Joey Barton hinted at a short-term change in approach for Bristol Rovers as they travel to face Burton Albion on Saturday.
Changes are guaranteed to the team that was beaten by Forest Green Rovers on the opening day of the season a week ago after an eventful seven days for the Gas.
The manager is several signings away from having the squad he wants in place, and he is contemplating a more direct approach in the meantime to get the most out of the resources he has.
"We’re going to play a type of football we haven’t played," Barton said. "We’re not going to be as expansive and as fluid at passing through the phases as what we’ve been in the back end of last year, but that’s the way we want to play. I don’t want to play a bit more direct, but we have to play that way to give ourselves the best opportunity."
Here is how Rovers could line up at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday…
What XI would you select? Have your say in the comments section below...
Goalkeeper and defence
There will be at least one change to the defence for Rovers on Saturday, but the goalkeeper will undoubtedly remain the same. James Belshaw will start in goal and he will have to stand up to the physical approach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s Burton are sure to employ. Anssi Jaakkola will provide cover on the bench.
In defence, James Gibbons, Luca Hoole and James Connolly should retain their places, although it is not certain they will stay in the same position.
With Trevor Clarke out of contention and exiled from the first-team group, the left-back spot is vacant. Barton could keep the same formula as the opening day and drop Harry Anderson back to left-back, or Alfie Kilgour could come into the team at centre-half, with Hoole going to right-back and Gibbons going to the left.
Ultimately, Barton indicated in his press conference that Rovers will take the aggressive approach and that would likely be Anderson at full-back to get another attacking player on the pitch.
Josh Grant is out with a knee injury.
Midfield
Sam Finley’s return from injury is a huge boost for the Gas; the 30-year-old was sorely missed on the opening day.
But his return coincides with Jordan Rossiter being ruled out with a hamstring issue, and with Zain Westbrooke also told this week he has no future at Rovers, the Gas are down on numbers compared to last week.
With Barton saying Rovers will look to be more direct, Antony Evans could be dropped into a deeper role alongside Finley to enable Barton to play with two recognised strikers.
Second-year scholar Jerry Lawrence is also a contender to play, but he is more likely to be named on the bench alongside Glenn Whelan.
Paul Coutts misses out again through suspension.
Attack
Should this XI be selected, it could be more of a 4-2-4 than a 4-4-2, but Aaron Collins and Harvey Saunders would be tasked getting up and down the flanks.
That setup would enable John Marquis and Ryan Loft to play together in attack. Loft’s height and strength will be valuable up against a physical Burton side in both boxes.
Rovers struggled to create chances against Forest Green until they bolstered the presence up front with substitutes Loft and Saunders, and if Barton is true to his word about his tactical approach they could both start.
Ryan Jones will be among the substitutes, alongside Harvey Greenslade.
Rovers (4-2-4): Belshaw; Gibbons, Hoole, Connolly, Anderson; Finley, Evans; Saunders, Marquis, Loft, Collins.
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