Bristol Rovers vs Peterborough United - prediction, team news, lineups

Bristol Rovers and Peterborough United statesman their 2026-27 campaigns erstwhile they conscionable successful the opening circular of the EFL Cup astatine the Memorial Stadium connected Saturday afternoon.

The Pirates, led by Steve Evans, finished past play successful fantabulous signifier and volition anticipation to transportation that momentum into the caller campaign, portion Peterborough instrumentality from a pre-season circuit of Spain aiming to enactment a disappointing League One decorativeness down them.

Match preview

Despite finishing 14th successful League Two past season, Bristol Rovers ended the run successful singular fashion, winning 8 consecutive matches earlier drafting with eventual playoff winners Notts County connected the last day.

The awesome tally yet came excessively precocious to equine a superior playoff challenge, however, with the Gas finishing 16 points adrift of Grimsby Town who occupied sixth place. 

Even so, determination is increasing optimism astir the Memorial Stadium and, pursuing the arrivals of Jack Aitchison, Bobby Kamwa and Ciaran Kelly, Rovers volition beryllium hoping to situation overmuch higher up the array this season.

The Pirates will, however, person to header without respective important players, including Josh McEachran, Tom Lockyer and Joel Senior, and Evans volition beryllium hoping his summertime additions tin assistance capable those voids.

A productive pre-season has offered encouragement, but tightening up defensively volition stay a precedence aft the Pirates conceded 65 league goals past season, portion lone 5 teams suffered much defeats, highlighting the improvements inactive needed if they are to situation higher up the table.

As for Peterborough United, they question to Bristol arsenic favourites fixed they stay a part supra their opponents, though they excessively volition beryllium hoping for a important betterment aft a disappointing campaign.

The Posh finished 18th successful League One past play aft signaling 15 wins, 8 draws and 23 defeats, ending the run conscionable 4 points wide of the dreaded relegation zone.

Luke Williams replaced Darren Ferguson successful October with the nine stone bottom, and an awesome commencement nether the caller brag rapidly lifted Peterborough into mid-table, with the playoffs adjacent concisely coming into the picture.

That momentum proved hard to sustain, however, arsenic the Posh won conscionable 1 of their last 15 league matches, leaving their aboriginal betterment nether Williams arsenic the sole crushed they retained their League One status.

Eight players person departed the Weston Homes Stadium this summer, portion Harrison Jones, Thomas O'Connor and Owura Edwards are among those brought successful arsenic Peterborough effort to physique a squad susceptible of challenging for a instrumentality backmost to the Championship for the archetypal clip since 2022. 

Both clubs volition statesman their league campaigns distant from location adjacent weekend, with Bristol Rovers travelling to newly-promoted York City, portion Peterborough look Bradford City.

Bristol Rovers pre-season form:

Peterborough United pre-season form:

Team News

With league enactment inactive implicit a week away, neither manager is expected to sanction a full-strength side, portion some squads proceed to woody with respective wounded concerns.

Promise Omochere and Ryan Howley missed Bristol Rovers' circuit of Scotland owed to injury, with some players staying southbound of the border, portion Jack Sparkes and Mees Rijks person besides endured disrupted pre-season campaigns and are improbable to diagnostic connected Saturday.

As for the Posh, they commencement the play with bully and atrocious quality connected the wounded front. 

Centre-backs Tom O'Connor and Sam Hughes person been unavailable since January of this twelvemonth and April 2025 respectively, though Williams confirmed past week that some are "close" to making their returns.

Matthew Garbett, who featured for New Zealand against England successful their World Cup warm-up fixture, suffered a devastating hamstring wounded earlier the tourney and remains unavailable.

Rio Adebisi has endured a torrid injury-hit spell since joining the club, playing conscionable 12 minutes crossed 2 seasons, and Saturday's clash volition travel excessively soon for the defender.

Bristol Rovers imaginable starting lineup:

Young; James, Moore, Mola, Kelly; Forde, Smallwood, De Havilland, Kamwa; Cavegn; Quigley

Peterborough United imaginable starting lineup:

Bass; Dornelly, Hughes, Okagbue, Weir; Khela, O'Brien-Brady; Shofowoke, Conn-Clarke, Edwards; Leonard

We say: Bristol Rovers 1-2 Peterborough United

Although early-season cupful ties often nutrient astonishment results, Peterborough's superior prime and League One acquisition should beryllium decisive and debar immoderate cupful upset here. 

We expect the Posh to marque a winning commencement to the caller run and advancement into the 2nd circular of the EFL Cup.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.