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Bristol Rovers Preview

By: Richard Lord
Date: 08/12/2005

BRISTOL Rovers head to Blundell Park this weekend following their first back-to-back league wins since August 2004 - but Grimsby will have their sights on top spot once again, following the midweek win over promotion rivals Rochdale.

Home > 2005-2006 Season > Previews > Bristol R (h)


The Opposition

Overview
Wycombe, who take on Dale at home this Saturday, could lose their position at the summit of the table if they fail to win and the Mariners collect three points. However, Paul Trollope's (left) men are fresh from two recent victories in the league, and will provide Russell Slade's team with a stern test. Their defence is leaky on the road, but with four away victories so far this season - including wins at Rochdale and Leyton Orient - the Pirates will be in confident mood.

Their Squad
Despite the glut of transfers former manager Ian Atkins made last season, Rovers' squad is looking somewhat trimmed these days. First team coach Trollope is still registered to play but has yet to feature this season. Where the Pirates might be a bit suspect at the back, they certainly know their way to goal up front. Strikers Richard Walker and Junior Agogo (left) have both reached double figures for the season already, with the strong midfield of James Hunt, Stuart Campbell and Craig Disley supporting just behind.

Key Player
Junior Agogo may have bagged a brace against the Mariners in the FA Cup first round, but Richard Walker (left) appears to be a man in form at the moment. He currently has 11 goals to show for the season, and the former Blackpool striker scored the winner down at Stockport in midweek. However, Agogo is making a habit of scoring against Town (but not quite as notoriously as Tommy Mooney - but give him a couple more years!) and the duo will certainly be a handful for Jones and Whittle.

Recent Form

TownBristol R
WRochdale(h)4-1
WOxford(a)3-2
LWycombe(a)1-3
WMacclesfield(h)3-1
LBristol R (FAC)(h)0-1
Currently 2nd in League Two.
WStockport (a)1-0
DPort Vale (FAC)(a)1-1
WBarnet(h)2-1
LNorthampton (a)0-4
LRochdale (h)1-2
Currently 15th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownBristol R
Gary Jones6
Michael Reddy6
Richard Walker11
Junior Agogo10

Team News

TownBristol R

  • Grimsby will be without the services of John McDermott for the next month at least, which means Simon Ramsden or Gary Croft will fill in at right back. Slade will also have to deliberate over whether to start Gary Cohen or keep faith with Jean-Paul Kalala.
  • Bristol Rovers will travel to Blundell Park with the same squad that were victorious at Stockport on Tuesday. Their only doubt is defender Craig Hinton, who suffered an ankle injury in training. Christian Edwards is on stand-by.
  • Probable Teams

    TownBristol R
    1Steve Mildenhall
    4Simon Ramsden
    20Gary Croft
    6Justin Whittle
    12Rob Jones
    15Gary Cohen
    11Andy Parkinson
    8Paul Bolland
    18Ciaran Toner
    19Gary Jones
    9Michael Reddy
    23Scott Shearer
    32Aaron Lescott
    5Christian Edwards
    6Steve Elliott
    11Chris Carruthers
    19Ali Gibb
    8James Hunt
    20Craig Disley
    7Stuart Campbell
    9Junior Agogo
    10Richard Walker

    Subs

    TownBristol R
    3Tom Newey
    10Martin Gritton
    23Nick Heggarty
    7JPK Kalala
    25Glen Downey
    25Steve Book
    2Craig Hinton
    24Michael Leary
    16Ryan Williams
    18Jamie Forrester

    Head to Head

    Bristol Rovers have managed 14 wins against Grimsby over the years, with the Mariners replying with 12 and both teams drawing nine times. However, the league record is perfectly equal - Rovers' two extra wins have both come in the FA Cup - with one being the last time the two clubs met (just a month ago) and the other back in 1910 (the first time the two clubs met), completing one of the more symmetrical records in football.

    P 35 W 12 D 9 L 14 F 56 A 54

    Bristol R Head-to-Head (57th on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    It was just over a month ago when Rovers went away from Blundell Park 2-1 winners in the first round of the FA Cup. The Mariners lost Rob Jones through injury and Junior Agogo scored both goals to secure their passage into the second round.

    Grimsby Team: Mildenhall, McDermott, Newey, Whittle, Rob Jones (Ramsden 29), Cohen, Parkinson, JPK Kalala, Bolland, Reddy, Gary Jones (Gritton 74)
    Subs (not used): Downey, Barwick, Toner

    Bristol R Team: Shearer, Lescott, Hinton, Elliott, Ryan, Gibb (Campbell 81), Disley, Hunt, Carruthers, Agogo, Walker
    Subs: (not used) Edwards, Bass, Forrester, Haldane

    Attendance: 2,680    Report

    Prediction

    Bristol Rovers have a leaky defence on their travels and following Town's 4-1 triumph over Rochdale the home side will fancy their chances. However, the Pirates have hit a bit of form and will be confident themselves.

    A narrow 1-0 win for Grimsby!

    Recent Predictions

    GamePredictionScorePoints
    Rochdale3-24-11
    Oxford1-13-20
    Wycombe1-21-31
    Macclesfield1-13-10
    Bristol R2-01-21
    Northampton1-10-01
    Morecambe1-01-10
    Cheltenham1-14-00
    Wycombe2-20-10
    Shrewsbury2-00-00
    Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to Blundell Park (left).

    Admission Prices

    Click on the link for ticket prices to Blundell Park.




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