Bristol Rovers predicted line-up vs Bromley: key change made amid big Josh McEachran and Tom Lockyer calls
How Bristol Rovers are likely to lineup in their FA Cup contest against Bromley
After a dismal start to the League Two season, Bristol Rovers will look to try and build some much-needed momentum in the FA Cup when they travel to Greater London to face fellow fourth-tier side Bromley in the first round.
The Pirates are on a four-match losing streak in the league which has seen Darrell Clarke’s side plummet down the table to 16th position, but perhaps what’s an ever bigger concern is the manner in which the team are losing, with the likes of Crawley Town, Tranmere Rovers and MK Dons all scoring four goals when playing against The Gas.
Rovers’ confidence seems to be on the floor after a torrid calendar year of football in 2025 which also saw the club suffer relegation from League One last season.
But the FA Cup might just prove a welcome distraction for the team at this time as they aim to pick themselves up and turn their calamitous start to the campaign around. With that in mind, we take a look at Bristol Rovers predicted lineup against Bromley.
Bristol Rovers predicted XI vs Bromley: goalkeeper and defence
Luke Southwood has had a tough time as No.1 goalkeeper this season. He’s likely to make his 14th appearance of the campaign and will be aiming for a fourth clean sheet across all competitions.
Polish defender Kacper Lopata, who is more of a natural centre-back, played on the right last time out and could be used there again against Bromley.
In central defence, Alfie Kilgour captains the side. He’s likely to receive support from the experienced former Premier League defender Tom Lockyer, who is hoping to make an impression in his second spell almost two years on from suffering a cardiac arrest.
Exeter City academy graduate Jack Sparkes completes the back-line. He’s played every single league match so far since joining from Peterborough.
Bristol Rovers predicted XI vs Bromley: midfield and attack
Chelsea academy graduate Josh McEachran partners Alfie Chang and Sierra Leone international Kamil Conteh in a three man central midfield.
They play behind youngster Shaqai Forde, who makes his second start of the campaign after returning from injury. Top scorer Fabrizio Cavegn, who has four goals this season, and winger Promise Omochere, who scored four in League One during last season’s disappointing relegation campaign.
Bristol Rovers have progressed from their last six FA Cup first round ties since an exit against Barnet in 2018/19. One of those wins came in their only other two competitive matches against Bromley. The first was a 1-1 draw at the Memorial Stadium, with the team eventually progressing with a 1-0 victory in the capital. Graham Coughlan, who now manages Boston United, was in charge of the Rovers team at the time.
“There's no getting away with it; October has been an absolutely disastrous month for us. It's been hard, it's been tough; the buck will always stop with me, with that, but I feel the only way you get through that is by sticking together, siege mentality,” said Darrell Clarke.
“The group has responded well, training-wise week on week, and we have to put this month behind us and make sure next month's a lot better. The football world is crazy, isn't it? We had the run in September, and then October has been absolutely disastrous, and I take full accountability on that, but I also understand it is very, very early days.”