FA Cup: Bristol Rovers ready for historic clash with WSL side Aston Villa | OneFootball

On 15th December 2024, Bristol Rovers made history by securing an away victory against Oxford United. The result catapulted them into the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history.

Having secured promotion to the National League at the end of last season and now progressing in the FA Cup, it’s clear Bristol Rovers are a team on the rise. However, with their biggest challenge awaiting them, how will they fare in the fourth round?

What makes Bristol Rovers tick this season?

Rovers are undoubtedly in for a significant FA Cup test as they journey up to the Poundland Bescot Stadium to face Aston Villa on Sunday.

The team secured a 4-3 victory over Sherborne Town in the first round, followed by a more comfortable 4-0 over Marine Academy Plymouth in the second. However, the third round presented their toughest challenge yet — a showdown with National League Premier Division side Oxford United.

While the Gas Girls were undoubtedly the underdogs going into the game, they came out strong with a 3-2 win. The entire team played at a high standard, but the goalscorers stood out as the reason for the team’s success. With Meg Jarvis scoring one goal and Daisy Ackerman the other two, it is clear why the pair are a key part of the team’s attacking lineup this season.

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The pair’s goals shared the same exceptional traits: long-range, virtually unsavable shots. It is the nature of these goals that could suggest a spell of success for Bristol Rovers in their clash with Villa this weekend.

Furthermore, the duo’s consistent goalscoring across league and cup games highlights the Gas Girls’ key strengths. Their combined firepower could play a crucial role in the upcoming match.

Can Rovers overcome a WSL side?

Aston Villa will mark Bristol Rovers’ first-ever encounter with a WSL side. Therefore, the match will present a defensive challenge unlike any they’ve faced before.

Additionally, an attack featuring experienced players, such as Rachel Daly, will undoubtedly pressure Rovers’ defence in a manner it has not been pressured so far. Despite this, the FA Cup is a competition where anything can happen. It is always worth asking if we could see a Rovers side with strong potential bring home a historic win this Sunday.

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“When you cast your mind back to the point when we started and we were literally playing on pitches with cabbages on, like it’s just mental,” manager Nathan Hallett-Young told Bristol Live. “It’s just another world and I’m very grateful for the Community Trust taking us on the initial point. I’m grateful that the club have now taken us on into this kind of new era.

“I don’t think anyone’s expecting us to get a result but our job is simple. It’s if Plan A doesn’t work then we’ll go to Plan B and Plan C and whatever we need to do. But it’s also just managing each phase as best we can and if we’re in a position where they haven’t scored for 10 minutes, great. If we get to half-time and they haven’t scored, we’re on cloud nine. I think it can go to that point. If we get opportunities, if we score, I think we’ll be ecstatic.”

You can watch the match live for free on the Adobe Women’s FA Cup YouTube channel.

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