Cambridge United’s Carabao Cup campaign came to an end at the Memorial Stadium, as Bristol Rovers inflicted a 4-1 First Round defeat on the U’s.
United, who lined up with nine changes from the side that started in the season opener at Exeter City, were on the back foot early in the encounter. When Ellis Harrison missed from close range on nine minute, Billy Bodin made no mistake moments later, plucking a long ball out of the air before beating Mitov one-on-one.
Former Peterborough United man Tom Nichols came close to doubling that lead on the midway point of the first half, curling a 25 yard effort a whisker wide of the far post.
Uche Ikpeazu registered the U’s first shot on target, when the big striker turned Tom Lockyer in midfield before firing a low shot towards Adam Smith, who collected the effort with relative ease.
But just as he had done in the previous encounter against the U's on Good Friday 2016, Bodin registered his second, stepping in from the right before smashing a shot through a smattering of Cambridge defenders and into the net three minutes before half time.
The opening chance of the second half fell in favour of United, when Paul Lewis showed a smart turn of pace before drilling a cross into the six yard box which was intercepted before Ikpeazu could get a head to it.
However, it was Bristol Rovers who would extend their lead further when Ellis Harrison rose highest inside the United 18 yard box on the hour mark to power a header in and confirm the U’s fate in the competition.
Uche Ikpeazu scored United’s first goal of the season shortly after, when the big striker was played through on goal by Paul Lewis before showing good composure to beat Adam Smith.
However, Liam Sercombe curled an unstoppable effort past Mitov at the other end of the field moments later to restore the host’s three goal lead.
Bristol Rovers | Smith, Leadbitter (Partington, 51 mins), Brown, Lockyer, Sweeney, Sercombe, Harrison (Gaffney, 67 mins), Bodin, Nichols, Lines (Moore, 67 mins), Sinclair
Cambridge United | Mitov, Taylor, Legge, Darling, Dunk, Amoo (Carroll, 68 mins), Lewis (Deegan, 68 mins), Osadebe, Elito (Brown, 68 mins), Azeez, Ikpeazu
Attendance | 4,144 (114)