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Preview: Bristol Rovers v Grimsby

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 10/08/2006

GRIMSBY have a chance to make amends for a poor display on Tuesday night at Wrexham, with another long trip to Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

Home > 2006-2007 Season > Previews > Bristol R (a)


Although Town have not fired on all cylinders so far this season, the Pirates have fared even worse, losing both their games to Peterborough and Wycombe.

With no new injury worries, Graham Rodger has the chance both to shuffle his pack and to try and improve his side's defensive display. Town have conceded five goals in their first two games and it could have been a lot worse had Boston and Wrexham been more prolific in front of goal. In terms of changes to his back four, Rodger has only one realistic option: Gary Croft could come in for either Tom Newey, or John McDermott.

More likely is that Rodger drops Michael Reddy, and pushes Rankin up front, where he was devastating against Boston. Young Bore would then be able play on the right in place of Rankin. Rodger's only other possible changes, with Town having such a small squad, is to bring in Toner in midfield or another of the largely untried youngsters such as Nick Hegarty.

Realistically Rodger is more likely to try and change the pattern of play than make wholesale changes.

Bristol Rovers have one of the strongest squads in the division, including the lethal front pairing of Richard Walker (No. 10) and Junior Agogo (No. 9). The Pirates have lost both their games - albeit to two of this season's strongest sides - and will be looking to bounce back at home to Grimsby.

Like Grimsby it is in defence that Rovers have been most at sea, conceding six goals in their first two games.

"People aren't in the right holes and they're not defending correctly, and it's got to change. And if it doesn't change then the personnel will change, because we can't continue like this or we will fall too far behind", boss Paul Trollope told Rovers' official site.

Possible Teams:

Town (4-4-2) Barnes, McDermott, Futcher, Whittle, Newey, Bore, Harkins, Bolland, Beagrie, Jones, Rankin.
Subs: Barwick, Croft, Toner, North, Reddy.

Rovers Phillips, Lescott, Hinton, Elliott, Carruthers, Haldane, Hunt, Disley, Igoe, Agogo, Walker
Subs: Ryan Green, Campbell, Sandell, Shearer, Anthony

Last Time

In their first away game of last season, Rovers went ahead against the run of play when Agogo latched on to a loose ball in the box. But Town came storming back, and first Gritton and then Rob Jones fought back to turn the match on its head.  Report.

Prediction: A high-scoring game: 3-3.


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