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Bristol Rovers Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 04/02/2005

TWO wins in the last two away games has given Town hope of a play off place but they need to continue their good form away at Bristol Rovers, the draw specialists of League Two.

Home > 2004-2005 Season > Previews > Bristol R (a)

The Opposition

Overview

Big things were expected of Ian Atkinsâ€™ (left) Bristol Rovers side this season. Atkins left Oxford under a cloud at the end of last season, to take up his post at the Memorial Stadium. The summer saw lots of transfer activity, but the Pirates, like Town have failed to live up to their potential this season. Currently a point behind Town, they will still hope for a last minute charge into the top seven.

Their Squad

It is probably true that on paper, Rovers have one of the strongest squads in the division. At the back they have former Hull City defender John Anderson, who Nicky Law tried to sign for Town last season. Welsh defender Christian Edwards has also been a regular feature this term. Edwards has lots of league experience with Swansea, Forest, Tranmere and Crystal Palace. In midfield are two ex Town players Stuart Campbell and Paul Trollope. They are joined by former Oxford man James Hunt and summer signing Craig Disley. In attack are two other former Mariners players - Lee Thorpe, who had a loan spell with us last season and Jamie Forrester who was with Town from 1995 to 1997 under Brian Laws and Kenny Swain.

Key Player

Junior Agogo. Already with 15 goals to his name this season, Agogo is starting to live up to his potential. A £110,000 signing from Barnet a few summers ago, last season was a difficult one for the London born forward, but this season has put in some fine performances for the Pirates and is definitely one to watch.

Recent Form

Town

Bristol R

W	Cheltenham	(a)	3-2
L	Lincoln	(h)	0-0
W	Leyton Orient	(a)	2-1
L	Northampton	(h)	1-2
W	Cambridge	(h)	3-0

Currently 15th in League Two.

L	Oxford	(a)	2-3
W	Leyton Orient	(a)	2-1
D	Cheltenham	(h)	1-1
D	Lincoln	(a)	1-1
D	Cambridge	(h)	1-1

Currently 16th in League Two.

Top Scorers

Town

Bristol R

Pinault	7
Parkinson	5
Reddy	5

Agogo	15
Forrester	8

Team News

Town

Bristol R

Rob Jones and John McDermott both face late fitness tests before being named in the squad to face the Pirates. Macca (knee) and Jones (back) have both been troubled by their respective injuries for a few weeks

Justin Whittle is back in contention after playing for 45 minutes in a mid-week reserve game, but is unlikely to get further than the bench.

Utility player Jason Crowe (ankle) will miss the game, but is expected to be back next week to face Shrewsbury,

Ronnie Bull is still suspended, for this the final match of the trio of games missed.

Goalkeeper Kevin Miller will return to the squad after a recent ankle problem but Ian Atkins will have to decide whether to put his most senior keeper straight back into the side at the expense of 22-year-old Ryan Clarke.

Defender Christian Edwards could also return, allowing Atkins to consider a 3-5-2 formation with Anderson, Elliott and Edwards across the back.

Midfielder Aaron Lescott is returning to full fitness after an injury lay-off, but is unlikely to get further than the bench.

Lee Thorpe is suspended and the involvement of Junior Agogo could be limited due to off-the-field reasons.

Probable Teams

Town

Bristol R

1	Anthony Williams
2	John McDermott
6	Rob Jones
28	Terrell Forbes
4	Simon Ramsden
15	Terry Fleming
17	Thomas Pinault
11	Stacy Coldicott
10	Andy Parkinson
9	Michael Reddy
26	Martin Gritton

1	Kevin Miller
6	Steve Elliott
5	Chris Edwards
14	John Anderson
19	Ali Gibb
3	Robbie Ryan
8	James Hunt
7	Stuart Campbell
20	Craig Disley
11	Jamie Forrester
17	Richard Walker

Subs

Town

Bristol R

3	Greg Young
5	Tony Crane
6	Justin Whittle
12	Graham Hockless
13	Paul Fraser

2	Craig Hinton
32	Aaron Lescott
15	Dave Savage
4	Paul Trollope
9	Junior Agogo

Head to Head

Rovers just have the edge over Town, having won 11 of their 32 encounters.

P 32 W 11 D 9 L 12 F 53 A 48

Bristol R Head-to-Head (48th on The Opposition Ladder)

Connections

Current Bristol Rovers players Paul Trollope, Stuart Campbell, Lee Thorpe and Jamie Forrester have all played for Town in recent years. Campbell of course was with Town last season, as was Thorpe, in an impressive loan spell. Paul Trollope spent a month on loan here in 1996 under Brian Laws, whilst Forrester was a Â£50,000 signing from Leeds in 1995.

Andy Tillson (left) made 250 appearances for the Pirates in an eight year spell between 1992 and 2000. Tilson was signed by Alan Buckley from non league Kettering in 1988 and made a massive impact at the back, encouraging QPR to spend Â£400,000 for his services. He retired in 2003 whilst at Rushden and Diamonds.

Former Town favourite Bradley Allen ended his time as a professional with the Pirates when between November 2002 and May 2003 he appeared ten times for Rovers, scoring twice. He was playing for Hornchurch last season.

Last Meeting

The two sides met last October in a tight 0-0 draw. Both sides could easily have won the game with Town having numerous chances in the first half, but with the Pirates taking contol in the second. Former Mariners Lee Thorpe and Stuart Campbell both missed the game, so when Campbell starts on Saturday it will be the first time he has faced Town since relegation at the end of lasts season.

Grimsby Team: Williams, Whittle, Forbes, Gordon, McDermott, Fleming, Pinault ,Crowe, Reddy (Cramb, 45), Sestanovich (Coldicott, 63), Parkinson
Subs: (not used) Jones,Bull,Marcelle

Bristol R Team: Miller, Edwards, Anderson, Elliott, Gibb, Hunt, Savage, Lescott ,Ryan, Agogo (Haldane, 82), Walker (Forrester, 76)
Subs: (not used) Hinton,Trollope,Disley

Attendance: 4,691 Report

Prediction

Bristol Rovers have drawn eight times at home this season - more than any other side in League Two. Therefore common sense tells me a draw, but I think Town will nick it. 2-1!

2-1

Recent Predictions

Game	Prediction	Score	Points
Cheltenham	1-1	3-2	0
Lincoln	2-1	2-4	0
Leyton Orient	1-1	2-1	0
Northampton	1-1	1-2	0
Cambridge	2-1	3-0	1
Lincoln	1-1	1-1	3
Macclesfield	1-1	0-0	1
Oxford	2-0	1-1	0
Yeovil	2-1	1-2	0
Notts Co	1-0	3-2	1

Reader's POMs

Directions

Click on the link for directions to the Memorial Stadium (left).

Pubs

Click on the link for pubs close to the Memorial Stadium.

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