Goals from Byron Anthony and Rickie Lambert put Bristol Rovers in command at the interval against Stockport County at the Memorial Stadium.

Anthony forced home his second goal of the season in the fourth minute to reward the Pirates for a positive start with an early breakthrough.

And Lambert took his goals tally to the season for 25 after 37 minutes when he fired home from the penalty spot.

Rovers made two changes to the side that had started the 1-0 home defeat by Peterborough a week earlier as coach Paul Trollope opted for an attacking approach by playing three up front.

David Pipe missed out because of illness and Craig Disley reverted to the bench as Jo Kuffour joined Lambert and Darryl Duffy up front, with skipper Stuart Campbell returning to midfield.

And it was the captain who set up the Pirates’ early breakthrough with a free kick towards the far post. It was nodded down superbly by Steve Elliott and Anthony had a simple task in converting from close range.

Rovers threatened to add more as Kuffour shot just over the top. Then Stockport’s on-loan keeper Conrad Logan almost made a hash of a Lambert shot from 20 yards and was lucky to get just enough on the ball to deflect it around the post.

Stockport created little of real note, although Aaron Lescott had to get in an important tackle to steer the ball away from striker Oli Johnson on the half-hour.

But Rovers increased their lead when James Tunnicliffe handled inside his own box and Lambert crashed home the resulting spot kick to the keeper’s left. Conrad went the right way but was unable to get a touch.

Bristol Rovers (4-3-3): Phillips; Lescott, Anthony, Elliott, Jacobson; Campbell, Lines, Hughes; Kuffour, Lambert, Duffy. Subs: Craig Hinton, Ben Hunt, Sean Rigg, Craig Disley, Danzelle St Louis-Hamilton.

Stockport (4-4-2): Logan; McSweeney, McNeil, Tunnicliffe, Rowe; Raynes, Tansey, Blizzard, Mainwaring; O’Grady, Johnson. Subs: Turnbull, Thompson, Pilkington, Ennis, Halls.

Referee: Clive Penton (Sussex).