LIVE: PETERBOROUGH UNITED vs BRISTOL ROVERS- Posh make FA Cup progress after hard-fought win

Peterborough United may fancy their chances of making progress in the FA Cup as they host League Two Bristol Rovers in the third round at the Weston Homes stadium (January 8, 3pm).
Nathan Thompson Peterborough United plays the ball beyond Trevor Clarke of Bristol Rovers. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.Nathan Thompson Peterborough United plays the ball beyond Trevor Clarke of Bristol Rovers. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.
Nathan Thompson Peterborough United plays the ball beyond Trevor Clarke of Bristol Rovers. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

Posh will be boosted by the return of Ricky-Jade Jones and the loan signing of full-back Bali Mumba. Both will be looking to help Posh reach the fourth round of the competition for only the third time in 18 years.

There could be a few reunions as Jonson Clarke-Harris faces his old side, meanwhile Paul Coutts and Harry Anderson could make a return to the Weston Homes Stadium.

Follow all the action on the PT live blog below.

LIVE BLOG: Posh vs Bristol Rovers

Key Events

  • 3pm kick-off
  • Ricky-Jade Jones expected to return to the squad
  • Joel Randall sidelined with hamstring issue
  • Bali Mumba could make debut
  • Jonson Clarke-Harris faces his old side, while Paul Coutts and Harry Anderson could line up for Rovers
  • Bristol Rovers sit 18th in League Two
  • Posh looking to reach the fourth round for only the third time in 18 years, never beaten Rovers in an FA Cup tie

Looks like he’ll carry on, just testing the knee out.

Thompson looks in a lot of pain after sliding in to make a block in the attacking half.

Posh coming closer. Dembele with the first bit quality he’s produced in the match. Plays a scooped into Grant, who gets a shot away, well saved by an on-rushing Belshaw. Looked like the was taken out from behind as his shot.

Rovers slowing the game down at every opportunity, Posh playing with pace but the final ball still not quite there, plenty of work sprinting off his line for Belshaw as Posh look for that ball in behind. He’s done it well so far and then proceeds to spend a minute before taking the goalkick.

That’s what the fans want to see from Mumba, burts past his full-back, stretches the defence and pulls it back to Dembele. As only Dembele can, he dances past three in the box and only a last-ditch flying block from Connolly stops him. Incredibly, it’s given as a goalkick.

Posh have started the better. They break with pace, Szmodics makes a nuisance of himself, which creates space for Grant to run away down the right, he cuts it back to Dembele. It’s not the best first touch and he invites the pressure. He still gets the shot away from 25 yards but the keeper was never worried as it dropped wide.

First moment of the half, Thompson swings in a ball into a good area but Szmodics is flagged offside, not sure about that.

Slightly harsh on Tomlinson, he’s played probably the better of the 2 full backs and played the pass of the half.

Half-time sub for Posh. Mumba on for his debut in place of Tomlinson.