Rovers' record in both major cup competitions can best be described as unspectacular, although there have been some very special moments to savour down the years.
In the FA Cup, the club reached the quarter-final stage in 1950/51 and drew 0-0 at St. James' Park, Newcastle, before losing the replay by three goals to one. The replayed match was the 11th game Rovers had played in the competition that season, having taken three games to dispose of Llanelli and Gillingham respectively in the first and second rounds.
The same stage of the competition was reached in 1957/58, when Rovers came in at the third round stage. Curiously enough, they lost by the same scoreline as in 1951, their opponents on this occasion being Fulham, at Craven Cottage.
The quarter-final stage of the League Cup has also been reached on two occasions. In 1970/71, they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Aston Villa in a replay at Villa Park and one year later, lost 4-2 to Stoke City at the same stage of the competition.
The fifth round of the FA Cup was reached for the first time in 20 years in 1998/99, and in 2001/2002, Rovers became the first Third Division club to win an FA Cup tie against Premiership opposition away from home when a Nathan Ellington hat-trick clinched a thrilling 3-1 win over Derby County at Pride Park.
During the 2006/07 season, Rovers once again made an FA Cup exit at the hands of Derby, this time in the third round, while in the League Cup Luton Town edged through a round one tie at the Memorial Stadium after extra time and penalties.
However, in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy there was unrivalled success, as Rovers reached the Millennium Stadium to play Doncaster Rovers in the competition final.
The showpiece event came after a fine run in the trophy, which saw amongst other wins, Bristol City beaten 1-0 on aggregate in the area final stage in front of capacity crowds at Ashton Gate and the Memorial Stadium.
Rovers lost to Doncaster 3-2 after extra time in Cardiff, but it was a day, a game and a cup campaign that would last long in the memories of Gasheads.
