Match ends, Bristol Rovers 1, Cambridge United 0.
Bristol RoversBristol Rovers1CambridgeCambridge United0
Chris Martin scored his 16th League One goal of the season as Bristol Rovers claimed a late 1-0 victory over Cambridge United at the Memorial Stadium.
The Rovers striker fired low into the goal after 87 minutes as he converted Luke Thomas' cross, with the Pirates scoring at home for the first time in five games.
That goal made up for Martin's earlier gilt-edged miss - the 35-year-old former Norwich and Derby forward was unable to convert a 33nd-minute penalty.
U's goalkeeper Will Mannion dived to his left to stop the striker's low, poorly placed shot, after Paul Digby had been penalised for a foul on Scott Sinclair, as the Rovers winger attacked following Luke Thomas winning the ball just outside the Cambridge area.
The visitors threatened throughout via set-pieces, as Digby and Macauley Bonne both headed first-half corners over the crossbar.
And Mamadou Jobe went even closer when his 60th-minute header crashed off the woodwork as the defender met a Danny Andrew free-kick.
Luca Hoole cleared Liam Bennett's shot off the line in the last minute of stoppage time to preserve Rovers' result, after another Cambridge corner.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Bristol Rovers
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 31Ward
- 30Hoole
- 17Taylor
- 26BaggottSubstituted forConnollyat 64'minutes
- 19Vale
- 21Evans
- 14RossiterSubstituted forContehat 50'minutes
- 11Thomas
- 10AguileraSubstituted forBrownat 73'minutes
- 7SinclairSubstituted forVaughanat 64'minutes
- 18Martin
Substitutes
- 2Connolly
- 3Gordon
- 20Brown
- 22Conteh
- 23McCormick
- 33Cox
- 45Vaughan
Cambridge
Formation 3-4-3
- 25Mannion
- 28Jobe
- 16Rossi
- 3Andrew
- 2Bennett
- 4Digby
- 19MaySubstituted forHoddleat 81'minutes
- 7Brophy
- 14KaikaiSubstituted forLankesterat 75'minutes
- 27BonneSubstituted forAhadmeat 63'minutes
- 21Kachunga
Substitutes
- 6Bennett
- 9Okenabirhie
- 10Lankester
- 15Okedina
- 23Ahadme
- 31Chadwick
- 38Hoddle
- Referee:
- Daniel Middleton
- Attendance:
- 6,526
Match Stats
Home TeamBristol RoversAway TeamCambridge
- Possession
- Home64%
- Away36%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home4
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bristol Rovers 1, Cambridge United 0.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Liam Bennett (Cambridge United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Paul Digby (Cambridge United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jack Lankester (Cambridge United) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Paul Digby.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Liam Bennett (Cambridge United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Cambridge United. Conceded by Harvey Vale.
Post update
Offside, Bristol Rovers. Luke Thomas is caught offside.
Goal!
Goal! Bristol Rovers 1, Cambridge United 0. Chris Martin (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Luke Thomas.
Post update
Attempt missed. Harry Vaughan (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by William Mannion.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jevani Brown (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Harvey Vale.
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Luke Thomas (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by James Brophy (Cambridge United).
Substitution
Substitution, Cambridge United. George Hoddle replaces Adam May.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury William Mannion (Cambridge United).
Post update
Foul by Harvey Vale (Bristol Rovers).
Post update
Elias Kachunga (Cambridge United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Cambridge United. Jack Lankester replaces Sullay Kaikai.
Comments
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Derby will come Saturday knowing they can confirm automatic promotion. A lot rests on the Wycombe game, not least because I'm not sure Vale will roll over for us either 🫣