This afternoon, Bristol Rovers take on Derby County in League One with the goal of winning three straight games for the first time this year.
The current buzz around Bristol Rovers is definitely welcome. Results are undoubtedly the most important factor in determining the mood, and the team’s three wins in a row have undoubtedly helped. Additionally, supporters now have a clearer understanding of the club’s future plans thanks to recent communications from key board members and chairman Hussain AlSaeed, who made these announcements in interviews two weeks ago and last week’s Fans’ Q&A.
Furthermore, there was some good injury news earlier in the week: Grant Ward and Brandon Aguilera are anticipated to return from their injuries next week against either Fleetwood Town or Lincoln City, even though they won’t be fit for today’s game against Derby County.
Rovers had to fight for their lives in the second half of the 1-0 victory over Leyton Orient last Saturday, but that effort in a way made the final whistle that much more fulfilling.
But putting everything behind us, the idea of playing a team like Derby is thrilling, not just because of the club’s long history but also because it presents a great test for this Rovers team and a chance to pull off a memorable victory.
With the Rams and Peterborough remaining to play at home, the Gas have defeated four of the current top seven teams since Matt Taylor took charge. They should be encouraged by their wins over teams like Bolton Wanderers and Portsmouth.
It will require a major effort from the hosts to secure a result in what is anticipated to be a packed Mem audience, but there is little doubt that the atmosphere will help the players in the blue-and-white quarters locate the additional equipment they need to do just that.
At least two changes from the starting eleven from last weekend are assured due to the ongoing injury and suspension issues, which seem to arise every week, but this in no way implies that a noticeably inferior team will be selected. The starting lineup that we believe Taylor might choose is as follows…
Jed Ward, who had to make two spectacular saves towards the end to keep Leyton Orient out, would have really valued his second clean sheet from last weekend. This afternoon will be a major test for the 20-year-old.
Ahead of him is where the inevitable alterations lie: James Wilson’s three-match suspension following a straight red card for an off-ball incident, and Jack Hunt’s early calf injury from last week’s meeting.
After Matt Taylor stated he was “pleased with how that worked” after the game, Harvey Vale replaced Hunt and was used at left-back, forcing Lewis Gordon to go to the right. Though technically any of James Connolly, Luca Hoole, or Tristan Crama could fill in at right-back, Gordon deserves to start because he played a fantastic game at Brisbane Road.
Although Rovers will be losing a lot of experience, they still have a lot of quality in their center-back combination. Elkan Baggott is clearly settling in on loan, and Connor Taylor, who came off the bench the last time out, appears to be headed for his first start since suffering a knee injury against Exeter City in January.
Although the 22-year-old has been a noticeable absence and deserves a lot of praise for his efforts this season, his return should allow him to enjoy an unbroken last 11 games of the campaign.
Sam Finley, a player whose long-awaited comeback from injury came off the bench at Orient, will also be greatly welcomed by the team. However, with competition in the middle of the park likely at its height, getting back into the starting 11 isn’t as easy.
Since moving from Grimsby Town to Cambridge in January, Kamil Conteh has put on some extremely outstanding performances, and Antony Evans’s presence is also essential. While he has tended to play a little bit more advanced, Jevani Brown has been having maybe his best run in a Rovers uniform lately.
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