Rovers served up a sensational performance this afternoon to annihilate Southend United at the Memorial Stadium.

It was nothing short of a stunning display from the Pirates, who outclassed their opponents from the first kick to the last.

The in-form Rickie Lambert did no wrong all game as he scored goal after goal, seeing Rovers race into a 4-0 lead before the visitors eventually grabbed a couple of late consolations.

The game started brightly for the home side, with Jeff Hughes going close to opening the scoring in the opening minute with a shot that flashed just wide of the post.

Adam Barrett headed against his own crossbar from a Craig Disley cross, before the early pressure eventually told on ten minutes as Rovers edged into a 1-0 lead.

Stuart Campbell swung a corner into the penalty box, and Lambert was there to power home a header past Adam Federici.

Lambert saw another shot saved moments later, before he scored his second goal of the game on 16 minutes.

Disley played the ball out wide to David Pipe, and his cross into the danger area was rifled home by Lambert to make it 2-0.

Jo Kuffour picked out Disley whose shot on goal was parried behind for a corner, and then another pass from the former AFC Bournemouth man created goal number three on 33 minutes.

A pass from Craig Hinton found Kuffour in space, and his ball ito the box was superbly dispatched by Lambert.

Kuffour produced a good save from Federici after great play from Chris Lines, and as the half-time whistle sounded minutes later, Southend could barely believe the 45-minute battering they'd been given.

Rovers started the second half as they finished the first, and just ten minutes after the restart the game was put well and truly beyond doubt.

A corner in from the right was again delivered with precision from Campbell, and Lambert rose well to send the ball home past a shell-shocked Federici.

Disley and Campbell fired wide, before a trio of substitutions saw Southend come into the game as an attacking force for the first time.

Peter Clarke swept home a low Alex Revell cross to make it 4-1 on 70 minutes, and then five minutes later Francis Laurent made it 4-2 as he smashed the ball home past Steve Phillips.

Southend had a couple more chances late on as they threw players forward, and Rovers also had opportunities to score through Darryl Duffy and Joe Jacobson as the visitors left big gaps at the back.

In the end it was a resounding and emphatic victory for Rovers that keeps the winning run going, and moves the club to within just two points of the play-offs.

Lambert was sensational throughout, and his performance capped what was a fine display from an in-form team brimming with confidence.

Reported by Ian Cole