Lambert relishes his return to Bristol Rovers

Maybe Rickie Lambert should be trying his luck on the Lotto.

For the Southampton striker says he knew exactly what was about to happen when Bristol Rovers' number emerged in the draw for the first round of the FA Cup.

Sure enough, Southampton were the next club out and the Scouse marksman is looking forward to an "emotional" return to the Memorial Stadium on Friday night.

It will be Lambert's first trip back to the club he left in a £1 million move at the start of this season after banging in 29 goals last term.

"I was watching the draw on the TV in the kitchen with the missus and as soon as Bristol Rovers appeared, I knew exactly what was coming next," said Lambert. "When our ball was the next out, I was laughing out loud."

Despite a relatively slow start to his spell with the Pirates – he arrived at the club from Rochdale in the summer of 2006 some way short of full fitness – Lambert went on to become a hero with the Memorial Stadium faithful.

An army of travelling fans gave him a warm reception when Paul Trollope's men visited St Mary's a few weeks ago for a storming game capped off by a late and spectacular winner from Andy Williams as the visitors triumphed 3-2.

Lambert was not expecting to be back in Horfield until April, when Southampton visit for the return league game.

"I had it in my head I was going back there at the end of the season and was looking forward to that, so to go back so soon is really exciting for me," he said.

"I spent three good years there and have a lot of great memories of the place.

"I wasn't the most professional of players when I went there. But Trolls turned that round and helped screw my head on, so I owe a big thank you to him.

"It will be emotional, but at the end of the day it's a football game and, as much as there will be those thoughts running through my head, the main thought will be on winning the game.

"If we win, I will be made up and it will be a good reunion.

"But I will be gutted if we go there and lose – it's all about winning and getting through."

Lambert appreciated the ovation he got from around 3,000 travelling Gasheads as St Mary's.

"I had a good reception when they came down to our place, so I'm guessing it will be kind of the same on Friday," he said.

"The reception at our place was brilliant, so anything like that would be nice.

"The Rovers fans are brilliant, especially on FA Cup days. They really do make a big deal about that.

"It will definitely be a hostile environment and they love playing in front of it."

Friday's game is bound to bring back memories of the fifth round meeting between the clubs two years ago when Lambert's goal knocked the Saints out in a game screened live by the BBC.

"I hope it's the same scorer and the same scoreline – but this time the other way round," he said.

Lambert, who netted against his old club at St Mary's despite finishing on the losing side, believes he's currently fitter than he's ever felt.

"At Rovers I wasn't as professional as I should have been when I went there," he said.

"I stepped it up a level there and I think I have stepped it up another level at Southampton.

"My lifestyle is a lot better – not that it was bad at Bristol Rovers – but I'm eating the right foods now and doing extra training. "I feel fully confident, like I did last year, but think I'm in better shape."