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Round One!
Round One!

Bristol Rovers Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 04/11/2005

IT’S a break from league action this weekend, as Town take on managerless Bristol Rovers at Blundell Park in the first round of the F.A Cup.

Home > 2005-2006 Season > Previews > Bristol R (h)


The Opposition

Overview
Rovers sacked boss Ian Atkins at the end of September following a poor start to the season. The former Northampton manager was prized away in 2004 from Oxford United but failed to get the Pirates out of the bottom tier on English football. Ex-Town loanee Paul Trollope (left) has taken temporary charge and has had a mixed bag of results - with three wins, four losses and a draw. Mystery hangs over who the new gaffer will be. Jim Smith is reportedly being lined up as director of football while Torquay boss Leroy Rosenior has been linked with the post. Rovers currently lie 17th in the table, five points from the play offs and six from the bottom.

Both sides will hope to progress to the Second Round - after both losing in the first round to non-league opposition last season. Town lost 1-0 at Exeter whilst Rovers lost in replay to Carlisle, who were eventually promoted from the Conference.

Their Squad
Ex-Coventry stopper Scott Shearer is the Pirates' keeper. The 24 year old was linked with a move to Town in the summer following his release from Highfield Road. Former Millwall full back Robbie Ryan provides experience down the left hand side, while in the centre Steve Elliott (left), formerly of Derby, marshals the defence. Michael Leary is on loan from Luton for a further month and plays in midfield. Ex-Mariner Stuart Campbell has had to settle for a place on the bench in recent games but will hope to face his former side. In attack, another ex-Town player, Jamie Forrestet, has recently returned to the side while former Villa striker Richard Walker has netted eight goals this term.

Key Player
Junior Agogo. Tricky frontman who scored against Town in August when the two sides met in the league. The Ghana born striker was signed for £110,000 from Barnet in 2003 and has since netted 35 goals, seven of them coming this season.

Recent Form

TownBristol R
DNorthampton(a)0-0
LNewcastle (LC)(h)0-1
LOrient(h)0-1
WCheltenham(a)4-0
LMorecambe (LDV)(h)1-1 (3-4p)
Currently 3rd in League Two.
LMacclesfield(a)1-2
WWrexham(h)2-1
LPeterborough (LDV)(a)1-2
LBoston(a)1-3
DNorthampton(h)0-0
Currently 16th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownBristol R
Kalala5
Reddy4
Walker8
Agogo6

Team News

TownBristol R

  • On loan striker Calvin Andrew is cup tied for the game. He played in attack last week alongside Martin Gritton, but is expected to be replaced by Michael Reddy. Slade will have to chose between Gritton or Gary Jones as the Irishman’s partner.

  • Andy Parkinson is likely to return in midfield in place of Ciaron Toner after having a long rest with his shin splints problem.

  • Gary Croft is likely to remain sidelined with his knee problem.
  • Defender Christian Edwards hopes to return to the Rovers squad following several weeks on the sidelines with a series of dizzy spells. The Welshman has now been given the all clear to play and took part in a reserve game this week.

  • Fellow defender John Anderson is definitely out after having a knee operation. The 33 year old is assisting caretaker boss Paul Trollope so will travel with the squad anyway, but can’t play until December.

  • Michael Leary is cup tied. Chris Carruthers is likely to come into the side in his place.
  • Probable Teams

    TownBristol R
    1Steve Mildenhall
    2John McDermott
    3Tom Newey
    6Justin Whittle
    4Rob Jones
    15Gary Cohen
    8Paul Bolland
    7JPK Kalala
    11Andy Parkinson
    19Gary Jones
    9Michael Reddy
    23Scott Shearer
    32Aaron Lescott
    2Craig Hinton
    6Steve Elliott
    3Robbie Ryan
    19Ali Gibb
    8James Hunt
    11Chris Carruthers
    20Craig Disley
    9Junior Agogo
    10Richard Walker

    Subs

    TownBristol R
    14Terry Barwick
    18Ciaran Toner
    10Martin Gritton
    4Simon Ramsden
    23Nick Heggarty
    18Jamie Forrester
    5Christian Edwards
    7Stuart Campbell
    26Lewis Haldane
    33Martin Horsell

    Head to Head

    There is only one win between the two sides - with the Pirates just having the edge, with 13 wins to Town’s 12. The sides have only met once in the FA Cup before - way back 96 years ago in 1909 when Town lost 2-0 at Blundell Park.

    P 34 W 12 D 9 L 13 F 55 A 52

    Bristol R Head-to-Head (49th on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Town’s win at Bristol Roves at the start of the season began a run of form away from home which still sees the Mariners undefeated on their travels. Town went behind just after half time, but after missing a series of chances, Town turned the game around with goals from Martin Gritton and a 88th minute goal from Rob Jones.

    Grimsby Team: Mildenhall ,McDermott ,Crane ,Robert Jones ,Ramsden ,Newey ,Bolland ,Croft ,Parkinson (Cohen 61 ) ,Reddy (Andrew ,78 ) ,Gritton
    Subs (not used): Downey,Barwick

    Bristol R Team: Shearer ,Campbell ,Edwards ,Elliott ,Anderson ,Carruthers ,Somner ,Lescott (Gibb ,80 ) ,Williams ,Agogo ,Walker (Louis ,80 )
    Subs: (not used) Hinton,Ryan,Forrester

    Sent Off: Sestanovich

    Attendance: 6,300    Report

    Prediction

    2-0 to the Mariners and into the Second Round

    2-0

    Recent Predictions

    GamePredictionScorePoints
    Northampton1-10-01
    Morecambe1-01-10
    Cheltenham1-14-00
    Wycombe2-20-10
    Shrewsbury2-00-00
    Notts Co1-04-01
    Boston2-11-10
    Spurs1-21-00
    Torquay2-23-00
    Peterborough1-01-03
    Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to Blundell Park (left).

    Admission Prices

    Click on the link for ticket prices to Blundell Park.




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