Bristol Rovers v AFC Wimbledon Match Preview

By Simon Gray

Two teams that were promoted from League Two do battle this New Years Eve as Bristol Rovers entertain AFC Wimbledon at the Memorial Stadium.

Rovers are full of confidence again after their emphatic 4-1 Boxing Day win over Coventry City.

The win saw assistant boss Marcus Stewart praise winger Billy Bodin for his performance in which the midfielder scored a hat trick against the sky Blues.

“It was good to see him looking sharp on Monday,” Stewart told the Bristol Post.

“The run he went on towards the end of the game to win the penalty was fantastic and I don’t think he would have been able to do that a few months ago.

“Having Billy back in full flight and on form is another great option for us to to have for the two games to come over the weekend.

“He’s got that little bit of extra quality needed to be a match-winner and having players like that on the pitch can make a big difference in tight games.

“When you have those types of player in the squad you always know there is a chance that we can win a game out of nothing even if we are not at our best.”

Manager Darrell Clarke may name an unchanged side from Boxing Day’s fixture but unable to call upon midfielder Hiram Boateng after his loan spell from Crystal Palace was cut short.

Wimbledon meanwhile go into the match having not won away from home in the league since 22^nd October.

The Dons’ recent away form continued as they crashed to a 3-0 defeat at Southend on Boxing Day in a match that saw last season’s top scorer Lyle Taylor get sent off and manager Neal Ardley sent to the stands.

Assistant boss Neil Cox attended media duties after the match and was unhappy with the team’s performance in the first half.

“It was the first 20 minutes,” Cox told getwestlondon.

“We did a lot of work on their set-pieces, including defending throw-ins, and we went over it again this morning, but we did not start the game well.

“We got punished from a long throw-in with a flick-on and Simon Cox was left unmarked at the back post. That was really disappointing on the day.”

Wimbledon will be without Lyle Taylor for the match but striker Tyrone Barnett could deputise after causing Southend problems once coming on.

Stats

Both teams were promoted at the expense of Plymouth Argyle and Accrington Stanley last season, Rovers finished third ahead of the two where as Wimbledon beat Accrington in the Play Off semi-finals and then Argyle in the final.

Rovers have lost just once to the Dons in their 9 previous encounters.

That loss came at the Cherry Red Records Fans Stadium meaning Rovers are unbeaten at home against them with the previous result coming in the form of a 3-1 win last season.

Bristol Rovers v Coventry City Match Preview

 

By Simon Gray

Bristol Rovers face Coventry City on Boxing Day in a competitive fixture for the first time since 1964.

The Gas met the Sky Blues in a friendly match in 2014 but that was when Rovers were about to enter the Conference, now they are in a higher position in League One than their upcoming rivals.

Rovers sit 12^th in the table and go into the game still in a run of bad form, winning just one match in their last six in all competitions and just three in their last 11 but manager Darrell Clarke has an unbeaten record when it comes to the Christmas period.

“The Christmas period has been good for us over the last two seasons”, Clarke told the Bristol Post.

“We have four games coming up very quickly and there are 12 points up for grabs. We know we need to get our form back. We have to get back to the basics after what was a very flat performance at Shrewsbury last weekend.

“We have to take each game one at a time and not look to far ahead. All I will say is that we’d like to come out the other side with a fair share of those points that are available.”

Coventry are now languishing in 23^rd place after losing their last six league games but the Sky Blues have now appointed a new manager in Russell Slade and a win on Boxing Day could move them up and out of the relegation zone.

Slade will be in charge for the first time on Boxing Day and insists that he cannot wait to get started.

“This football club has got a fantastic tradition, but it has lost its way at this moment in time. We’re not in a great position. But that is why I am here, I want to help,” Slade told the club’s website.

“I’ve had my first session with the lads and they all had a great attitude this morning, let’s hope we can turn that positivity on the training ground in to results on the pitch.

“The reality is we’ve got 18 or 19 weeks to get as many points as we can, we’ve not got a second to waste. What we can’t do it make excuses, the only people who can do anything about it is the players – with the support of the staff.

Rovers will be without Jake Clarke-Salter who continues his recovery from a fractured arm and Steve Mildenhall is still out with a knee injury. Other than this Clarke has no injury problems.

Stats

This is the first time the two sides have met since 1964 but will be the 40^th time the sides have met.

Both Rovers and Coventry have 15 wins each with nine draws but Coventry one the last encounter 1-0.

The sides have never met in League One.

Shrewsbury Town v Bristol Rovers Match Preview

By Simon Gray

League One strugglers Shrewsbury Town entertain Bristol Rovers this weekend hoping to climb off the bottom of the table.

Shrewsbury won last time out away at Millwall 1-0 but manager Paul Hurt has said that it’s a win that they must build on.

“There is still a long, long way to go. A lot of hard work. My initial focus, after congratulating the players, was ‘rest, recover and now we go to Fleetwood”, Hurst told the Shropshire Star.

“We have played them twice and not managed to beat them.

“We are going back to the place where I had my worst night since I have come in and we want to put it right.”

This was the FA Cup Second Round replay that Shrewsbury ended up losing 3-2 despite going 2-0 up but manager Hurst insisted his side were the better team.

“Maybe it wasn’t meant to be – if you look at the tie over the two games, the best side has gone out of the competition,” said Hurst.

“It’s a strange one. Like Sheffield United where we were 10 men, the first-half is the best we’ve played since I’ve come in – they were outstanding. If we do anything like that then we’ll be OK.

