Bristol Rovers striker Rickie Lambert is warning Southend United that they could be on the receiving end again after destroying them with his four-goal salvo earlier in the season.

The prolific centre-forward ended a six-game spell without a goal with a matchwinning double in the Pirates' dramatic 3-2 victory over Cheltenham Town on Tuesday.

And with the Shrimpers next up at Roots Hall on Saturday, Lambert is warning the Essex club – who lost 4-2 after Lambert's October rampage – that his spells of famine tend to be followed by a goals feast.

"It's always been the case that I have a bit of a drought and then it's followed by a goal spurt – and hopefully this is another one," said Lambert, who took his tally for the season to 20 with his brace against Cheltenham Town.

"Like most strikers, you have a dry spell and then a few goals will seem to come one after the other."

Lambert went through an eight-game drought with Bristol Rovers in the autumn of 2007 – then banged in four goals in his next five games and finished the campaign with 19 goals. He has already surpassed that figure this term with 20 games still to go.

"Most strikers have a dry patch and hopefully that's mine over and done with," said Lambert.

"It was about time and a relief when the first one went in on Tuesday. I felt that if I scored one then a few more might follow."

Though Lambert's goals haul this term has attracted a wave of speculation over his future, his reaction after scoring the late winner in midweek was certainly not that of a man desperate for a move.

"Running away to the crowd after it went in was a great feeling. I thought we thoroughly deserved the win and to get it in that style was superb," he said.

"When you come from behind and score a late winner it's always brilliant, and it just happened to be me who got it this time."

Lambert's return to scoring form has coincided with Darryl Duffy netting twice in the last three games after coming off the bench, while Jo Kuffour has scored five times since joining last summer.

"I know to be in the side every week I have to perform and although I'd not been scoring, I'd been going close," said Lambert.

"I'm made up that I'm scoring again – and I'm made up that Joe and Darryl are scoring as well.

"The win against Cheltenham moved us up a few places in the table and now we have to try and push on."