Southampton scored three second-half goals to beat MK Dons and secure a fourth successive league victory.
The Dons took the lead on the stroke of half-time thanks to Jason Puncheon's stunning free-kick.
Lloyd James set up Dean Hammond for the equaliser at the far post and Rickie Lambert fired his ninth of the season from James's set-piece.
Substitute David Connolly clinched the victory when he intercepted a back-pass to score the third.
Southampton manager Alan Pardew told BBC Radio Solent:
"We've made several strides forward but today was a bit of a test in terms of the opposition and I thought we deserved to win.
"The two systems we've got are fairly similar, we'll switch from one to the other but its about having a winning mentality and having winning players.
"I was very pleased with the mentality of the squad today, there was a winning atmosphere in the dressing room and we took that onto the pitch."
MK Dons assistant manager Karl Robinson told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"I felt at times we dealt with them physically. They made it hard for us, they pressed us really high up. They stopped us playing the game we like to play.
"I felt we matched them. We had a game plan and stuck to it in the first half and just for people stupidly switching off, we have conceded daft goals."
90:00+4:07 The referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00+3:11 GOAL - David Connolly:Southampton 3 - 1 MK Dons David Connolly fires in a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Southampton 3-1 Milton Keynes Dons.
90:00+2:19 Unfair challenge on Dean Hammond by Darren Powell results in a free kick. Dan Harding takes the free kick.
89:51 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Peter Leven from the left by-line.
89:34 Sam Baldock decides to take the corner short.
89:26 Sam Baldock crosses the ball, Morgan Schneiderlin makes a clearance.
88:14 Michail Antonio has an effort at goal from close range which goes wide right of the target.
87:09 David Connolly produces a right-footed shot from close range which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
87:00 Richard Lambert sends in a cross, clearance by Darren Powell.
85:10 Substitution Joseph Mills is brought on as a substitute for Adam Lallana.
85:10 The assistant referee signals for offside against Aaron Doran. Kelvin Davis takes the indirect free kick.
83:00 Jason Puncheon has an effort at goal from outside the area which misses left.
81:37 The assistant referee flags for offside against David Connolly. Willy Gueret restarts play with the free kick.
81:12 Outswinging corner taken by Lloyd James.
81:07 The ball is delivered by Dan Harding, clearance made by Dean Lewington.
79:07 Corner taken by Jason Puncheon, Header from close range by David McCracken misses to the right of the goal.
77:49 Lloyd James crosses the ball, save by Willy Gueret.
77:28 Dan Harding crosses the ball, Darren Powell manages to make a clearance.
76:41 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Jason Puncheon, Lloyd James manages to make a clearance.
76:29 Aaron Doran crosses the ball, clearance by Dan Harding.
75:01 The ball is sent over by Michail Antonio, clearance by Darren Powell.
74:19 Free kick awarded for a foul by Darren Powell on Adam Lallana. Dan Harding takes the direct free kick.
73:53 Substitution Sam Baldock joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jermaine Easter.
73:18 Assist by Lloyd James.
73:18 GOAL - Richard Lambert:Southampton 2 - 1 MK Dons Richard Lambert scores a goal from inside the penalty box to the top right corner of the goal. Southampton 2-1 Milton Keynes Dons.
72:37 Unfair challenge on Michail Antonio by David McCracken results in a free kick. Adam Lallana restarts play with the free kick.
69:27 Adam Lallana takes a shot. Blocked by David McCracken.
68:43 The ball is sent over by Michail Antonio, Radhi Jaidi takes a shot. Save made by Willy Gueret.
68:26 Lloyd James decides to take the corner short.
68:17 Centre by Michail Antonio, David McCracken gets a block in.
66:44 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jermaine Easter on Radhi Jaidi. Kelvin Davis takes the free kick.
65:10 David Connolly takes a shot. Save by Willy Gueret.
64:46 The referee blows for offside against Jermaine Easter. Kelvin Davis restarts play with the free kick.
64:16 Dean Hammond concedes a free kick for a foul on Peter Leven. Free kick taken by David McCracken.
62:47 Dean Hammond challenges Jermaine Easter unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Aaron Doran.
61:46 Substitution Aaron Wilbraham is brought on as a substitute for Lewis Gobern.
61:46 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Dean Lewington by Michail Antonio. Willy Gueret takes the free kick.
59:16 Lloyd James challenges Aaron Doran unfairly and gives away a free kick. Peter Leven takes the free kick.
57:12 Peter Leven is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Morgan Schneiderlin takes the free kick.
55:29 The assist for the goal came from Morgan Schneiderlin.
55:29 GOAL - Dean Hammond:Southampton 1 - 1 MK Dons Goal scored by Dean Hammond from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Southampton 1-1 Milton Keynes Dons.