Shrewsbury go into the game without the suspended trio Ivan Toney, Gary Deegan and ex-Bristol City player Adam El-Abd after all Toney and Deegan picked up their 10^th booking of the season with El-Abd getting sent off in the defeat to Fleetwood.

Bristol Rovers go into the game having won last time out against Bury.

The 4-2 win was Rovers’ first victory in five matches and manager Darrell Clarke said that he had to get into his players’ minds before the win.

“Management is a lonely place when results are not going well, but generally the mood in the camp has been good throughout,” Clarke told the Bristol Post.

“In fairness to our group, they have been through these periods before. They have been written off loads of times over the last couple of years and as a result they have developed a habit for bouncing back.

“We have a hard core of lads in the changing rooms who have been with the club for a while and have seen and heard it all. That is easier than having to work with a new batch of players who need the time to adjust.

Rovers will be without defender Connor Roberts after he returned to his parent club Swansea this week but with a win last time out, Clarke may name an unchanged starting XI, something he has not done much this season.

Stats

The last fixture at Greenhous Meadow between these two sides ended in a 1-0 win for Shrewsbury during the 2011/12 season.

These two sides met in the League Two Play Off Final where goals from Richard Walker and Sammy Igoe helped Rovers to a 3-1 win.

In the 14 matches played this century between the two sides, Rovers have the upper hand. Winning seven and losing just three times against Salop.

 

 

 

Bristol Rovers v Bury Match Preview

By Simon Gray

Bristol Rovers hope to bounce back from their surprise FA Cup exit to Barrow as they entertain Bury at the Memorial Stadium.

Rovers lost at home to a non-league side for the second time in successive seasons and have now only won once in their last eight matches in all competitions.

After the match, manager Darrell Clarke told BBC Points West: “It might be coming to the end of the road for one or two if they don’t start improving.

“We have to invest in the team now, I think.

“It’s come to the stage now where this group’s done very, very well but if we’ve got ambition to get into the Championship in the next two or three years we have to move it forward and invest wisely in the team.

“I know the areas where I need to strengthen now – it’s not rocket science.”

Rovers fans will be sweating on the fitness of striker Matty Taylor after he missed the FA Cup defeat with a calf strain. Clarke may make sufficient changes as he tries to end his side’s winless run.

Bury go into the game having lost 10 league games in a row and are winless in 14 games in all competitions. They will also be hoping to rekindle their early season form this weekend.

The Shakers were second after 10 games and had 20 points but after their winless run they now sit just above the League One relegation zone with the same points total.

Caretaker manager Chris Brass, who took over from the sacked David Flitcroft three games ago has been given until the end of the season.

The 41-year-old is keen to ensure that his team do not match a 15 game winless run that was set in 1946.

Brass is struggling for defensive options and may hand a start to 16 year old Jacob Bedeau as Leon Barnett is a doubt with a calf strain and both Antony Kay Niall Maher will be missing through suspension.

“We do have a patched up squad but moving forwards we have to make sure we don’t keep giving away cheap yellow cards and fouls,” Brass told the Bury Times.

“The Christmas schedule is hectic so we need our best 18 players fit and everybody available.

“I know we have lost players through suspension and injuries, which has really hindered results throughout the season.

Stats

Rovers have only lost once in their last five meetings with Bury and are unbeaten against them in four home matches.

Rovers’ last match with Bury ended in a 2-1 defeat in 2014. A match where 5 of this season’s squad played with the addition of unused sub Ellis Harrison.

Bury boast a better record against Rovers, but only just, winning 17 games in comparison to Rovers’ 16.

FA Cup Second Round: Bristol Rovers v Barrow Match Preview

By Simon Gray

The FA Cup Second Round is here and hoping to earn a place in Round Three are League One Bristol Rovers as they entertain National League side Barrow.

Rovers were able to scrape past Crawley Town in the last round where as Barrow also avoided a scare by beating minnows Taunton Town in a replay.

But Rovers Assistant Manager Marcus Stewart knows that they must be on their game and treat it like any other match due to Barrow’s 21-league and cup game unbeaten run.

“We are at home and are expected to beat Barrow. That brings with it its own type of different pressure.” He told the Bristol Post.

“The league is our main priority, but cup runs are a bonus. There is always a different feel about the place in the preparation days leading up to a cup game.

“It is an exciting one, though, because both teams know that there might be a big prize at the end of it for the winner.”

Rovers will be without Will Puddy who is ineligible and also Steve Mildenhall and Jake Clarke-Salter who are injured.

Barrow go into the game sitting a well placed fourth in the National League and will have nothing to fear going into the match.

Skipper Danny Livesey has said he knows what it will take to win and that is silence the home fans.

“I played Bristol quite a few times, I’ve been down there a lot,” he told the North West Evening Mail.

“I’ve not played against them too much recently because we have been in different leagues.

“They’re very passionate people down there and there are normally a lot of fans. I can’t see it being any different on Sunday. There will be a lot of fans there, they are quite close to the pitch, they get right behind the team, and it will get a little bit hostile.

“It will be nice to go out and try and shut the fans up, which is what you want to do when it comes to away games. As soon as you get them quiet, then you know you are getting the upper hand.”

Barrow will have on loan Goalkeeper Tim Erlandsson making only his second appearance for the club due to only arriving last week from Nottingham Forest.

Stats

These two teams met in the First Round of the FA Cup in the 2006/07 season with Rovers prevailing 3-2 at Holker Street.

This will only be the eighth time these two sides have met, Rovers boast a better record with four wins to Barrow’s two.

Barrow striker Byron Harrison has a 100% record from the penalty spot this season, six of his 17 goals have come from 12 yards out.