Rickie Lambert took over the skipper's armband for the first time in his Bristol Rovers career – and marked the occasion with his second hat-trick of the season to fire the Pirates to victory in a one-sided game at Edgar Street.

Lambert had netted twice when Paul Trollope's side had roasted the Bulls 6-1 at the Memorial Stadium earlier in the season.

And he went one better with a double before the break and a third from a second-half penalty to take his goals tally for the season to 24 – and heighten Hereford United's relegation fears.

Bristol Rovers made one change from the side that had started the 2-2 weekend draw against Leeds United.

Skipper Stuart Campbell was ruled out by illness and Craig Disley replaced him in midfield.

Rovers took the game to the home side from the start and went close to taking the lead in the sixth minute when a neat move set up a shooting chance for Darryl Duffy, whose shot from the edge of the box was tipped over by on-loan keeper Peter Gulacsi.

A minute later, Disley had a near-post header deflected wide after David Pipe had supplied the cross and then Jeff Hughes fired a rising shot from 14 yards over the top.

Gulacsi, a Hungarian youth international borrowed from Liverpool, had made some outstanding stops in the Bulls' 2-1 weekend defeat at Crewe and it looked as though he was going to be in for another busy night as the Pirates continued to dominate.

He saved a low shot from Hughes then a near-post header from the same player before coming to the rescue again to deny Disley after the midfielder had been set up by Lambert.

Finally the home side's resistance was broken after 26 minutes as Lambert slammed home his 22nd goal of the campaign from a trademark 25-yard free kick.

Gulacsi had done his best to organise the home side's defensive wall but could do nothing to stop the Scouser's well-struck right-footed shot.

And it could have been two straight from the re-start as Lambert was at the heart of another good move. He fed Hughes, whose low cross flew across the Bulls' box but a yard behind Duffy.

The visitors did not have to wait long to increase their lead though.

In the 33rd minute, Lambert grabbed his second when he seized on a ball from the right to fire home a sweet left-footed shot from 16 yards.

Bristol Rovers keeper Steve Phillips had to make his first save of the evening in the 38th minute when he tipped a long-range attempt from Kris Taylor over the bar.

Lambert went close to completing his treble before the break but sliced his finish wide from Pipe's cross four minutes before the interval.

Then Disley rose well to power home a header from a Chris Lines corner, only for the referee to rule out the attempt for pushing.

Hereford made a change for the second half with Dean Beckwith replacing Godwin Anti in defence, and the home side started to look more of an attacking threat after the break.

Only the woodwork stopped them pulling a goal back in the 53rd minute when Febian Brandy crossed from their right and the advancing Matt Done met it with a first-time volley which hit the outside of the post.

But Rovers extended their lead five minutes later as Lambert completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Green had been fouled inside Hereford's box.

Lambert had seen his previous spot-kick attempt saved in Rovers' 1-0 defeat by Leicester City.

But he made no mistake this time, sending Gulacsi the wrong way as he buried a firm strike to the keeper's left.

Lambert made his exit after 69 minutes, receiving a standing ovation from nearly 900 travelling fans as he was replaced by Jo Kuffour.

With the outcome beyond doubt, the final stages were played out to virtual silence from the home fans, while the away supporters celebrated Bristol Rovers' third win in their last four away games.

Hereford United: Gulacsi, Jackson, Broadhurst, Antwi (Beckwith 46), Taylor, Gwynne, Diagouraga (Johnson 87), Smith, Done, Brandy, Guinan. Subs (not used): D'Agastino, Rose, Vega.

Bristol Rovers: Phillips, Green, Anthony, Elliott, Lescott, Pipe (Jacobson 64), Disley, Lines, Hughes, Lambert (Kuffour 69), Duffy (Rigg, 75). Subs (not used): Hinton, St Louis-Hamilton.

Attendance: 3,199.

Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)