Cambridge United are out to continue their strong late-season form when they take on Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium in midweek…
How to Watch
A strong following are set to back the U’s during Tuesday night’s penultimate journey in Bristol, which gets underway at 7:45pm.
Visiting fans have a choice of either being situated on the terrace or seats behind the goal, with online booking ending at 9:00am on the day of the game. Alternatively, tickets will be available at the stadium.
Supporters in the UK or abroad who are unable to make the journey can ensure that they don’t miss a kick of the action by purchasing an iFollow Match Pass – passes cost £10 and can be purchased by clicking here.
Opposition Focus
Founded 150 years ago, Bristol Rovers saw in the 1900s as a Southern League outfit but would go on to establish themselves as a resolute Division Two member throughout the 50s, 70s and 90s, which included a solitary season in the second tier in 1992/93 - where they were relegated with the U’s. The three-time FA Cup quarter-finalists fluctuated from here, bouncing back from a slump to non-league to two spirited campaigns in League One, with a third recently just confirmed under the tutelage of Matt Taylor.
The 42-year-old, previously at Exeter City and Rotherham United, lines up in a compact 4-2-3-1 formation which is heaving with experience, particularly in the attacking department. Loan goalkeeper Matthew Cox has become a mainstay between the sticks and should have a backline of Jack Hunt, James Wilson and the promising Elkan Baggott and Harvey Vale ahead of him. Dominating the middle of the park are former Liverpool youngster Jordan Rossiter and Brandon Aguilera, with the consistent Antony Evans in the advanced role supplying Luke Thomas and Scott Sinclair on the flanks. At 35, Chris Martin has been the focal frontman and is enjoying a sound campaign, finding the back of the net 15 times.
The Gas have ticked along nicely since August, maintaining a top-half spot for the majority whilst showing no real signs of dropping to the lower echelons too. Registering three wins, three draws and three defeats from their opening nine certainly set that tone. Despite back-to-back away losses to Oxford United and Burton Albion in October, they responded with their best form of the season as they lost on one occasion in eight heading into the Christmas period, which was accelerated when they took maximum points from Portsmouth and Charlton Athletic to cap off the year. Four defeats on the trot made for a damp start, although five wins from eight raised spirits for a brief moment as dire March form saw them attain two points from a possible 21. Last time out, they recorded a thoroughly-deserved 1-3 triumph at Cheltenham Town to put the side in 15th, with a four-point gap from the top half with three games to go. Laying the foundations heading into the summer is the sole aim now for Rovers.
Form Guide
Bristol Rovers: LDLLW
Cambridge United: LWWLD
United’s Approach
A pleasing afternoon at the Cledara Abbey Stadium last time out saw the U’s gain another valuable point towards securing their League One safety as they battled back to confirm a 1-1 draw against an in-form Charlton Athletic.
Although the visitors, unbeaten in 12 prior, controlled the first half – and capped it off by drawing first blood through the experienced Conor Wickham’s clinical strike, the hosts refused to give in as Macauley Bonne opened his account in amber with a well-taken effort moments after the break to help open up the encounter and seal an important share of the spoils.
Remaining unbeaten at CB5 during his tenure, Garry Monk was full of praise for his side’s quick development, stating: “The biggest compliment I can pay them (the players) is if you go back four or five weeks ago, a goal like that in the first half, maybe we’d have suffered mentally and not come back from it. You can see the difference in them mentally, especially in the games in the last few weeks. The mentality is there to fight and the determination is there. Overall, I know we always want the three points, but I think it was a fair result.”
Sound form of two wins, one draw and the solitary loss from four means that the Head Coach is overseeing a squad full of belief heading into the final hurdle. Five points from four will confirm it, so the U’s aren’t over the line yet, but know it’s a fantastic position to be in as they look to get the job done in a professional manner by utilising this game in hand.
Head-to-Head
Bristol Rovers Wins: 23
Cambridge United Wins: 8
Draws: 8
Down Memory Lane
Although the Gas have dominated recent meetings between the sides, it was the U’s who tasted maximum points in our August meeting in Cambridgeshire when they made an instant return to winning ways with a late 2-0 victory.
After knocking on the door throughout the encounter, United finally broke through ten minutes from time when Fejiri Okenabirhie struck home a peach of a curler, before Sulla Kaikai grabbed his first of the season in the dying embers to help mark their 1000th league game on home soil by marching to the summit of the division.
The win terminated a five-match losing sequence against Rovers stretching back to October 2015, with their last victory occurring back in 2004. Winless in four at the Memorial Stadium, you’ll need to cast your minds back to the year prior for the last U’s success in Bristol, when second half goals from John Turner and Justin Walker clinched a 0-2 score. A repeat would go down well for United, who edge closer to confirming their ticket for a fourth campaign in League One.
Officials
Referee: Daniel Middleton
Assistant Referee: Danny Gratton
Assistant Referee: James Vallance
Fourth Official: Daniel Robinson