LIVE: PETERBOROUGH UNITED vs BRISTOL ROVERS- Posh make FA Cup progress after hard-fought win
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
Posh line-up:
Dai Cornell, Joe Tomlinson, Ronnie Edwards, Josh Knight, Nathan Thompson, Oliver Norburn, Jack Taylor, Harrison Burrows, Jorge Grant, Siriki Dembele, Sammie Szmodics
Subs: Will Blackmore, Frankie Kent, Jonson Clarke-Harris, Ricky-Jade Jones, Kai Corbett, Joe Ward, Bali Mumba, Kyle Barker, Luke Harris
Half an hour until the teams...
My Peterborough United team to play Bristol Rovers includes a new signing, a midfield tweak and the toss of a coin for Dembele’s attacking partner!
Peterborough United should pick the team tomorrow (January 8) they intend to pick when Coventry rock up at the Weston Homes Stadium for a Championship fixture on January 15.
Posh will be motivated by the scars of last season
Peterborough United will be motivated by the deep scars from last season’s FA Cup humiliation
Peterborough United will use the scars of last season’s FA Cup humiliation as motivation for their third round tie with Bristol Rovers at the Weston Homes Stadium on Saturday (January 8, 3pm).
Dangermen
One member of the Rovers side will need no introduction. Paul Coutts is likely to line up in the heart of the midfield. Darren Ferguson signed Coutts for Posh from Highland League side Cove Rangers in July 208 and he played 60 times in League One and the Championship for the club before following Ferguson to Preston North End.
Former winger Harry Anderson is also in the side and scored on Rovers last outing against Rochdale 28 days ago.
Veteran forward Brett Pitman is Rovers join top scorer with Sam Nicholson. They have four goals in League Two apiece.
Joey Barton full of praise for Posh ahead of the match
Joey Barton full of praise for Peterborough United, but he believes his Bristol Rovers side can beat tham in the FA Cup
Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton heaped praise on Peterborough United ahead of their third round FA Cup clash at the Weston Homes Stadium tomorrow (January 8, 3pm).
Since comparing recent form doesn’t really seem relevant given how long these sides have had off, let’s take a look at how they shape up in the FA Cup.
Posh have a record to put straight as the head-to-head in the competition is 3-0 to Bristol Rovers.
Bobby Downes grabbed a consolation goal in 1969 as Posh were beaten 3-1 in Bristol. Rovers were in Division 3 at the time compared to Division 4 Posh.
Non-league Posh were also beaten by Football League Rovers in 1952 (1-0 at home) and 1938 (4-1 away).
A Posh win would see them into the fourth round for only the third time in 18 years.
Could be see the first of new signing Bali Mumba today? Here’s the lowdown...
The lowdown on new Peterborough United signing Bali Mumba, a former England teammate of Bukayo Saka who made his professional debut at the age of 16
New Peterborough United signing Bali Mumba is highly-rated at Norwich City according to the Eastern Daily Press Canaries’ write David Freezer
Battle of the rustiness
Today’s game might not be a classic given that both sides will be making the return to action after such a long lay-off. Darragh was even considering going to the lengths of arranging a mid-season friendly given Posh’s horrible luck with their opponents using Covid to call the games off.
Today, Posh step onto the field for the first time 20 days, while Rovers haven’t played for 28 days. They called off their trip to Leyton Orient on New Year’s Day on the morning of the game, strangely as the side were already on their way to the capital. Joey Barton has confirmed that there is still some Covid in the camp but they will be fielding a side today, given that FA Cup rules are slightly different to those in the league, forcing the hands of teams to put out sides, rather than the more lax EFL rules.
Both sets of fans will undoubtedly just be glad to see their teams out on the pitch.
Match preview
FA CUP SPOTLIGHT: ‘Two fourth round appearances in 17 years, an opposition player Fergie signed twice, it’s Bristol Rovers 3, Posh 0 in FA Cup meetings’
It’s a great chance for Peterborough United to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup for just the third time in the last 18 seasons as lowly League Two side Bristol Rovers provide the opposition at the Weston Homes Stadium.
Welcome!
Would you believe it? Posh actually have a game on. It might ne just as well that it’s a cup game as it will give the side a chance to blow the cobwebs after three weeks off through no fault of their own.
The opposition and their potential problems also gives Posh a real chance to pick up a win and with the way the season has gone, that can’t be overlooked today, regardless of how you feel about the importance of a cup run this season.
Will Posh progress to the fourth round? Find out here!
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