Bristol Rovers welcomed Sky Bet League One team Leicester City to The Memorial Stadium on Tuesday evening as part of their preparations for the 2026/27 season.
Steve Evans' men faced the Foxes over four 30-minute periods to allow as many players as possible to get vital minutes, with both teams fielding different starting sides in each hour.
The first 60 minutes saw the score end equal, with Kirsten Otchere's deflected strike beating Brad Young inside four minutes before Ellis Harrison gave the Gas a deserved leveller with a finish into the bottom corner.
However, the former Premier League champions claimed a narrow victory in the second hour of the proceedings, with Nathan Opoku netting the only goal after the ball rebounded to his feet following Luke Southwood's sharp save to deny Sammy Braybrooke's initial strike.
First match: Bristol Rovers 1-1 Leicester City
The Pirates held most of the early possession and showed glimpses of promise through Harrison's flicked header over and tricky runs from Shaq Forde down the right before the Foxes broke the deadlock. Kirsten Otchere latched onto Ben Purrington's clearance and struck an effort towards goal, with the ball deflecting off Riley Harbottle and beyond the reach of Young.
Nevertheless, the Gas did not let the visitors build any momentum and continued to grow into the contest, pushing for an immediate response. Forde plucked the ball out of the sky and drove down the right side of the box before Thomas Wilson-Brown slid across to put it behind for a corner.
Harrison then moved to the edge of the box and drilled a low shot towards the bottom left corner, with his effort ricocheting off the post, with the rebound being shot wide by Forde.
Aitchison then went inches away from his first goal in the blue-and-white quarters. Young's long kick bounced over the Foxes' defence and through to the midfielder, but he poked his shot just wide of the right post.
Rovers kept pushing for a leveller and found one through Harrison. The striker got between two defenders to get onto Forde's pass before directing his low strike into the bottom corner.
The final clear chance of the first dropped to Russell Martin's men, but Hamza Choudhury was denied at close range by Young.
Bristol Rovers: Young, James, Balmer, Forde, Kamwa, Aitchison, Purrington, Harrison, Smallwood, Leigh, Harbottle
Goals: Harrison
Leicester City: Vieites, Faes, Mavididi, Choudhury, Page, Alves, Gray, Wilson-Brown, Joseph, Otchere, Carr
Goals: Otchere
Second match: Bristol Rovers 0-1 Leicester City
After a change of personnel, Leicester immediately began to create more chances, with Luke Southwood pushing away Nathaniel Opoku’s header from the centre of the box, with Lorenz Hutchinson then blasting his rebound effort too high to trouble the shot-stopper.
Lorenz Hutchinson then had another shot blocked before the Gas had their first opportunity since the change around. Isaac Hutchison curled the ball down the right to Fabrizio Cavegn, whose shot was blocked before Jakub Stolarczyk collected Ryan Howley's attempt.
The Foxes then gained the lead soon after. Sammy Braybrooke, who impressed on loan at Newport County and Chesterfield last term, had his shot saved by Southwood before Opoku turned in the rebound.
Taylor Moore then went close for the Gas. Cavegn had the ball near the right corner flag and drilled a low cross towards the defender, who flicked an impressive effort on target, but Stolarczyk got down well to push it behind for a corner.
In an end-to-end contest, Leicester could have doubled their advantage, but Tommy Neale hit the post before Lorenz Hutchinson's attempt was blocked. Ultimately, the Pirates fell to defeat in the second match, but both fixtures allowed for vital minutes and a strong test against Sky Bet League One opposition.
Bristol Rovers: Southwood, Mola, Quigley, Omochere (Dewsbury 47), Southam-Hales, Howley, Cavegn, de Havilland, Hutchinson, Moore
Leicester City: Stolarczyk, Nelson, Okoli, Skipp, Coulibaly, Aluko, Thomas, Braybrooke, Opoku, Neale, Hutchinson
Goals: Nathan Opoku
Attendance: 2004 (480 away)
Referee: Sam Allison
Raynor: We were very good out of possession today
Despite a draw and a loss against Sky Bet League One outfit Leicester City, the Gas have had a good preseason record, with two consecutive wins over Weston-Super-Mare and Salisbury FC.
