Full-time: Bristol Rovers 4 Millwall 2

Bristol Rovers turned in a storming first-half performance as they hit four goals before the break to derail Millwall’s hopes of automatic promotion in a pulsating game at the Memorial Stadium.

Strikes from Craig Disley, Jo Kuffour and a Rickie Lambert double put the Gas in command at the interval as the visitors had striker Gary Alexander sent off for handling.

Although the Lions tried to stage a second-half fightback - Nadjim Abdou adding to his first-half goal for the Londoners - it was not enough to save them.

Rovers made two changes to the side that had started the 2-1 Easter Monday defeat at MK Dons.

Missing full-backs Aaron Lescott and Joe Jacobson through injury, David Pipe and Jeff Hughes dropped back to play in the back four.

Disley was recalled to play wide on the rjght of midfield with Darryl Duffy on the other flank as Kuffour partnered Lambert up front.

Rovers made a lively start and went ahead after 12 minutes when Disley made a near-post run to attack Stuart Campbell’s corner from the right, tucking home his first-time shot from close range.

The Pirates had a chance to extend their lead when Duffy helped the ball back into Millwall’s box following a Campbell free kick, but Steve Elliott missed his kick 12 yards from goal.

Millwall levelled after 27 minutes when Scott Barron’s free kick was nodded on by Jason Price for Abdou to head home from close range.

But Rovers regained the lead after 32 minutes when Lambert headed home another Campbell corner, and they extended it five minutes later.

Hughes broke down the left and although he almost lost his footing, he still managed to feed Kuffour, who fired home off the inside of keeper David Forde’s left-hand post.

Millwall’s misery was to be heightened shortly before the interval from another Campbell corner. Lambert’s header on goal was handled by Millwall striker Gary Alexander – who was red carded – and Lambert rammed in the spot kick home for his 27th goal of the campaign.

Rovers had managed six on-target efforts in the opening period – and scored from four of them.

Millwall pressed hard to get back into the game after the break but substitute Neil Harris hit the bar with a header and was later denied by a fine save from Pirates keeper Steve Phillips, who also did well to thwart Price.

At the other end, Forde had to fingertip a rising drive from Kuffour over the top.

The Lions did pull another goal back in the 78th minute when the ball ricocheted into the net off Abdou, and the numbers were evened up in the 81st minute when Steve Elliott was controversially sent off for a second booking.

Bristol Rovers: Phillips, Pipe, Anthony, Elliott (Hinton 82), Hughes, Disley, Campbell, Lines, Duffy, Lambert (Hunt 76), Kuffour. Subs: Rigg, Reece, St Louis-Hamilton.

Millwall: Ford, Dunne, Craig, Craig, Whitbread, Barron, Laird (Henry 73), Abdou, Bolder, Martin (Harris 46), Price, Alexander. Subs: Grabban, Henry, Duffy, Pidgeley.

Att: 6,618.