Bristol Rovers v Cambridge United
Emirates FA Cup, The Memorial Stadium, Friday 6 November 2026, 7:30pm KO
Bristol Rovers will start their Emirates FA Cup campaign on Friday evening when they welcome Cambridge United to The Memorial Stadium.
The Pirates will look to kick-start their season after a difficult run of form in Sky Bet League Two, losing five of their previous six games in the fourth tier. The Gas' last away defeat came against Fleetwood Town, with Aaron Loupalo-Bi, Rhys Bennett and Josh Robertson scoring for the Cod Army.
The Gas now return to The Mem for the first time since their goalless draw against Swindon Town. Steve Evans' men are winless in three home matches and will want to recapture the form that saw them register a club-record 11 consecutive home league triumphs.
Cambridge struggled in their last league outing, losing 3-0 away to Leyton Orient after goals from Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Jaze Kabia and former Brighton player Aaron Connolly, but thumped Brighton & Hove Albion U21s 6-0 in the Jersey Mike's Trophy on Tuesday night.
Read everything you need to know about the fixture below...
Tickets...
Tickets are still available for our fixture at home to Cambridge!
Opposition...
Cambridge have had a strong start to life back in Sky Bet League One after securing automatic promotion to the third tier under Neil Harris last season. The U's sit just outside the playoffs in eighth place and are the best-performing promoted side in the league.
They started the season on fire, winning five and drawing four of their opening ten matches, but have struggled to retain their strong form in recent weeks. Cambridge are winless in their previous four league matches, most recently losing 3-0 to Leyton Orient last weekend.
It was a busy transfer window for Harris' side, including the permanent arrival of forward Callum Stead from Barnet, experienced defender Patrick Bauer from AFC Wimbledon and Callum Perry, who joined on loan from Premier League side Coventry City. There is a familiar name for Cambridge fans in the Gas ranks, with Ben Purrington joining the Pirates from the U's in the summer.
The U's reached the Third Round of the Emirates FA Cup last term, beating Chester and Stockport County before losing to Sky Bet Championship team Birmingham City.
They have had some historic nights in the competition, beating Newcastle United at St James' Park in 2022 and drawing at home to Manchester United in the Fourth Round in 2015 before losing the replay. They reached the quarter-finals in the 1989/90 and 1990/91 seasons, losing to Crystal Palace and Arsenal, respectively.
Previous Meetings...
Rovers have largely enjoyed recent meetings with Cambridge, winning nine of their last 13 encounters since 2015. During that run, the Gas have drawn one and lost three.
The two sides faced each other four times across Sky Bet League Two, the Carabao Cup and the EFL Trophy last season. Rovers beat the U's in two of the three meetings at The Mem, winning 1-0 in the league and progressing in an EFL Trophy tie on penalties after a 2-2 draw in normal time.
Cambridge, however, came out on top in the other two fixtures. The U's claimed victory in the Carabao Cup and earned a league win at the Cledara Abbey Stadium, where goals from Kelland Watts and a Ben Knight brace made Joe Quigley's penalty little more than a consolation.
The Pirates beat Cambridge in their only other FA Cup meeting, winning 3-0 in the Second Round, with goals from Stuart Taylor, Bruce Bannister and Brian Godfrey in December 1971.
Officials...
Referee: Jamie O'Connor
Assistant Referees: Oliver Bickle and Ryan McIlravey
Fourth Official: Steve Durnall
