Sunday Date For Bristol Rovers Cup Clash
Friday, 6th Dec 2024 17:42

Town’s Emirates FA Cup third round tie against League One Bristol Rovers at Portman Road will be played on Sunday 12th January with a 3pm kick-off as it is being shown live overseas.

Blues boss Kieran McKenna was asked for his thoughts on the cup draw at today’s press conference but says he hasn’t given it too much thought at this early stage.

“That’s an early question,” McKenna smiled. “We’re not thinking past the next game. I saw the draw, was glad to get a home game.

“We’ll start to think about Bristol Rovers once we start to get through Fulham and the busy Christmas period.”

The Blues and Rovers famously met in the competition in the fifth round in 1978 with Town on their way to winning the trophy for the only time.

Following a 2-2 draw in the snow at Eastville, the Blues won 3-0 at Portman Road in the replay.

Since then, the clubs have been drawn against one another three further times in the FA Cup. In the fifth round in 1979, the Blues won 6-1 at Portman Road, six years later Town were victorious 2-1 in the third round at Eastville.

The teams met at Rovers' current home the Memorial Stadium in 1998, again in the third round, and drew 1-1, again in snow, with the Blues winning the replay 1-0 at Portman Road.

More recently, as well as League One clashes, the teams met in the Carabao Cup in August last year, the Blues running out 2-0 winners with Jack Taylor, on his debut, and Sone Aluko, his final goal in professional football, on target.

The Rovers squad includes former Blues Grant Ward and James Wilson, and one-time loanee Luke Thomas.

Photo: Action Images

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LegendofthePhoenix added 17:47 - Dec 6 What is this utter b0IIocks - moved for overseas television? I could just about stomach it if it was being shown in the UK, but the disruption for fans who actually go to games for the sake of overseas tv viewers is wrong.
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Mark added 18:17 - Dec 6

I doubt many people overseas will tune in to see Ipswich v Bristol Rovers. We will have a lower attendance as a result of this.

I am getting fed up of how modern football is treating fans who actually go to games. Recent examples:

- We have another Sunday match this weekend because Bournemouth played on TV last night.
- ITFC v Bournemouth (2pm) clashes with the ITFC Women v Bournemouth (1pm) FA Cup match on Sunday meaning fans have to choose between the teams.
- Yesterday the draw for the expanded Club World Cup was taken, a competition no one wants.
- Wolves wore black shirts at Everton. Tottenham wore blue shirts at Bournemouth.
- VAR took about four minutes to decide an offside at the weekend.

billlm added 18:55 - Dec 6 I was going, Now il just watch it on the box, No transport on a Sunday,
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muhrensleftfoot added 19:09 - Dec 6 That’s disappointing. I really thought we’d get a 3pm Saturday game. Think I’ll watch it from home now
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Bluespeed added 19:28 - Dec 6 Attendance for Ipswich reserves v Bristol Rovers was going to be on the lower than normal level before this ridiculous decision we will do well to get 12k inside Portman rd now !
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Westy added 19:35 - Dec 6 Ahhhh! Why are we changing to a Sunday and inconveniencing supporters actually going to the match in favour of those overseas watching on TV from an armchair! Football will destroy itself in the end.
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VanDusen added 21:07 - Dec 6 Really disappointing decision. One Sat 3pm between 2 Nov and 1 Feb is crazy - and even then I'm betting our game with Soton will get moved too. That said - whether it affects attendance will somewhat depend on whether all these people moaning they can't get tickets are genuine fans or just Premiersh*t glory hunters...
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