Bristol Rovers striker Lambert is player of the month
Lambert was unstoppable in October, thumping home seven goals in five games, including a memorable four-goal haul against Southend. He's scored so many he hesitated when asked for his favourite, before singling out the Oldham strike due to their position near the top of the league and the manner in which he dispatched his shot.
His rich vein of form helped coach Paul Trollope win the judges' vote for League One manager of the month and it is a partnership the club is hoping will pave the way to the Championship.
Trollope confirmed this week there had been no offers for Lambert despite his haul of 15 goals already this season and speculation that bigger clubs might be waiting in the wings.
Lambert has referred to the city as his 'second home', is banging in goals with reckless abandon and signed a new three-year deal in September. But everyone has their price. For now he is revelling in helping Rovers climb the table and was delighted with his award.
"I'm pleased," he said. "I think that's possibly the best month I've had since I've come here. I don't know how many goals I scored but I've scored quite a few. I just hope I'll have another good month this month. If it gets anywhere close I'll be happy."
The calibre of Lambert's achievemenet can be measured by a glance at the fellow footballers he eclipsed. His co-nominees included MK Dons striker Sam Baldock, Hartlepool marksman Joel Porter and the mercurial Leeds midfielder Fabian Delph.
The 6ft 2in forward's October strikes comprised the winner against Colchester, the equaliser against Huddersfield, the first in Rovers 2-0 win over Oldham and all four at home to Southend.
But endeth the month, endeth the flow. His fine run of goals ran out at the Walkers Stadium against Leicester on November 1 where Rovers shipped two late, late goals to surrender a 1-0. lead.
"I felt if I got a chance I'd score it, but I didn't get a chance," he said. "It was a bit frustrating. I thought we won it. I was shocked when they equalised, let alone scored the winner. It was devastating."
Bristol Rovers have the FA Cup to take their minds off the painful turnaround and Lambert has fond memories of last season's momentous run to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, a feat they hope to repeat if they can get past their perrennial cup foes Bournemouth in the first round today.
"If we go on another run like that I'll be made up," said Lambert. "It'll take something special to do that. We've just got to get past Bournemouth, our bogey team. They just seem to have their best games against us and hopefully that will change."
Meanwhile, Rovers chairman Nick Higgs says the players should start using their new training base at the South Bristol Sports Centre – formerly Bristol Imperial's sports ground – within the next few weeks.
The Pirates announced over the summer that they would be moving to the Knowle site from the Army base at Colerne, which has been their home for the last few seasons
The club has signed a five-year agreement to use the revamped facilities in Bristol, which are understood to be costing the club around £50,000 a year.
The move was originally scheduled for last month but has been delayed because of problems with the condition of the pitches.
Higgs said: "There has been a problem with the drains at the new site. It is only a minor problem which has now been sorted out.
"This is not a big delay, and we aim to be up there in the next couple of weeks."
With seven substitutes allowed to be named in the FA Cup this season, Rovers' bench is likely to include a number of youngsters at Bournemouth.
Bristol Rovers (from): Phillips, R Green, Hinton, Anthony, Lescott, Campbell, Disley, Lines, Hughes, Lambert, Kuffour, Duffy, Hunt, Klein-Davies, Elliott, Parrinello, Swallow, Harsley, M Green.
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