52:53 Substitution Michail Antonio on for Ndiaye Papa Waigo.
52:26 Substitution David Connolly on for Paul Wotton.
50:34 Jermaine Easter is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Kelvin Davis restarts play with the free kick.
50:07 Free kick awarded for a foul by Richard Lambert on Peter Leven. David McCracken takes the direct free kick.
48:55 Jermaine Easter is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Kelvin Davis restarts play with the free kick.
48:25 Shot from just outside the box by Jason Puncheon misses to the left of the target.
45:48 The offside flag is raised against Aaron Doran. Kelvin Davis takes the free kick.
45:01 The match restarts for the second half.
45:01 Substitution Aaron Doran joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jemal Johnson.
Half Time
45:00+2:59 The whistle is blown to end the first half.
45:00+1:31 Dean Lewington fouled by Paul Wotton, the ref awards a free kick. Dean Lewington restarts play with the free kick.
44:46 GOAL - Jason Puncheon:Southampton 0 - 1 MK Dons Jason Puncheon grabs a goal direct from the free kick from long range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Southampton 0-1 Milton Keynes Dons.
43:55 Booking Radhi Jaidi booked.
43:46 Unfair challenge on Jermaine Easter by Radhi Jaidi results in a free kick.
42:56 The ball is sent over by Lewis Gobern, save by Kelvin Davis.
40:49 Shot from long distance by Adam Lallana misses to the right of the goal.
38:36 Ndiaye Papa Waigo is ruled offside. Willy Gueret takes the free kick.
37:23 Radhi Jaidi fouled by Jermaine Easter, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Dean Hammond.
35:58 Jermaine Easter is adjudged to have handled the ball. Kelvin Davis takes the direct free kick.
34:43 Peter Leven produces a cross, clearance by Neal Trotman.
33:38 The ball is swung over by Ndiaye Papa Waigo.
33:13 Paul Wotton concedes a free kick for a foul on Jason Puncheon. Jason Puncheon takes the free kick.
30:37 Adam Lallana fouled by Lewis Gobern, the ref awards a free kick. Lloyd James takes the free kick.
29:55 The ball is swung over by Jemal Johnson.
28:37 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Dan Harding by Jason Puncheon. Kelvin Davis takes the free kick.
27:22 The referee blows for offside against Ndiaye Papa Waigo. Willy Gueret restarts play with the free kick.
25:10 Dean Hammond concedes a free kick for a foul on Lewis Gobern. Free kick taken by Dean Lewington.
22:46 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Willy Gueret.
21:02 Ndiaye Papa Waigo concedes a free kick for a foul on Dean Lewington. Dean Lewington takes the free kick.
Correction - 20:20 Darren Powell fouled by Richard Lambert, the ref awards a free kick. Willy Gueret takes the free kick.
20:20 Unfair challenge on Darren Powell by Richard Lambert results in a free kick. Willy Gueret takes the direct free kick.
19:24 Richard Lambert is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by David McCracken.
17:56 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Dan Harding by Jermaine Easter. Free kick taken by Kelvin Davis.
17:20 Foul by Paul Wotton on Lewis Gobern, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Willy Gueret.
16:01 The referee penalises Lewis Gobern for handball. Free kick taken by Lloyd James.
15:14 Paul Wotton concedes a free kick for a foul on Lewis Gobern. Dean Lewington takes the free kick.
14:27 Ndiaye Papa Waigo takes a shot. Save made by Willy Gueret.
13:46 Unfair challenge on Adam Lallana by Jason Puncheon results in a free kick. Lloyd James restarts play with the free kick.
12:19 Foul by Richard Lambert on Darren Powell, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Darren Powell.
9:50 A cross is delivered by Ndiaye Papa Waigo, Adam Lallana takes a shot. Blocked by Mathias Doumbe. Lloyd James takes a inswinging corner.
9:03 Adam Lallana takes a shot. Save by Willy Gueret.
6:38 Inswinging corner taken by Jemal Johnson from the left by-line, Header from close in by David McCracken misses to the right of the target.
5:29 Jermaine Easter is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Kelvin Davis restarts play with the free kick.
5:17 Foul by Morgan Schneiderlin on Peter Leven, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by David McCracken.
4:35 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Radhi Jaidi by Jermaine Easter. Kelvin Davis restarts play with the free kick.
4:06 Adam Lallana is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Willy Gueret takes the free kick.
1:49 Free kick awarded for a foul by David McCracken on Richard Lambert. Dan Harding takes the direct free kick.
0:45 Unfair challenge on Lewis Gobern by Dan Harding results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Willy Gueret.
0:00 The match gets underway.
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