Rickie Lambert came back to haunt Bristol Rovers, scoring twice as Southampton romped to a 5-1 win.
Old-boy bags brace on Rovers return to maintain play-off hopes
Hotshot Rickie Lambert came back to haunt his former club, scoring twice as Southampton romped to a 5-1 win at Bristol Rovers.
The hosts actually opened the scoring with a 24th-minute penalty by Jeff Hughes before Lambert took his tally to 33 goals since his £1million move to Southampton in August.
Lambert scored two in three minutes right before the break to turn the game in Saints' favour before Morgan Schneiderlin, Adam Lallana and Jason Puncheon sealed victory in the second half.
Saints' third straight win saw them leapfrog Rovers into eighth place and go within eight points of seventh-placed Huddersfield with five games remaining.
The hosts took the lead against the run of play when Jose Fonte fouled Jo Kuffour and Hughes sent Kelvin Davis the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Turn-around
Andy Williams shot wide moments later when put clear by Kuffour and Lambert made him pay, heading Saints level on 43 minutes and then producing a trademark 30-yard free-kick to put them in front just before the break.
Rovers lost centre-back Steve Elliott with a 48th-minute injury and from then on slick Saints always looked capable of running up a big score.
Schneiderlin's superb 25-yard volley on 53 minutes emphasised the visitors' superiority.
Lallana side-footed home his 19th of the season in the 73rd minute before Puncheon shot home from the edge of the box two minutes later.
