Southampton boss Nigel Adkins has explained hooking Ricki Lambert during their 2-2 draw with Fulham.

Saints fans were stunned when Adkins took off Lambert with 25 minutes left on the clock as his team were still in the lead.

Two minutes later Fulham were handed a leveller through Jos Hooiveld's own goal.

Boss Adkins admitted: "We are good at scoring goals but we have to accept that we have conceded too many.

"It was far too open to leave Rickie Lambert on the pitch. I had to make a change and that meant bringing on fresh bodies. If you don't start Rickie Lambert or if you bring him off there will always be a question mark.

"Four points is better than none but we need to win our games at home. We've picked up another point and we just have to keep grinding away."