Joey Barton is eager for his strong response from his players when they travel to Portsmouth on Saturday after suffering a comprehensive beating at Barnsley in midweek
Barton has indicated he is going to make changes to his team in response to the 3-0 defeat at Oakwell on Tuesday, with shifts in personnel and shape both possible. Barton has started each game with a back four so far this season, but in the second half on Tuesday he pivoted to a back three.
That could be a starting solution for the manager as he searches for more control and a greater attacking threat than his side posed in South Yorkshire a few days ago. Here is how Rovers could like up at Fratton Park...
What XI would you select? Have your say in the comments section below.
Goalkeeper and defence
James Belshaw will be the goalkeeper for the Gas, and it was his fine work between the sticks that helped keep the score down on Tuesday. Anssi Jaakkola will be his backup with Jed Ward out on loan getting experience with Hungerford Town.
Should Barton go for a back three, Luca Hoole, James Connolly and Lewis Gibson are the obvious selections. Hoole has performed well in a centre-back pairing so far, but he could be better suited to a role more familiar to the full-back position that he nailed down last season.
Connolly has become the defensive leader and would be the anchor in the centre, while Gibson is left-footed and happy driving out from defence with the ball, making him an ideal candidate for the job. This setup could hinge on the Everton loanee being fit enough to start after two substitute appearances.
At wing-back, Rovers' Swiss Army knife Harry Anderson would slot in on the right, with Lewis Gordon the leading candidate for the left, although he will be eager to prove a point after being taken off at half time on Tuesday.
Josh Grant could be fit enough to make the bench and offer cover for multiple positions. Alfie Kilgour will also be involved. James Gibbons remains sidelined by a stress fracture in his foot.
Midfield
Barton was delighted neither Paul Coutts nor Sam Finley were sent half after picking up yellow cards in a tetchy first half at Barnsley, meaning both are available on Saturday and both are likely to start.
Experience of big atmospheres will be crucial, and with Barton eager to revert to the style of play that underpinned their success last season, Coutts and Finley seem like logical inclusions.
Jordan Rossiter and Glenn Whelan are excellent options to have off the bench, with Rossiter's tenacity and Whelan's masses of experience likely to come in handy at Fratton Park.
Jerry Lawrence may be included again and Ryan Jones could travel, too.
Attack
"I’m not sure whether John (Marquis) starts in terms of (Sean) Raggett and (Michael) Morrison, who will look for someone to have a scrap with, so I may well go as we did last year and play with a false nine in there and so something different," Barton said in his press conference.
Barton could be bluffing here, but there is plenty of logic to that. Raggett and Morrison are physical defenders who would prefer to be in a battle, rather than having a more elusive player like Aaron Collins pulling them out of position.
Should Barton keep to his word, Marquis will drop to the bench and Collins will move inside from the flank. Harvey Saunders was ineffective at Barnsley but he could keep his place with Barton's wide options limited.
On the other side, Antony Evans could be moved further forward to get him affecting the contest in the final third. Ryan Loft will be another option the manager can call on from the bench.
Rovers (3-4-3): Belshaw; Hoole, Connolly, Gibson; Anderson, Coutts (c), Finley, Gordon; Evans, Collins, Saunders.
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