Southampton manager Nigel Adkins has praised his team's uglier side, after they battled to a 3-0 win at Watford on their way back to the top of the Championship table.

"We've come away from home knowing the pitch was going to be lively, against a very spirited Watford side," said Adkins.

"For me the very, very pleasing side of it is we've done the horrible things that you've got to do in football and we've done them very, very well.

"Everybody knows we can play good passing football but we've come away and grafted and ground out a very good result today."

Rickie Lambert scored all of the Saints goals in the win, claiming his third hat-trick of the season, but Adkins denied that his top scorer is irreplaceable.

He added: "He's a talented, talented football player but we have won this season when Rickie's been out."

Lambert has scored 23 goals in all competitions this season.