Cardiff City 1 Bristol Rovers 0

Bristol Rovers face an uphill task at the Cardiff City Stadium if they are to maintain any chance of an extended Carling Cup run.

The Pirates trail to a 33rd minute strike from top-scorer Michale Chopra at the break - but could be three or four down following an opening period in which the Championship side's dominance has restricted Rovers to just one attempt at goal.

That came from Darryl Duffy and went harmlessly wide as Dave Jones' side penned Rovers back into their own half for virtually the whole of the opening period.

Star marksman Chopra was setting sights early and fizzed two menacing efforts just wide of the post earl on. Defender Gabor Gyepes also headed one attempt narrowly over the bar from a corner before 10 minutes had elapsed.

Gyepes went even closer five minutes later with a downward header that cannonned out off the inside of the post after the Hungarian defender had connected powefully with a delightful set-piece delivery from Peter Whittingham.

Rovers' goal was beginning to lead somewhat of a charmed life as first Chopra saw another effort from distance go the wrong side of the post and strike partner Kelvin Etuhu toe poked an attempt wide. The on-loan Manchester City man then forced goalkeeper Rhys Evans into a fine save to batter away a rather more vicious strike from the edge of the penalty area.

The hosts finally did make a deserving breakthrough on 34 minutes when Rovers midfielder Dominic Blizzard was punished for dithering in possession on the edge of his own penalty area.

Blizzard - making his first start of the season - had the ball nicked off his toe when under pressure from two Cardiff men. The ball was fed to Chopra who had plenty of space inside the area to angle a neat finish over the despairing dive of Evans and into the opposite corner of the net.

Blizzard was one of three changes to the side that secured an impressive victory over Huddersfield Town at the weekend. He replaced Jeff Hughes in midfield as the Northern Irishman dropped to left-back in place of Aaron Lescott. He was rested as a precaution after picking up a slight groin complaint on Saturday.

Defender Danny Coles started on the bench to offer him a rest after a busy period of games, with Steve Elliott coming in for his first start of the season. Evans replaced on-loan Newcastle stopper Fraser Forster between the posts and there was no goalkeeper on the bench after Steve Phillips secured a loan switch to Shrewsbury Town. Trollope included five teenagers on the bench and offered a first taste of involvement to youngsters Elliott Richards and Dan Rayford.

Cardiff boss Dave Jones made five changes to the side that beat Bristol City on Sunday; Goalkeeper Peter Enckleman, defenders Gyepes and Tony Capaldi, midfielder Stephen McPhail and striker Kelvin Etuhu all coming in.

Bristol Rovers (4-4-2): Evans; Regan, Elliott, Anthony, Hughes; Pipe, Blizzard, Campbell, Lines; Duffy, Kuffour. Subs: Coles, Williams, Hunt, Reece, Swallow, Richards, Rayford.

Cardiff City (4-4-2): Enckleman; Gyepes, Quinn, Gerrard, Capaldi; McPhail, Etuhu, Rae, Whittingham; Chopra, Burke. Subs: Marshall, Kennedy, Scimeca, Blake, Comminges, Wildig, Magennis.