Cambridge United 0-1 Bristol Rovers
Cledara Abbey Stadium, Sky Bet League One, Saturday 4 January 2025
Luke Thomas’ well-taken, first-half header proved to be the difference as Bristol Rovers earned a hard-fought 1-0 win away at Cambridge United.
The winger found space at the back post to turn in a fantastic cross from Scott Sinclair - an assist for the Rovers captain on his 600th professional career appearance - in a battle of grit and determination at Cledara Abbey Road.
Isaac Hutchinson had an effort ruled out for offside in the second half while the hosts went close through Josh Stokes and Dan Nlundulu, before seeing skipper Michael Morrison sent off late on.
But Thomas’ finish proved enough to secure a first Rovers victory for new head coach Iñigo Calderón; a perfect present for the Spaniard on his 43rd birthday.
Frosty and chilly conditions welcomed the Gas to Cambridge but a promising start from the visitors threatened to warm up the travelling supporters. Taylor Moore and Thomas combined to set up Jamie Lindsay, who saw his low shot well saved.
The Scotsman led a breakaway a few minutes later with a lovely, sprayed pass across the pitch to Sinclair. The captain cut inside expertly but fired his shot over the bar.
Cambridge pushed back and troubled the Rovers defence when Korey Smith volleyed towards the target. From the resulting corner, Josh Griffiths had to be alert to turn away Michael Morrison’s downward header.
Having traded jabs, Rovers struck the first real blow on 26 minutes. Lino Sousa did superbly to drive into a dangerous possession before finding Sinclair out wide. The No7 stepped to the edge of the area before dinking a teasing ball across the six-yard box, where Thomas headed in at the back-post to put the Pirates ahead.
The U’s pushed for a leveller before half-time. Striker Dan Nlundulu should have done better with a left-footed effort and followed up with a header that was wide, while Josh Stokes twice sent curling shots over the cross-bar, ensuring Rovers’ advantage at the interval.
Ahead into the second half and the away side needed to sit in and defend well against a resurgent Cambridge side.
Garry Monk’s men were desperate for the equaliser to ease their own concerns and could have found it on 54 minutes when Stokes overpowered Sousa in the Rovers box. His driven ball across the face of goal would have surely been a leveller had any Cambridge player got a touch on it.
Elias Kachunga fired over on the hour mark for the hosts while Stokes and Smith again went close, but the Gas held firm and thought they had doubled the lead on 69 minutes with what was undoubtedly the best passage of play in the half.
Moore’s cross was deep and Martin did well to keep the ball in the box with his header. It fell for substitute Hutchison, with the midfielder cleanly sweeping in at the near post. Que wild celebrations among the 318 travelling Gasheads, although those feelings were shifted to frustration following a delayed offside flag from the linesman; a decision that was confirmed following a lengthy conversation between him and the referee.
Still Rovers pushed for a second to kill the game. Another substitute, O’Donkor, rifled a powerful shot against the base of the near post after another corner for the visitors.
There was still time for a heart-in-mouth moment right at the end as the industrious Stokes broke free from the Rovers defence into a one-on-one position. The majority of those inside Cledara Abbey Stadium expected an equalier for the hosts, but the effort bobbled wide.
Late frustrations saw Cambridge captain Morrision dismissed for a second yellow card after a coming-together with James Wilson, with the Gas securing a big three points on the road.
Cambridge United: Stevens, Bennett, Andrew, Morrison ©, Brophy (Longelo 65), Nlundulu (Loft 65), Kachunga (Richards 89), Smith, Rossi (Njoku 81), Stokes, Cousins
Subs not used: Reyes [GK], Watts, Barton
Booked: Smith, Morrison (sent off 90+4),
Bristol Rovers: Griffiths, Sousa, Moore, Wilson, Sinclair © (Forde 76), Ward, Sotiriou (Hutchinson 58), Thomas (O’Donkor 58), Taylor, Martin, Lindsay (Senior 90+5)
Subs not used: Hall [GK], McCormick, Bilongo
Goals: Thomas 26,
Booked: Ward, Sotiriou, Wilson, Hutchinson
Referee: Sam Muhall (Stuart Butler 41)
Attendance: 6,467 (318 away)
