TWO goals ruled out by officials for off-side mean Orient are goalless as they chase Ricky Lambert's header for the Saints in this entertaining game, played in the east London sunshine.

Jimmy Smith was denied twice at either end of the first half. His first effort was a narrow call with six minutes gone. The second was more conclusive, three minutes from half-time.

Rickie Lambert was resounding at the other end. His 26th minute header gave the visitors a lead, his 28th strike of the season.

Beating Jóse Fonte inside the six yard box to meet Andrew Whing's in-swinging cross, Smith slotted past keeper Kelvin Davis. His joy was cut short by the linesman's rampant flag fluttering in front of ranks of Southampton fans behind him, in the east stand.

Then amid a scramble in the six-yard box on 42 minutes, Smith turned in Adam Barrett's slash across the goal face with Davis prone on the ground.

The visitors from the south coast arrived hotly tipped for promotion, their fans easily filling the east stand. But Nigel Adkin's men served up some pretty bog-standard long-ball fare likee they belived Rickie Lambert would the game alone if he was targeted often enough. There was scant sign of Championship quality from the Saints in east London. But Southampton are where they are because it works.

Jonathan Téhoué was a passanger up front in partnership with Scott McGleish. The Frenchman's contribution proceedings consisted of halting play by conceding fouls and striding around a lot.

But there was a cutting edge and it came from the left-side in Dean Cox. He whipped his usual quota of stinging crosses. Dawson was an effective hinge at the fulcrum of midfield.

Despite the threat, actual chances were rare indeed for the hosts. Davis had almost nothing do after picking the ball from the net.

The travelling support made up in noise what the team lacked in finesse. A flash of quality served warning on 22 minutes to Orient. Fonte creeped in at the far post and headed strongly at stopper Jamie Jones. Adept at set-plays, Orient failed to pick him up from Rickie Lambert's free kick, after Adam Barrett conceded a foul 30 yards out.

Then Orient were sunk on 26 minutes. It was a header by Lambert from Ryan Dickson's cross from wide left. Elliot Omozusi, marking the space at the near post, had no inkling of Lambert ghosting in behind him. Jones got close to the header, but the 18 goal hitman had placed it well.

Jones (gk), Whing, Omozusi, Cox, Dawson, McGleish, Chambers, Daniels, Téhoué, Smith, Barratt.

Subs: Butcher (gk), Forbes, Jarvis, Crowe, Carroll, Mpoku, Kane.