Three first-half goals from Southampton have given them a comfortable 3-0 win over Cardiff City on Boxing Day.

The hosts should have gone ahead just after the 10-minute mark but as Craig Noone crossed for Peter Whittingham the midfielder somehow sliced a volley wide.

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A minute later the hosts were punished for the miss, as Adam Lallana found Jay Rodriguez for a tap-in to complete a good team move.

With Southampton completely on top Rodriguez added his second just before 20 minutes were up. This time it was Rickie Lambert with the assist for Rodriguez to volley in for his ninth goal of the season.

Lambert then got in on the action himself as some poor defending from a cross allowed the striker the time to take it down and slam in.

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After the break it remained all Southampton. Luke Shaw was the next player to test David Marshall but after he had weaved his way to the edge of the box he could only pick out the home goalkeeper.

The tireless Fraizer Campbell then had a chance to get Cardiff back into the game, but his difficult effort on the half-volley went flying over the bar and the Welsh side ended the game empty-handed.