Pragmatic is probably not a word that features consistently in Joey Barton’s coaching manual but the Bristol Rovers manager may have to bow to his less familiar instincts for the visit of Accrington Stanley to the Mem.
As last Saturday’s contest with Lincoln City showed, the Gas will only progress in this league if they can be that little more tighter and resolute at the back which might mean reining in some of their more attacking instincts.
In the manager’s defence, of course, he doesn’t have his full complement of players available to him but, also in his words, football is survival of "the most adaptable" and Rovers can ill-afford another afternoon at the back, as was experienced last weekend.
Barton does have a slightly greater number of options to pick his team, which in turn allows for greater flexibility in terms of his system and, as has been the case over this last month of experimentation, it will be interesting to see what sort of line-up he selects.
Here’s how we think the Gas will look when the teamsheets are released at 2pm this afternoon…
Goalkeeper and defence
James Belshaw has a new mentor to work with following the return of David Coles to the Gas which frees up Anssi Jaakkola to focus more on matchdays, having been the de facto goalkeeper coach since the summer. Belshaw may have shipped six against the Imps, which would have stung, but there’s no reason to suggest that the 31-year-old will lose his place today and he should make a 30th consecutive appearance for the club.
In front of Belshaw is where it gets interesting, although it’s easier to map out the options available to Barton by first listing who isn’t available: James Gibbons is around two weeks away, James Connolly has been in some light training, Luca Hoole is away with the Wales Under-21 squad and Lewis Gibson has trained but today’s game comes too soon.
That leaves, in terms of specialist defenders, Alfie Kilgour, the returning Bobby Thomas, having served his one-match suspension for his red card at Ipswich, Lewis Gordon and Trevor Clarke; the latter two, of course, being left-backs.
In a way it selects itself with a back three of Kilgour, Thomas and Gordon, unless Barton wants to preserve with the idea of Glenn Whelan as a playmaking progressive centre-back but those six goals against, and the risk of repeating that, surely will dissuade him.
Accrington are traditionally a strong set-piece team and although Thomas helps defend that, having an extra physical player in Kilgour to compete aerially gives the Gas an extra insurance policy.
The alternative to this would be a flat back-four and Harry Anderson drafted in as full-back but Barton has appeared slightly more reluctant to do this, unlike last season, so the three-man defence looks the most likely. Famous last words, and all that.
Midfield
Further forward, with three at the back, we can therefore assume a five-man midfield with the three in the centre staggered as to their jobs.
Central midfield is an area where the Gas are rich in resources and as the defensive presence Barton has Whelan, Paul Coutts or, as the player himself hinted this week, could deploy Sam Finley in a slightly more withdrawn role.
Ahead of those three, as the box-to-box No8, it’s Luke McCormick or Finley or possibly Jordan Rossiter who is also returning from suspension. The 25-year-old has had some niggly injury issues over the start of the campaign and after three games out of action it might be mindful to ease him back gradually with a place on the bench.
The advanced central midfielder would therefore be Antony Evans or, potentially, Aaron Collins if Barton wants a John Marquis-Ryan Loft attacking duo.
What’s interesting about the players considered in the central areas is there are a number of combinations and permutations which makes it slightly tricky to forecast because you can probably only really confidently say that Finley as the definite starter. If Evans and McCormick were in form, then that complicates it but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see one left out.
As for the wide areas, Clarke is a natural left-footer so has that position locked down, with Josh Grant still out and Anderson likely to be deployed on the right. Sylvester Jasper is probably more suited as a winger, rather than giving him defensive duties we’re not 100 per cent sure will get the best out of his abilities.
Attack
As mentioned, Collins could be the No10 but the Welshman is in such good form, Rovers need him as high up the pitch and in central areas where he can hurt the opposition, not in a crowded midfield.
Collins’ brace against Lincoln should guarantee his place up front, with his partner one of Marquis or Loft and, quite simply, Barton is likely to defer to the man in form.
Loft looked a little bit of the odd-man out in this area of the pitch, especially when Marquis arrived in the summer but he’s fought his way into the starting XI and his physicality and the contrast his offers alongside Collins means he’s a probable starter in BS7.
Harvey Saunders likely remains a handy bench option with his pace a useful asset in the closing stage of the game.
Bristol Rovers (3-4-1-2): James Belshaw; Alfie Kilgour, Bobby Thomas, Lewis Gordon; Harry Anderson, Paul Coutts, Sam Finley, Trevor Clarke; Antony Evans; Aaron Collins, Ryan Loft
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