Soccer
Bristol Rovers see winless Carabao Cup streak extend to seven years
Harry Leonard ensured Bristol Rovers’ Carabao Cup hoodoo continued as his penalty secured Peterborough a 1-0 win at the Memorial Stadium.
Leonard’s first-half spot-kick for the League One outfit meant Rovers have exited the competition at the first hurdle for seven consecutive seasons.
The League Two hosts made a promising start but Joe Quigley headed their only early chance wide.
Ex-Blackburn striker Leonard, who scored 17 times last season, put Posh in command after 20 minutes, sending Brad Young the wrong way with a coolly taken penalty after Riley Harbottle was punished for handling David Okagbue’s cross.
Luke Williams’ visitors should have doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark but Bolu Shofowoke shot straight at Young after being teed up by Leonard following an incisive counter-attack.
Harbottle wasted the chance to redeem himself on the hour when he headed Kofi Balmer’s long throw straight at Posh goalkeeper Alex Bass, who gathered comfortably.
Rovers continued to press for an equaliser into stoppage time but Charlton loanee Keenan Gough blasted over after being teed up by Tottenham loanee Reiss Russell-Denny to leave the home fans with a sense of deja vu.