Leicester City finished 23rd in the Championship in the 2025/26 season, despite having a string of good results against teams such as Charlton Athletic, Wrexham and Bristol City. The Foxes have since returned to the pre-season with a vengeance, having won 3-0 against Northampton Town.
After watching Bristol Rovers’ performance against Leicester City, he was impressed with the game and the possession from the hosts.
“Really interesting. A really good game of football. We always knew Leicester would dominate possession. Which those teams always do. We knew we would have to work incredibly hard without the ball. I think I questioned a few other guys in the first half at Salisbury, where we didn't control the game.
“We weren't good out of possession. I thought we were very good out of possession today and we had to be, otherwise they'd have come through us time and time again, but no. I thought the structure in the first half, a little bit less in the second half, not quite as good in the second half.
“We probably gave them a few too many opportunities in the early part of the second period, but I thought in the first period, you know, we created a number of opportunities. We worked incredibly hard without the ball. And in the second period did as well, but I thought it was a great workout for both teams.”
“Yeah, I thought for the first 10 minutes they were lively, they're going to be, they've got some top, top, top players who were playing for Leicester in the Premier League not so long ago. So, you know, we have to be respectful of that. Once we worked it out, we worked out what they were trying to do.
“As I've just said, great workout, 120 minutes, we've upped the game time again. The guys have got 60 minutes now under their belt, and we go again at the weekend against another quality team.”
Jack Aitchison: it was good to play my first game here
After signing for the Gas from fellow Sky Bet League Two outfit Exeter City in late June, the Scottish forward has been settling into life in the blue and white quarters.
Making his Memorial Stadium debut against Leicester City, Aitchison wasted no time, almost levelling the score in the first half, thanks to a long range shot from Brad Young, where the forward only narrowly missed the net.
Reflecting on his performance against the Foxes, Aitchison was happy to be making his Mem debut and is eager to keep going, heading into the 2026/27 season.
“Yeah, I’m tired. A good team. Finally, good to play my first game here as well. I’m getting used to the new surroundings. But yeah, good luck to the boys and I think we got what we needed.
Yeah, we had a good couple [of chances]. I think we could have been a couple up as well, you know, be ruthless. Hopefully, you know, it's a tough game, so hopefully we starting to get our bearings, you know, and by the time the league comes in, we’re hitting the nail.
“Corner, to be fair, but, yeah, I should score and hopefully, like I said in the league, hopefully there's a couple more of them to put away.”
Macauley Southam-Hales: You've got to make winning a habit
Spending the majority of the 2025-26 season with a serious injury, after playing Notts County back in November 2025, Macauley Southam-Hales is glad to be back in action.
The defender was instrumental in the early season, netting the winner against Grimsby during their trip to Blundell Park last August, as well as being part of winning squads against Newport County, Salford City and Colchester United.
Speaking to BRTV after the preseason test, Macauley Southam-Hales believes that the Foxes were good competition and was glad to have injury-free minutes on the pitch.
“Yeah, obviously, good competition. It's a really good side. They should be right at the top end of the league and win this year. It's a good outfit for us to play against a team like that tonight and get some minutes in the legs. It's the most important thing to come out of it injury-free with the lads and get minutes in the legs.
“Yeah. Games like this in pre-season, it's all about one thing, get what you can out of the game, fitness wise when you're chasing a good team round like that, it always helps. I thought we held our own and we were good in spells and we're going to ride our luck now and again, but I thought it was a good contest.
“You’re trying to dust the cobwebs off there. It's been a long time, eight months now, so you’re just trying to get a feel for the game again and hopefully stay injury free.
“Yes, brilliant. A few rusty moments, but hopefully less of them as the weeks come on and keep pushing and try and stay as fit as I can.”
