Rovers send Saints crashing out

Paul Trollope's Rovers were the better side throughout against the managerless Championship side and sealed a deserved win in the 84th minute when Lambert's low free-kick was diverted into the net.

Lambert thought he had won the tie with a fine second-half header but the effort was correctly ruled out for climbing before he struck to knock out the out-of-sorts Saints.

Strike partner Andy Williams had the best chance of the first 45 minutes when he almost capitalised on an horrendous defensive error from Andrew Davies but saw his effort well saved by Kelvin Davis.

Rovers have already knocked out Premier League strugglers Fulham in this year's competition and showed their intent from the kick-off.

An early long throw-in was tamely headed away by Darren Powell and Rovers captain Stuart Campbell sent in a dipping volley from the edge of the area which was only just wide of the far post.

Lambert had the Rovers fans in raptures midway through the second half when he rose to head Campbell's corner into the roof of the net but referee Mike Riley had already blown for a foul by the forward.

Lambert then chanced his arm from 40 yards after Powell had misjudged a header but looped the ball into the boisterous terrace of Rovers fans behind the goal.

And Lambert went close again with 15 minutes remaining when he headed an excellent inswinging Campbell free-kick onto the roof of the net.

But the striker finally got his moment of glory with six minutes remaining when his low free-kick from 22 yards took a deflection off Jermaine Wright and sailed past Davis into the back of the net to seal a memorable win.