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Having a ball
By James Beattie Southampton striker and BBC Sport Online columnist

I came away from the weekend with a nice souvenir - the match ball from my first Premiership hat-trick.

It's particularly sweet not just because it is my first, but also because it will serve as a reminder of the rewards of hard work.

It's no secret I've had my troubles off the field this season.

You have to believe in yourself and your ability and carry on doing the same things

I thought I could just shrug them off but it did affect me.

I knew I had to buckle down and work twice as hard to get it out of my head and now I've come through it, it's made me a much stronger person mentally.

I'm aware exactly what football means to me, and it sharpened my focus that I have to concentrate on my football and let that do all the talking for me.

I've also had problems of a different sort on the pitch, and you have to work your way through them as well.

Before the Aston Villa game, nothing seemed to be going right for me at times in front of goal, although I wasn't playing badly.

Southampton striker James Beattie
Beattie celebrates hitting his hat-trick

I suppose the lowest point was against Manchester City when I couldn't make contact with a cross about three yards out, in front of goal.

Again, you have to shrug those off, believe in yourself and your ability and carry on doing exactly the same things in the knowledge that eventually it will come right.

I don't think I did anything vastly different on Sunday than I have been doing all season.

You still have to get yourself in the right positions and attack the ball, and I have been confident in doing that.

I suppose after Sunday, though, there'll be an extra little spring in my stride.

Match report: Southampton 4-2 Fulham

It wasn't just about my hat-trick, though. It was a fantastic team performance to come from two-nil down, and puts us in great shape to go to Old Trafford on Saturday.

Believe me, we're going there in a really confident frame of mind.

We're unbeaten in six matches, and including our Worthington Cup win over Tranmere, we've won four on the bounce.

You always look forward to playing at Old Trafford, even if sometimes it can be a bit intimidating.

If you're a professional footballer it's the sort of place you should be aspiring to play at.


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