The League One finish line is in sight for Bristol Rovers and their race has effectively already been run with safety secured, but there are four games left on the slate to get themselves up for, starting with tonight’s clash with title-chasing Plymouth Argyle.
Joey Barton and his players can be satisfied with their work this season with the club’s place in the third tier consolidated, but they owe it to themselves to finish the campaign as strongly and better performances than Saturday’s 2-0 reverse at Port Vale are required.
If the occasion felt flat at Vale Park at the weekend, tonight’s trip to Devon will be the polar opposite. League leaders Argyle are just a couple of wins away from claiming promotion to the Championship and victory at Home Park tonight will put them five points clear of third-placed Sheffield Wednesday.
It promises to be a crackling atmosphere in front of a big crowd and the onus is on the Gas to step up to the challenge. Here is how they could line up this evening…
What XI would you select? Have your say in the comments section below…
Goalkeeper and defence
After getting a look at young prospect Jed Ward in goal on Saturday, Barton is set to revert to number one James Belshaw for this game. Ellery Balcombe could also return to the squad after returning to training from a knee niggle.
That could raise some eyebrows given how well Ward acquitted himself but Barton admitted last week that he wants to "respect the competition" in League One and not experiment in situations that could have an adverse effect on promotion or relegation.
Belshaw is likely to play behind a changed defence after a sloppy performance from Saturday’s starting back four. Both Luca Hoole and Jarell Quansah came off the bench at Vale Park to replace James Gibbons and James Connolly at right-back and right centre-half respectively, and that could be how Barton sets his team up from the start this time.
Beside them is likely to be left-sided centre-back Lewis Gibson and left-back Lewis Gordon, who will be eager to put in a strong showing after the team as a whole were found wanting defensively in the Potteries.
Left-back Calum Macdonald is an option for the bench, but he has not been involved in the past five 18-man squads. Josh Grant, meanwhile, is edging ever closer to a return from double knee surgery but there has been no indication from the manager that he is in contention for this game.
Midfield
Strength in midfield will be crucial if Rovers are to find a solid footing in this game, which might work against progressive options like Antony Evans and Luke McCormick getting a start, despite an underwhelming showing from Saturday’s starting trio.
On paper, Sam Finley, Lamare Bogarde and Grant Ward offer a good balance for the challenge at Home Park, providing legs, experience and a bit of creativity, but they will need to show more than they did at Home Park if the Gas are to pick up a positive result.
Paul Coutts and Jordan Rossiter remain sidelined with knee injuries, but Evans and McCormick could see minutes from the bench.
Attack
Barton will not have forgotten the problems the Gas caused Argyle with a physically-imposing front three in the 2-2 draw between the sides at the Mem in October, with the Gas surging back from a two-goal deficit and dominating the second half.
And after the manager’s pre-match hint that Ryan Loft forms a significant part of his plans for this game, we could see him deployed with Josh Coburn up top and Aaron Collins – fresh off winning the League One Player of the Season award – sitting just behind them in a playmaker role.
That would leave John Marquis, Harry Anderson and Scott Sinclair as strong options up the manager’s sleeve if required.
Rovers (4-3-1-2): James Belshaw; Luca Hoole, Jarell Quansah, Lewis Gibson, Lewis Gordon; Sam Finley (c), Lamare Bogarde, Grant Ward; Aaron Collins; Josh Coburn, Ryan Loft
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