Southampton maintained their status as the only Football League club to score in every league game this season as they brushed aside Brighton in this afternoon's South Coast derby.
The Saints' top scorer Ricky Lambert bagged a hat-trick as ten-man Brighton were outclassed at St Marys.
After a goalless first half, Lambert put the Championship's pace-setters ahead four minutes into the second period by heading home Frazer Richardson's cross.
The lead was doubled nine minutes later when Lambert scored the first of two penalties following Mauricio Taricco's challenge, which the Argentine saw red.
Lambert completed his 20-minute hat-trick in the 69th minute from the spot after he was brought down by Inigo Calderon.
The win is Nigel Adkin's team's 18th consecutive league victory at home and they remain top while the Seagulls drop a place to 11th.
Pascal Lemesre
