Cambridge in the Cup
Bristol Rovers take on Cambridge United tomorrow evening in the Carabao Cup; it’s only the second time the sides have met in this competition.
The first occasion, also at The Mem, was on 8th August 2017 when Rovers ran out 4-1 winners courtesy of goals from Billy Bodin (2), Ellis Harrison and Liam Sercombe.
Rovers had lost their opening day league match against Charlton at The Valley, so this was a welcome win for Darrell Clarke’s side.
They were ahead on 13 minutes when Bodin calmly beat Cambridge goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov after collecting a long diagonal ball into the box.
Played in by Stuart Sinclair, Bodin added his, and Rovers, second three minutes before half time and second half goals came from Harrison just after the hour mark. and Liam Sercombe in the 70th minute. It was Sercombe’s first home game for Rovers and his first goal for the club.The visitors did score what was a consolation goal, through Ikpeazu five minutes after Harrison’s goal.,
One of the goalscorers that night, Harrison, could well earn his first start of the season tomorrow, and it’s possible that we will see one or two more changes to the side that lost at Fleetwood on Saturday.
One player looking forward to the tie is Joel Senior, who was interviewed for the club’s website; ‘Wherever the manager wants to play me, whether it’s a back four or back five, I have played both in my career. I feel like I can perform in both of those positions. Whatever position the manager wants to put me in, I am happy to do a job there.
‘I am grateful to play in this team under him and play with these boys and to show the Bristol Rovers fans what I can do after last season, not being my best year and not being good enough on the pitch when I was on it. I just want to show them what I can do and whatever position the manager wants to put me in; I’ll do my best.’
No one needs reminding that Rovers have lost their two opening league fixtures, against Harrogate Town and Fleetwood Town, while Cambridge, who lost 3-2 at Swindon on Saturday, won their opening fixture 1-0 against Cheltenham Town.
Both sides were relegated from League One last season and will be desperate to return to that level as soon as possible, but it’s a cup victory, not league points, that are at stake tomorrow.
Kick off is at 7.45pm and we hope that Darrell and the team make it through to Round Two of the competition.
