Preview: Bristol Rovers vs Cambridge United - prediction, team news, lineups

Bristol Rovers and Cambridge United get their EFL Cup journeys underway with a first-round meeting at the Memorial Stadium on Tuesday.

Both teams were beaten in their last league outings over the weekend, but one of them now has the opportunity to secure an immediate return to winning ways.

Match preview

After closing last season on a wretched run of nine wins and a draw from their final 10 matches, Bristol Rovers' start to the new campaign will hardly be surprising to anyone who has been paying attention.

Darrell Clarke's men were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Harrogate two Saturdays ago before a 2-1 defeat against Fleetwood Rovers last time out extended their wait for a first competitive victory in five months.

Admittedly, the Pirates have been a tad unlucky to have come away empty-handed from both of their two games so far, but the kind of wasteful finishing that has been on display from them so far is a major reason why they were relegated from League One back in May.

Bristol will now be aiming to secure a much-needed win, and their record against Tuesday's opponents gives reason for optimism with victories in each of the most recent three meetings.

However, the hosts have lost seven straight matches on home turf and simply have to get their act together to avoid a repeat of last season's woes.

Like Bristol Rovers, Cambridge United also suffered relegation from League One last time out as they finished bottom but one in the standings with 38 points, five shy of their upcoming opponents.

Neil Harris's men made a winning start to life in the fourth tier of English football by beating Cheltenham 1-0 on the opening weekend but came away empty-handed from their sophomore outing courtesy of a 3-2 defeat to Swindon Town.

The U's conceded three times in a competitive game for the first time since February en route to defeat last time out as they continue to adjust to life without Ben Stevenson and Paul Digby, who have both left the club.

Cambridge have exited the EFL Cup at the first hurdle in each of the last two editions and currently have a huge job on their hands to prevent lightning from striking a third time.

Tuesday's visitors have conceded eight goals on their last two travels but will be buoyed by their hosts' attacking toothlessness in front of their fans, which has seen them fail to score in four games on the bounce.

Bristol Rovers form (all competitions):

Cambridge United form (all competitions):

Team News

Twenty-one-year-old Shaqai Forde is a guaranteed absentee for Bristol here as he remains out with an injury problem.

Luke Thomas grabbed the winner for the hosts the last time they were involved in this fixture and will be keen to make a similar impact once again.

Shayne Lavery has not featured for Cambridge since coming off with a hamstring problem in last season's closing fixture against Birmingham, but the Northern Irishman is not far off a return to action.

Summer signing Jake Eastwood is expected to make do with a place on this bench for this one despite having been given the nod in both league games so far.

Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:

Southwood; Mola, Sparkes, Kilgour, Moore, Senior; Cavegn, Conteh, Hutchinson, McEachran; Omochere

Cambridge United possible starting lineup:

Hughes; Purrington, Watts, Morrison, Bennett; Ball, McLoughlin; Kaikai, Knight, Brophy; Appere

We say: Bristol Rovers 2-1 Cambridge United

With eight wins from the last nine meetings heading into Tuesday's affair, the hosts will surely back themselves to edge the visitors despite their recent downward spiral.

We are backing Bristol to narrowly edge past Cambridge and book their place in the hat for the second-round draw.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.