Jake Forster-Caskey scored on his debut as Albion stunned Championship leaders Southampton 3-0 at The Amex today.

Matt Sparrow then struck twice, including a 25-yard belter, in an eventful South Coast showdown.

Both sides ended with ten men as Saints striker Rickie Lambert, on 51 minutes, and home skipper Gordon Greer, near the end, were both shown straight red cards after off-the-ball clashes.

Lambert's departure was pivotal. He went after waving an arm in the face of Adam El-Abd as the pair tangled when the ball had gone.

That was the trigger for injury and suspension-ravaged Albion to start to force the pace, having been on the back foot until then.

Forster-Caskey had already tested Kelvin Davis from 25 yards when his magic moment came on 66 minutes.

The outstanding Kazenga LuaLua fired in a shot which Davis could only parry and the teenage midfielder was quickest to react, poking the ball back past the keeper.

LuaLua won the free-kick from which Sparrow blasted the second from outside the box on 76 minutes.

Sparrow added a deflected third on 86 minutes for the rampant hosts although celebrations were slightly dampened two minutes later when Greer was red-carded for an incident with Jonathan Forte well away from the ball.

Steve Cook, recalled from loan at Bournemouth, went closest for Albion in the first half, dragging a shot inches wide after Will Buckley pulled the ball back from the byline.

Within a minute, Guly Do Prado spooned an excellent opening over for Saints.

But the real first-half talking point came on 41 minutes, when Cook cleared a shot off the line from Adam Lallana with Saints claiming a goal.

Referee Andy D'Urso looked to his assistant before waving play on.

Former Albion defender Dan Harding lasted just 40 minutes of his first visit to The Amex.

He was taken off by boss Nigel Adkins after picking up a yellow card and then receiving a further lecture after another foul.