It was a bittersweet day for Saints fans. The day will be remembered not only for the two late penalties that gave them the win over Millwall but also as the day Bolton’s Fabrice Muamba collapsed on pitch while playing against Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

The date was March 17, 2012, and it was marked with an incredible turnaround that saw Saints come away from The Den with a 3-2 victory. Rickie Lambert had a lot to do with it.

Saints had a great start to their game, with Lambert putting them in front, but they found themselves pegged by an unfortunate own goal from Jose Fonte and a fierce strike from Paul Robinson.

Daily Echo: SAINTS v Millwall, at the the New Den, London, 17th March 2012, Rickie Lambert's shot hits the crossbar

The match was heading for a draw, but Saints’ fortunes changed dramatically in the final six minutes when two penalties were rewarded to them. Lambert made sure of their success by taking both spot kicks, allowing the top-of-the-table club to stay ahead of their automatic promotion rivals Reading who also won on the day.

The pitch had seen better days; it was bumpy and uneven.

As a result, both sides needed to be direct in their approach.

Daily Echo: SAINTS v Millwall, at the New Den, London, 17th March 2012, Rickie Lambert celebrates after scoring from the penalty spot

Millwall were bypassing midfield and going long to Darius Henderson, while Southampton had Rickie Lambert as their targetman, but also looked to spread play wide and deliver crosses into dangerous areas.

It paid off for Saints in the end.

But football fans across the country were saddened to see Fabrice Muamba suffer a cardiac arrest during the first half of play.

Daily Echo: King Davidson takes to the ring. King Davidson v Dimitrij Kalinovskij , Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth

He received lengthy attention on the White Hart Lane pitch from medical personnel – including a consultant cardiologist who was at the game as a fan – before the match was postponed.

On August 15, 2012, Bolton announced that Muamba had retired from professional football.