“I guarantee you there’ll be a few new haircuts; beards shaped up and all that. That tends to be what happens when you know the TV cameras will be there,” said Joey Barton this week.
Points are paramount for Bristol Rovers at Sheffield Wednesday tonight but for Barton and his squad there is also a sense of wanting to enjoy the occasion and use it as a yardstick to show the development and the progress of the squad.
This time last year, Rovers were preparing for a League Two game at Harrogate Town, now they have back-to-back fixtures at two of the biggest stadiums outside of the Premier League.
It’s been some journey and on the back of Saturday’s impressive point and performance against Plymouth Argyle, they have reason to go to Hillsborough with confidence and a realistic chance of getting a positive result.
Here’s how we think the Gas will line up in Sheffield in front of the Sky Sports cameras with Rovers on television for a league fixture for the first time since 2017…
Goalkeeper and defence
There was a show of modesty from Barton on Saturday as he was asked around his half-time change against Plymouth as Josh Coburn replaced Luca Hoole, and promptly scored within a few minutes to get the Gas right back into the contest.
Barton confessed that if was to receive praise for that goal and the decision that helped facilitate it, then he’d have to also take the criticism for picking the wrong team in the first place.
That alone would indicate that Hoole will be replaced in the starting line-up at Hillsborough. We can discuss Coburn a bit further down but if Barton wants to keep a flat-back four, as he has done for the last three league games when he’s had a reasonable complement of defenders fit, and Wednesday tend to line up in a 3-4-3, similar to Plymouth and Cheltenham, then it’ll be James Gibbons or Harry Anderson at right-back.
Thinking out loud, he could play three at the back with Hoole or Gibbons as a right-sided centre-back but that would mean moving Lewis Gordon into a left wing-back role, which may not suit his qualities, and then Anderson as a right wing-back.
With his defensive structure looking increasingly cohesive and similar personnel continuing to be picked, it seems wise to predict that Rovers will be in a 4-3-3 again.
There’s no need to rush James Connolly back to Bobby Thomas and Lewis Gibson remain as they were, while Gordon was exceptional against Argyle and will keep his place on the left.
The debate between Anderson and Gibbons is an interesting one because the former would be the more obvious attacking option, and the other the more secure defensive presence while perhaps giving up a bit of attacking penetration in the final third.
Barton is prone to going rogue in these type of games, and as he says, Rovers have nothing to lose and everything to gain from this game, which leans towards Anderson playing there. But, then again, away from home and with the threat ever so slightly greater, it just makes more sense to play the natural defender.
We’re yet to mention James Belshaw but, let’s be honest, there’s absolutely no debate around his place in the starting XI in goal.
Midfield
Barton’s decision in this area of the field is made for him to an extent due to Paul Coutts’ ankle injury as the three who started in central midfield against Argyle, and were all very good to great in their performances, will surely keep their places in Sheffield.
One of Sam Finley or Jordan Rossiter, or quite possibly both depending on who is nearest, will be required to shut down Barry Bannan with the manager revealing the Scot is a great player in this division, but you limit his influence significantly by reducing the time he gets on the ball.
So expect some relentless pressing in midfield and the likelihood that Luke McCormick will then be held back until the hour mark before picking up the slack and giving one of Rossiter or Finley a breather.
Rovers will have to be careful of overloads though, as Bannan will draw pressure and then try and move the ball on quickly, exploiting space vacated by the man closing him down. Aaron Collins’ work rate could therefore come into the equation with the Welshman potentially dropping a little bit deeper out of possession to help temper the threat of Bannan.
Antony Evans is increasingly looking like the Antony Evans of last season as he finds his feet in League One and built on his impressive display at Cheltenham with another strong performance against Argyle. He’ll be the slightly freer and more advanced individual within midfield but will still have to do plenty of defensive work.
Ultimately, whether Rovers are in a 3-5-2 or a 4-3-3, that trio will line up at Hillsborough.
Attack
This could be very simple, if Barton reverts to three at the back, it’ll be: Ryan Loft and Aaron Collins, and that is that.
Both strikers are playing at a very high level, individually and as a pair, and based on Saturday’s performance will give any defence in League One a scare with their combination of attributes and the way they work off each other.
Loft is a constant out ball for the defence and it continues to stick, bringing the midfielders into play and also allowing Collins to run in behind and around him, dragging defenders all over the place.
But to think of Loft as simply a battering ram is grossly unfair, as he's developed real finesse in his first and second touches which is adding so much to Rovers’ build-up play. You also start to think that - and to paraphrase Barton - if he keeps doing the right things and getting in the right positions, he’s due a goal for his endeavours.
It’s four games without a goal and while that is nothing to worry about, because of his high level of performance and what he’s doing for others, just as a striker he himself will be wanting to trouble the scoresheet with his confidence at this sort of level.
But, if we’re working on the theory that it will be a continuation of Plymouth, and Barton sticks with the 4-3-3 then it’s Coburn vs Anderson for that final place in attack. It could be a moot point, should Anderson be picked at right-back - something that gives further rise to that theory - then it’s Coburn. Case closed.
Certainly the Middlesbrough loanee did all he can to press for inclusion tonight as he adds an extra physical threat up top and his leggy style of running, he really does have an impressive stride, further stretching teams.
Starting Anderson would reinforce the right-hand side of the pitch, as he would get up and down and support Gibbons more than Coburn probably can.
Which possibly brings us back to the theory of how aggressive Barton wants to be. Conservative with a small c, although that’s being a touch harsh, would be Gibbons or Hoole plus Anderson; something in the middle would be Gibbons and Coburn; and then the more front foot selection would be Anderson and Coburn.
Meanwhile, John Marquis could be part of the squad for the first time since the start of the month after recovering from a knee injury but the 30-year-old could also be kept back for Derby County. Scott Sinclair and Harvey Saunders offer other attacking options off the bench.
Bristol Rovers (4-3-3): James Belshaw; James Gibbons, Bobby Thomas, Lewis Gibson, Lewis Gordon; Antony Evans, Jordan Rossiter, Sam Finley; Josh Coburn, Ryan Loft, Aaron Collins
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