FA Cup · 1/128-finals 
Our pick Away win Missed
Bristol Rovers and Cambridge United meet with progress at stake
Bristol Rovers enter the FA Cup tie after a difficult league run, while Cambridge United are the higher-placed side in their own division. A place in the next round offers both clubs a chance to build momentum.
📍 Memorial Stadium
Preview written:
Match report
Final result: Bristol Rovers 2-0 Cambridge United.
Match statistics (home team first). Shots: 12–6; Shots on target: 4–3; Corners: 3–5.
Goals
- 57' Reiss-Alexander Russell-Denny · Clinton Mola · Bristol Rovers
- 72' Fabrizio Cavegn · Thomas James · Bristol Rovers
Cards
- 39' Alfie Kilgour · Bristol Rovers
- 51' Liam bennett · Cambridge United
- 71' Tommy Leigh · Bristol Rovers
- 74' Ben Purrington · Bristol Rovers
- 79' Clinton Mola · Bristol Rovers
Match stats
Ratings and statistics: API-Football.
Confirmed lineups
Bristol Rovers · 4-1-2-1-2
- 1Brad YoungG
- 2T. JamesD
- 4K. BalmerD
- 5A. KilgourD
- 14B. PurringtonD
- 22Keenan GoughM
- 6C. MolaM
- 8R. Russell-DennyM
- 24T. LeighM
- 9J. QuigleyF
- 29F. CavegnF
Coach: S. Evans
Cambridge United · 4-2-3-1
- 1J. EastwoodG
- 2L. BennettD
- 6K. WattsD
- 5P. BauerD
- 22Z. BradshawD
- 8O. MoxonM
- 17P. MpanzuM
- 44Raees Bangura-WilliamsM
- 10B. KnightM
- 11S. KaikaiM
- 9L. AppéréF
Coach: N. Harris
Match facts
Goals per game
| · | Scored | Conceded |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol Rovers | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Cambridge United | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Last meetings
- 2026 Cambridge United 3-1 Bristol Rovers
- 2025 Bristol Rovers 2-2 Cambridge United
- 2025 Bristol Rovers 1-0 Cambridge United
- 2025 Bristol Rovers 0-2 Cambridge United
- 2025 Cambridge United 0-1 Bristol Rovers
PreviaXI model
Model confidence: Open game
- Expected goals (model)
- 0.97 – 1.43
- Double chance
- X2 · 75%1X 53% · 12 72%
- Over 2.5 goals
- 43%Over 1.5: 70% · Over 3.5: 22%
- Both teams score
- 48%
- Clean sheet
- 24% – 38%Bristol Rovers–Cambridge United
- Half-time result
- X · 44%1 21% · 2 35%
- Half-time / full-time
- 2/2 · 28%X/X 18% · X/2 17%
Statistical model based on expected goals (xG), results and match statistics from the last two seasons. For information only. How our model works →
A cup chance to change the story
Bristol Rovers come into this FA Cup first-round tie after a draw and four defeats in their last five league games, with their most recent match ending in defeat. At Memorial Stadium, they face Cambridge United with progression at stake for both clubs.
For Bristol Rovers, advancing would offer a welcome lift amid a difficult run in League Two. Cambridge United, eighth in League One, will see the tie as an opportunity to keep their cup campaign moving and underline the gap between the sides’ current league positions.
Different league positions, difficult runs
Bristol Rovers are 17th in League Two with 16 points after 14 matches. Cambridge United have 21 points from the same number of games and sit eighth in League One, though their last five league outings have brought one win, two draws and two defeats. Their most recent game also ended in defeat.
The league standings give Cambridge the higher-division status and stronger position, but neither side arrives on the back of a recent league victory.
Recent meetings offer little separation
The last five meetings across competitions are evenly split: Cambridge United have won two, Bristol Rovers two, and one ended in a draw. The latest encounter, in February 2026 in League Two, went Cambridge’s way, 3-1.
Three of those five meetings had two goals or fewer, a reminder that this fixture has also produced tight contests despite the most recent scoreline.
Our prediction
Cambridge United’s higher position in League One points to an edge, while Bristol Rovers’ home ground gives them a chance to make the tie difficult. PreviaXI’s model leans towards the visitors, with a narrow result the likeliest outcome.
Bristol Rovers 0-1 Cambridge United
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