Bristol Rovers host Cambridge United in FA Cup match
The Gas aim to end a seven-game losing streak while the U's look to extend their strong start to the League One season.
By Luis Medina ·
Bristol Rovers will attempt to reverse a poor run of form when they host Cambridge United at the Memorial Stadium on Friday night. The Gas have lost seven of their last nine league matches, a slump that has dropped them to 17th place in League Two. They currently sit just four points above the relegation zone.
The team’s struggles stand in contrast to their early season performance. They topped the table after five games but have since managed only one point from six matches in October. Manager Steve Evans noted the difficulty of the current run but expressed hope that the FA Cup would provide a fresh start for the squad.
Cambridge United enter the tie as favorites. Neil Harris’ side won automatic promotion from League Two last season and have performed well in the third tier. They sit eighth in League One after 14 games, with five wins, six draws, and three losses. However, their momentum has cooled slightly, as they have gone winless in their last four league matches, including defeats to Plymouth Argyle and Leyton Orient.
The two clubs met four times last season, splitting the results with two wins each. Cambridge United won 3-1 in the most recent encounter in February 2026. Prior to that, Bristol Rovers won a penalty shootout in the Vertu Trophy and lost 2-0 in the Carabao Cup. The sides also drew 2-2 in a league match in August 2025.
Bristol Rovers have a favorable record in the opening round of the FA Cup. They have not lost in this stage since the 2018/19 season, when Barnet beat them 2-1 in a replay. Last season, they beat Bromley 2-1 in the first round before losing to Port Vale in the second.
Key players are available for selection on Friday. Tommy Leigh returns from a four-match suspension. Kofi Balmer is also back in the pool of players available following his own suspension. Bobby Kamwa and Ellis Harrison are listed as potential selections as they recover from injuries.
Bristol Rovers also announced the appointment of Alex Weaver as their new Academy Manager. Weaver has previously coached in Switzerland and Singapore. The match will be the first of two FA Cup ties on Friday, with Oxford City hosting Leicester City in another fixture.
