Substitute Williams seals dramatic win for Bristol Rovers

Full-time: Southampton 2 Bristol Rovers 3. Supersub Andy Williams scored a sensational stoppage-time winner to give Bristol Rovers a dramatic come-from-behind victory on their first visit to the St Mary's Stadium.

After twice being in arrears through goals from Adam Lallana and former Gas hero Rickie Lambert, the plucky Pirates hit back through Chris Dickson and Jo Kuffour.

But it was Williams who had a travelling blue army of 2,800 fans singing his name at the final whistle after a brilliant goal.

After picking up a pass from Carl Regan, he cut in from the right touchline to curl an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

It was no less than the visitors deserved after a gutsy performance in which they were always willing to take the game to the home side.

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 Bristol Rovers the Saints man was unable to control the ball 20 yards from goal.

After even exchanges over the opening stages, 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 Kelvin 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.

Lambert almost made the breakthrough for the home side when he rose to meet Lloyd James' curling cross from the right, but he was left holding his head in his hands after sending his attempt from eight yards narrowly over the top.

Rovers should have taken the lead when Dickson fed 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 mistake, 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 Mikkel 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.

But the Saints needed only a minute of the second period to re-establish their lead.

James supplied the cross from Southampton's right and Lambert headed against the underside of the bar and in from 12 yards.

Moments later, the game could have been put out the Pirates' reach – but Andersen made a brilliant point-blank save to thwart Morgan Schneiderlin.

Rovers had the ball in the net again, but Hughes had been judged offside before he delivered the cross that was tucked home by Kuffour.

Rovers made their first change in the 64th minute when Williams replaced Mark Wright, and the switch seemed to lift both the 2,800-strong army of travelling fans and the team.

For moments later, Regan found space down the right and delivered a firm, low cross that Kuffour tucked home at the far post to put the Pirates back on level terms again.

The goal rejuvenated the visitors and Williams' run at the Saints' defence almost brought reward, only for his shot to strike Jaidi and fly just wide. Then Kuffour set up Hughes, whose left-foot volley from 20 yards flew over the bar.

Andersen came to Bristol Rovers' rescue again when he made another great save to beat out a goal-bound shot from Lallana as play swung from end to end.

But the Gas were to conjure up a moment of magic in stoppage-time. Regan retained possession and cut inside before playing the ball out wide to Williams.

And the former Hereford man then headed for goal before unleashing a dream strike which curled into the top corner to send the away hordes into raptures.

Southampton (4-3-3): Davis; James, Jaidi (Saganowski, 80), Trotman, Harding; Mellis (Mills, 68), Hammond, Schneiderlin (Wotton, 89); N'Diaye, Lambert, Lallana. Subs not used: Forecast, Perry, Holmes, Lancashire.

Bristol Rovers (4-4-2): Andersen; Regan, Anthony, Coles, Lescott; Wright (Williams, 64), Campbell, Lines, Hughes; Kuffour (Blizzard, 90), Dickson (Duffy, 75). Subs not used: Evans, Elliott, Blizzard, Reece, Swallow.

Attendance: 19,784.