Bristol Rovers will be looking to pick themselves up and dust themselves down after producing their worst performance of the season, in the league at least, away at Leyton Orient on Tuesday night.
Only time will tell if it came as a result of having to play 120 minutes up at Barnsley just three days before alongside the travel necessary for both fixtures. However, there’s no shying away from the fact that Rovers have failed to produce a shot on target in their last two league outings and have managed just one since Luke McCormick’s goal against Mansfield Town a fortnight ago.
Although the Gas were largely toothless against Barnsley, they defended superbly while also having some brilliance from their goalkeeper to thank whereas against Orient they were poor at the back and non-existent in attack. Something has to change when they host Bolton Wanderers this afternoon.
By no means will this be a straightforward game. Bolton are seventh and on an upwards trajectory towards where they feel they belong after a tough opening five fixtures. However, Rovers’ home form this season generally has been fine but there is increasing pressure once again with the 1-0 success over Shrewsbury Town in late October their last victory at the Mem completed within 90 minutes.
Thankfully Matt Taylor has returned to work after having to deal with a family emergency and will be in the dugout this evening but he’s well aware that his team are still yet to have that stand out result that really kick starts the campaign.
On the back of Tuesday night, there is certainly a possibility that a number of changes are made. Here’s how we think the Gas could set up…
Goalkeeper and defence
Although he was nowhere near his best on Tuesday night, Josh Griffiths ensured the scoreline stayed at 3-0 with some good saves in the second half against Leyton Orient. He’s also got an overwhelming amount of credit in the bank as a result of most of his performances this season. Where would Bristol Rovers be without him?
In defence, there is a feeling that there could be a change at right-back now that Joel Senior has made two appearances following his three-month injury layoff. As good as Taylor Moore has been defensively this season, the centre-back hasn’t played at his best when deployed at right-back and Rovers appear to need a natural option there.
Dave Horseman made the point that he probably shouldn’t have started Moore and Clinton Mola at Orient, on reflection, after their contributions against Barnsley three days prior, due to fatigue with the pair responsible for individual errors that led to goals.
The 27-year-old has become a popular figure during his time with the Gas but there’s a good chance he’s given a rest, particularly considering Senior was excellent in the first half against Barnsley and then put in one of very few good crosses as a substitute on Tuesday night.
Elsewhere, there’s certainly an argument for Bryant Bilongo to come back in with Mola also evidently struggling with fatigue on Tuesday but the left-back was rested for Bilongo against Blackpool last Tuesday. There shouldn’t really be a need for the 23-year-old to drop out. Despite his performance on Tuesday, he has still largely been a consistent performer for Rovers.
Then in the middle, it’s a pretty straightforward decision. Connor Taylor and James Wilson have been an absolute rock alongside each other in most games and hopefully Tuesday proves to be a blip.
Midfield
It’s tough to argue that Kamil Conteh would’ve made a significant difference in East London on Tuesday night had he not been serving a suspension for picking up his fifth yellow card of the season but he might have at least protected the defence slightly better. The 21-year-old is in good form and a no-brainer to come back into the side. Some rest might have actually done the midfielder some good.
Alongside him, it’s no secret that Jamie Lindsay had a poor night on Tuesday and wasn’t great against Barnsley and Blackpool either. However, the 29-year-old has shown what he’s about in other matches and still deserves to be starting regularly. Grant Ward is a good alternative but he didn’t cover himself in any glory on Tuesday either.
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Further up the pitch and Rovers are crying out for improved creativity from their attacking midfielders. McCormick’s goal against Mansfield, their last effort, was an excellent example of the quality the Gas’ attacking can produce with all four attacking players involved in the move.
Isaac Hutchinson, who got the assist for that goal, didn’t even get on the pitch against Orient so should be fit and raring to go to start this afternoon while McCormick showed a bit of endeavour to at least win the ball back when he came on as a substitute. Meanwhile, he may need a rest but Shaq Forde was one of few players who came out of that game on Tuesday with any credit and can be Rovers’ most dangerous player when he’s really on it.
The Luke Thomas saga seems to be ongoing with the winger not involved in the squad on Tuesday night. He seems to be nowhere near a start but, with the options they’ve got, the Gas will surely be missing a trick if they don’t bring him on if they’re in need of a goal?
Striker
Although he’s had very little to work with in the final third, since his return from injury really, Chris Martin has proven his worth at the back with some vital headed clearances from set-pieces. The question is though whether Taylor opts for an alternative to lead the line.
In McCormick’s role in the middle of the attacking midfield trio, there’s no hiding from the fact that Ruel Sotiriou had a poor night against his former side and is unlikely to be picked to lead the line which leaves Gatlin O’Donkor as the only other option with Promise Omochere expected to return to training next week.
The 20-year-old was unlucky not to score in the opening stages against Barnsley last week and proved that he’s got strength and endeavour, hitting the post after some excellent work. It certainly wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Oxford United loanee start.
However, Martin must be pulling his hair out. Although the 36-year-old’s movement, or lack of, has been criticised by supporters, the striker is still one of the best finishers in the division and hasn’t had enough good deliveries his way to gobble up.
It feels like a bit of a flipped coin decision but, more for freshness reasons more than anything, we’re going to go for O’Donkor.
Bristol Rovers XI (4-2-3-1): Josh Griffiths; Joel Senior, Connor Taylor, James Wilson, Clinton Mola; Kamil Conteh, Jamie Lindsay; Shaq Forde, Luke McCormick, Isaac Hutchinson; Gatlin O’Donkor