By Phil McNulty

Southampton's Jason Euell challenges Stuart Campbell

Rickie Lambert celebrated his 26th birthday by sending Bristol Rovers into the FA Cup quarter-finals at the expense of Southampton.

Lambert's 84th-minute free-kick deflected off Southampton's Jermaine Wright to beat keeper Kelvin Davis to give the League One side victory.

The Liverpool-born striker had already had a header ruled out for a push and also flicked narrowly off target.

Southampton barely created a chance and Paul Trollope's side deserved the win.

Interview: Paul Trollope and Stuart Campbell

Interview: Southampton coach Jason Dodd

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The first 45 minutes was an utterly wretched affair, devoid of flowing football and characterised by ill-fated attempts from both sides to master a dreadful playing surface.

Any slight hint of threat came from the home side, with Andy Williams forcing a crucial block from Saints' keeper Davis after a mis-kick from defender Andrew Davies.

Southampton's only serious attempt came from a 25-yard free-kick from Inigo Idiakez that sailed harmlessly over the top.

The pitch did little to encourage any sort of flowing football, and a poor clearance from Davis almost let Williams in again but the Saints' keeper made a good recovery.

Jason Euell almost broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute with a volley from the edge of the area, but Rovers keeper Steve Phillips blocked with his legs.

Rovers thought they had gone ahead six minutes later when Lambert headed powerfully past Davis, but referee Mike Riley ruled out the goal for a push on Southampton captain Darren Powell.

Lambert then sent a flicked header just over the bar as Rovers put together the first spell of concerted pressure in the match.

But he had better luck as he gave Rovers a deserved lead with only six minutes left when his free-kick from just outside the area took a deflection off Wright and wrong-footed keeper Davis.

Bristol Rovers: Phillips, Lescott, Hinton, Coles, Jacobson, Pipe, Campbell, Disley, Lines, Williams (Rigg 76), Lambert.
Subs Not Used: Igoe, Walker, Carruthers, Anthony.

Goals: Lambert 84.

Southampton: Davis, Ostlund, Powell, Davies, Wright, Saganowski (McGoldrick 80), Idiakez (Wright-Phillips 57), Viafara (Hammill 87), Surman, Euell, John.
Subs Not Used: Poke, Thomas.

Booked: Viafara, Euell, Hammill, Wright.

Att: 11,920

Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Bristol Rovers' Stuart Campbell 7.62 (on 90 minutes).

• Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.