Saints recorded their first league win of the season with a convincing 4-0 win at the Memorial stadium.

The visitors struck an early advantage, and it was also a first Saints strike for defender Jose Fonte, who turned home a corner on ten minutes to set the team on their way.

Having withstood some heavy pressure from the hosts, Saints doubled their lead before the break thanks to a strike from Adam Lallana, who reacted quickly to finish inside the box after Dean Hammond's strike fell at his feet. Lallana's effort was Saints' 100th goal against Rovers in league matches

After the interval Lallana went off with a knock, but the visitors remained in control. The third goal arrived from the penalty spot as Rickie Lambert scored his obligatory goal against his former club after Lee Barnard was felled inside the area.

Barnard wrapped up the win in the last minute with a shot which crashed off the underside of the crossbar and in to complete the rout.

Bristol Rovers: Andersen, Anthony, Coles, Tunnicliffe, Sawyer, Brown (Reece 49) (Duffy 78), Campbell, Lines, Hughes, Kuffour, Hoskins. Subs (not used): Green, Regan, Richards, Pell, Swallow.

Saints: Davis, Butterfield, Martin, Fonte, Harding, Puncheon, Hammond, Schneiderlin (Guly 84), Lallana (Dickson 46), Barnard, Lambert (Connolly 78). Subs (not used): Bialkowski, Jaidi, Wotton, Chamberlain.

Referee: Mr. G. Scott (Oxfordshire)

Attendance: 8,226 (including 1,771 away)

Saints lined up unchanged from Tuesday night's starting xi against Bolton in the Carling Cup, as Aaron Martin kept his place in the centre of defence alongside Fonte.

New signing Guly took a place amongst the substitutes after his international clearance came through from the Italian FA before the game.

The hosts got things underway on a bright day in Bristol with Saints attacking the end housing the 1,700 or so supporters who made the journey up from the south coast.

Rickie Lambert was given another warm welcome on his return to the Memorial stadium and inside the opening five minutes of play he eyed up an ambitious long range free-kick, which the forward uncharacteristically drilled wide as his effort scuffed along the surface and into touch.

Moments later, the striker was almost celebrating though, as he created space for himself on the edge of the area after Harding had laid the ball into his feet, but the shot flew wide and hit the back stantion of Mikkel Andersen's goal which fooled some fans at the end into thinking that it had nestled in the back of the net.

In the tent h minute the ball was in the net as Saints went in front from a set piece. Jason Puncheon's corner from the right was flicked on by Aaron Martin's head and squirmed home by defensive partner FONTE from six yards out.

Adam Lallana tried to double the advantage soon after as the visitors hit forward on the break, but the winger was forced wide as he bore down on goal.

At the other end Chris Lines fired wide at the far post from close range after Wayne Brown had twice delivered crosses from the left hand side.

Saints responded with sustained pressure in the form of three successive corners from Puncheon which was eventually broken up by an infringement on 'keeper Andersen.

Rovers continued to play an open game and created a further opportunity from Stuart Campbell's corner which Jo Kuffour headed towards goal only to see Kelvin Davis make a fine save to deny the striker. Davis was also on hand to deny Lines from distance shortly afterwards.

The free flowing nature of the game allowed for a break to arrive in Saints' favour on 35 as LALLANA benefitted from intercepting Hammond's low strike from distance and keeping his composure to finish past Andersen from eight yards.

A quieter final ten minutes of the half ended with Kuffour going close at the near post for the hosts and Lallana having a shot blocked at the other end with the last kick before the whistle.

Half Time: Bristol Rovers 0-2 Saints

Within seconds of the re-start Lallana was forced off with an injury which he appeared to suffer off the ball. Ryan Dickson replaced the midfielder and took up his position on the left.
Rovers made a change of their own soon after as Brown was withdrawn in favour of Charlie Reece on the right of midfield.

The hosts threatened early on, but Danny Butterfield was alert twice to clear any danger, before Saints found their rhythm again.

Jeff Hughes went into the book for a foul on Harding and a short free-kick from the left resulted in Saints beinf awarded a penalty on 56 as Barnard was brought down just inside the box. From 12 yards LAMBERT stepped up and struck a low effort into the bottom left corner against his former sid, and as promised, he didn't celebrate.

Fonte was the first Saint to go into the book for a foul on Kuffour as the striker spun away from him on halfway. Martin followed him into Mr Scott's notepad retrospectively, after a foul on Hoskins a few minutes later.

Rovers almost conjured something out of nothing on 73 as Gary Sawyer swung a volley towards goal from the left of the area which dinked the crossbar with an effort that had Davis beaten, but fortunately the ball bounced out of play.

Danny Coles tested Davis with a header from a corner inside the last quarter of an hour, before Lambert struck a shot narrowly wide for the visitors moments later.
That was the last contribution from Lambert as David Connolly was introduced for the last ten minutes or so, perhaps with Tuesday JPT match against Swindon Town in mind.
Will Hoskins was the next to go close for the hosts as he blazed an effort wide.

Saints made their final change with just over five minutes remaining as Guly do Prado entered the fray in place of Schneiderlin, and the first Brazilian Saint for over 100 years was given a rapturous welcome by the visiting support.

With Guly now patrolling the centre of the park Alan Pardew's side continued to push forward and they completed the scoring as the clock hit the 90 minute mark with a thoroughly deserved goal for BARNARD.

The striker had worked tirelessly all afternoon, and as he collected Connolly's pass inside the box, there was only to be one outcome as the former Spurs man crashed his shot in off the bar to make it 4-0.

Barnard tried for a second deep into stoppage time, but another resounding win at the Memorial stadium had long been secured.

Full Time: Bristol Rovers 0-4 Saints