Bristol Rovers 0-4 West Brom: Lambert hits brace on debut

The former Liverpool striker scored twice just hours after completing a move to the club from Brendan Rodgers’ side, while Craig Gardner and Victor Anichebe also found the net


Rickie Lambert netted a brace during West Brom’s 4-0 friendly win over Bristol Rovers on Friday, just hours after joining the club from Liverpool.

The 33-year-old striker completed his move to the Hawthorns from the Reds earlier on Friday and was soon among the goals at the Recreation Ground, where he had previously scored 55 goals in 143 appearances for Rovers between 2006 and 2009.

On his old stomping ground, Lambert opened the scoring ground in fortuitous fashion after 23 minutes, as his speculative long-range strike deflected off Tom Parkes and over Rovers goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall.

Craig Gardner then doubled the Baggies’ lead 11 minutes later, as he latched onto Chris Brunt’s pass to slot home, before Lambert grabbed his brace following James McClean’s cross.

The 33-year-old then departed to a standing ovation and his replacement, Brown Ideye, set up Victor Anichebe to complete the scoring 13 minutes from time.