting behaviour.
68:13 The ball is crossed by Adam Lallana, Shwan Jalal makes a save.
65:42 Substitution Daniel Seaborne is brought on as a substitute for Dan Harding.
63:52 Centre by Adam Smith.
62:36 Lee Barnard challenges Adam Smith unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Shwan Jalal.
61:57 Adam Lallana fouled by Adam Smith, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Dan Harding.
61:18 Danny Butterfield is penalised for a handball. Free kick taken by Shwan Jalal.
59:43 Foul by Adam Smith on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, free kick awarded. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Danny Butterfield
from right wing, clearance by Danny Hollands.
57:44 Adam Lallana produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the goal.
56:40 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Marc Pugh, clearance made by Radhi Jaidi.
56:10 Corner taken right-footed by Marc Pugh from the left by-line, save made by Kelvin Davis.
55:27 The ball is delivered by Dan Harding.
54:08 Corner taken by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jose Fonte concedes a free kick for a foul on Shwan Jalal. Free kick taken by Shwan
51:45 Foul by Anton Robinson on Adam Lallana, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Richard Lambert.
51:24 Adam Lallana produces a cross, blocked by Liam Feeney.
48:58 Liam Feeney takes a shot. Kelvin Davis makes a save.
47:51 Radhi Jaidi gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Danny Ings. Marc Pugh crosses the ball in from the free kick.
45:01 The game restarts for the second half.
45:00+2:36 The referee calls an end to the first half.
45:00+2:27 Centre by Warren Cummings.
45:00+1:56 Unfair challenge on Marc Pugh by Dean Hammond results in a free kick. Shaun Cooper takes the direct free kick.
45:00+1:56 Booking The referee shows Shaun Cooper a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
45:00+0:56 The ball is delivered by Danny Butterfield.
45:00+0:47 Richard Lambert takes a shot. Blocked by Adam Smith.
43:56 Foul by Lee Barnard on Danny Hollands, free kick awarded. Warren Cummings takes the free kick.
43:15 Dan Harding sends in a cross.
39:09 Danny Butterfield is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Marc Pugh crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed
from left channel, Richard Lambert makes a clearance.
38:30 The ball is swung over by Warren Cummings, Dean Hammond makes a clearance.
37:18 Unfair challenge on Lauri Dalla Valle by Radhi Jaidi results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Marc
Pugh from right channel, clearance by Richard Lambert.
37:18 Booking Radhi Jaidi is cautioned.
34:35 The ball is delivered by Dan Harding.
33:36 Shaun Cooper challenges Lee Barnard unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Richard Lambert
from left channel, Anton Robinson manages to make a clearance.
32:26 Substitution Warren Cummings comes on in place of Rhoys Wiggins.
28:51 Rhoys Wiggins concedes a free kick for a foul on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Free kick crossed by Dan Harding, Anton Robinson
manages to make a clearance.
28:51 Booking Rhoys Wiggins shown a yellow card.
27:15 Shot from just outside the area by Richard Lambert goes over the bar.
26:54 The offside flag is raised against Marc Pugh. Kelvin Davis takes the free kick.
25:50 Danny Ings is caught offside. Free kick taken by Dan Harding.
25:41 Richard Chaplow delivers the ball, clearance by Shaun Cooper.
24:29 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain concedes a free kick for a foul on Danny Hollands. Direct free kick taken by Shwan Jalal.
23:05 Header from deep inside the area by Danny Hollands goes over the bar.
22:31 Unfair challenge on Liam Feeney by Adam Lallana results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Marc Pugh
from right wing.
21:54 Corner taken left-footed by Rhoys Wiggins from the left by-line, clearance made by Radhi Jaidi.
21:08 Handball by Anton Robinson. Indirect free kick taken by Danny Butterfield.
19:38 A cross is delivered by Dan Harding.
19:27 Lee Barnard takes a shot. Blocked by Marc Pugh.
17:48 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Marc Pugh, clearance made by Richard Lambert.
16:50 The referee blows for offside. Shwan Jalal takes the free kick.
16:23 Centre by Marc Pugh, save by Kelvin Davis.
15:42 Centre by Danny Butterfield.
14:45 Danny Ings takes a shot. Blocked by Jose Fonte.
13:44 Foul by Jose Fonte on Danny Ings, free kick awarded. Marc Pugh crosses the ball in from the free kick, Jose Fonte manages
to make a clearance.
12:04 Adam Lallana challenges Rhoys Wiggins unfairly and gives away a free kick. Shaun Cooper takes the free kick.
10:56 Richard Lambert provided the assist for the goal.
10:56 GOAL - Lee Barnard:Bournemouth 1 - 1 Southampton Lee Barnard scores a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Bournemouth 1-1 Southampton.
9:35 Free kick awarded for a foul by Richard Lambert on Jason Pearce. Shwan Jalal takes the direct free kick.
8:25 Outswinging corner taken by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from the right by-line, Header from deep inside the penalty area by Radhi
Jaidi goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
7:32 Foul by Danny Hollands on Richard Chaplow, free kick awarded. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Richard
5:16 GOAL - Lauri Dalla Valle:Bournemouth 1 - 0 Southampton Goal scored by Lauri Dalla Valle from the edge of the area to the top right corner of the goal. Bournemouth 1-0 Southampton.
4:08 Centre by Danny Butterfield, Unfair challenge on Jason Pearce by Lee Barnard results in a free kick. Shwan Jalal takes the
3:15 Rhoys Wiggins produces a cross.
2:32 Corner taken right-footed by Marc Pugh from the right by-line to the near post, Lee Barnard makes a clearance.
1:21 Richard Chaplow gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rhoys Wiggins. The ball is delivered by Rhoys Wiggins, Danny
Hollands has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.
0:00 The match gets underway.
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