Half-time: Southampton 1 Bristol Rovers 1. Chris Dickson made it three goals in two away games with Bristol Rovers as he put the visitors on level terms at the break on their first ever visit to the St Mary's Stadium.

Adam Lallana's strike nine minutes before the interval put the Saints in front after former Gas favourite Rickie Lambert had supplied a defence-splitting pass.

But Dickson showed a cool head when he seized on a long ball to slot home the leveller from a tight angle.

Rovers named an unchanged side for the third successive game as they sought to extend their unbeaten run to five matches.

Lambert's name had been roundly cheered by both sets of fans when the teams were announced, and inevitably the former Memorial Stadium hitman was soon involved in the action.

He laid off a neat pass to Jacob Mellis from Southampton's first attack, but fortunately for Rovers the Saints man was unable to control the ball 20 yards from goal.

Keeper Mikkel Andersen again looked in confident mood as he came to collect a couple of early crosses, while his opposite number Kelvin Davies – celebrating his 33rd birthday – had little trouble gathering a Danny Coles header from Stuart Campbell's 14th-minute free kick.

Andersen also had plenty of time to grasp Adam Lallana's 35-yard effort, but Rovers came close to taking the lead in the 19th minute.

Jeff Hughes unleashed a fierce angled drive from outside the corner of the box, and Davis had to dive to his left to divert it a yard past his left-hand post.

Next it was Chris Lines letting fly from the edge of the box, but Davis was again equal to the attempt.

And as Southampton broke at the other end, their advance was halted when Byron Anthony left midfielder Dean Hammond on the floor, much to the anger of the St Mary's regulars. The challenge sparked a bout of pushing and shoving among the players, but as the game resumed it was Lambert who almost made the breakthrough for the home side.

He rose to meet Lloyd James' curling cross from the right, but was left holding his head in his hands after sending his attempt from eight yards narrowly over the top.

Moments later, Rovers had a great chance to take a 32nd-minute lead when Dickson fed strike partner Jo Kuffour, who was 10 yards from goal.

But the marksman delayed his finish and then found defenders quickly blocking any chance of a goal-bound shot as Saints closed ranks.

It was to prove a costly, for Lambert then supplied the pass that helped to leave his former team-mates in arrears in the 34th minute.

His through-ball put Lallana in space, and the forward had little trouble blasting his shot past the helpless Andersen from 14 yards.

But Rovers summoned up a quick response to level after 41 minutes. Southampton's defence was left in disarray as they failed to deal with a long ball forward – and Dickson made the most of their confusion.

He promptly took the ball around Davis, who was caught way off his line, and then coolly slotted home from an angle as Radhi Jaidi tried in vain to chase the ball down.

It was no more than the Pirates deserved on the balance of play, and left the game in the balance with the second half to come.

Southampton (4-3-3): Davis, James, Jaidi, Trotman, Harding, Mellis, Hammond, Schneiderlin, N'Diaye, Lambert, Lallana. Subs: Forecast, Mills, Saganowski, Perry, Wotton, Holmes, Lancashire.

Bristol Rovers (4-4-2): Andersen, Regan, Anthony, Coles, Lescott, Wright, Campbell, Lines, Hughes, Kuffour, Dickson. Subs: Evans, Elliott, Blizzard, Reece, Swallow, Williams, Duffy.