Bristol Rovers will face Cobham Next Gen in the EFL Trophy at The Memorial Stadium on Tuesday 25 August 2026 at 7pm. The Pirates, who secured a 5-3 win over Newport County earlier this season, will look to extend their winning run against the young Blues.

Recent Form

The Pirates opened their campaign with a 5-3 victory over Newport County in a Severnside derby. Ben Purrington and Bobby Kamwa scored, while Fabrizio Cavegn netted a brace and Lee Jenkins contributed an own goal. The win was the first of the season for Bristol Rovers.

Cobham Next Gen (CNG), formerly the U21s, lost 2-1 to Bournemouth U21s in their first Premier League 2 outing. Last season they finished top of the regular-season table, winning 14 of 20 fixtures. They beat Middlesbrough to reach the quarter-finals of the play-offs before falling to Tottenham Hotspur. Current Rovers midfielder Reiss Russell-Denny scored in a 3-1 win for Spurs.

Previous Encounters

The two sides have met three times in the EFL Trophy. In September 2019, Bristol Rovers won 2-1 with goals from Victor Adeboyejo and Tom Nichols, while Charlie Brown scored for CNG. A year later, the Pirates edged Chelsea 4-3, with Brandon Hanlan, Stuart Nicholson, Zain Westbrooke and Josh Hare scoring for Bristol. CNG’s only win came in November 2021, when they beat the Pirates 2-1 at The Memorial Stadium.

Ticket Information

Season ticket holders receive a free ticket to the match against Chelsea U21 on Tuesday 25 August. To claim the free entry, log into the eticketing website and select the ‘Season Ticket Comp’ ticket type.

Match Officials

The referee will be Ross Martin, assisted by Stuart Kane and Matthew Joyce. Declan O’Shea will serve as the fourth official.

Safety and Conduct

Bristol Rovers encourages supporters to enjoy a safe and inclusive environment. Seated tickets come with allocated seats and row numbers; standing is only permitted in designated terraces. Throwing objects onto the pitch or entering the field is prohibited and may result in arrest, fines or banning orders. The club remains committed to eliminating discrimination and will not tolerate unlawful practices.

Bristol Rovers will look to build on their recent success and secure a third consecutive win in the EFL Trophy against Cobham Next Gen.