Bristol Rovers are on the road for the fifth time in less than a month this afternoon as they face Wigan Athletic at the newly-named Brick Community Stadium, a ground on which the Gas are yet to win. However, they come into the contest in a good moment.
Back-to-back wins in League One have eased concerns of Rovers being fully dragged into a relegation scrap. Although a seven point advantage with 21 games still to play isn’t comfortable, it’s certainly a step in the right direction compared to where they were heading into the New Year.
Last weekend’s 3-1 victory at home to Barnsley was by no means perfect as the visitors produced a whopping 26 shots. However, their wastefulness, coincided with some heroics from Josh Griffiths, ensured they only scored one goal while the Gas looked the most dangerous and fluid in attack as they have done in a long time.
Victory in Lancashire would mark a first win at Wigan in almost 35 years but would also be the first time Rovers have won three league games in a row since October 2022. There’s no reason why that can’t change this afternoon.
This is a good opportunity for both teams to climb the table with just one place and two points separating 17th place Latics from 18th place Rovers.
Speaking to Inigo Calderon earlier in the week, team news sounded the same as previously so the big question will be whether the Spaniard opts to name an unchanged side. Here’s how we think the Gas might set up at Wigan later today…
Goalkeeper and defence
As always, it’s not even worth a conversation any more. Josh Griffiths is a nailed on starter with extremely limited competition and cover while, after last weekend’s display, surely the on-loan goalkeeper has been Rovers’ player of the season so far? Wigan stopper Sam Tickle may be widely seen as the best goalkeeper in League One but Griffiths certainly hasn’t been far off.
Ahead of the 23-year-old, a centre-back pairing of James Wilson and Connor Taylor seems extremely likely with no fresh arrivals joining the club this week. A defender has been thought to be on the shortlist with the January window set to close on February 3.
Flanking the duo who have been largely excellent alongside each other this season, Lino Sousa deserves to keep his place at left-back while Taylor Moore is getting increasingly better at right-back. The centre-back is still being played out of position with supporters having every right to question why Joel Senior isn’t getting game time. However, with another game away at Charlton Athletic just three days away, that may be the moment to rotate. The same query applies to Jack Hunt who is seemingly fit again but hasn’t yet been included in a squad since his return to training.
Midfield
After two tricky opening games in a Bristol Rovers shirt, it’s fair to say that there’s plenty more to come from Romaine Sawyers, who has shown bursts of quality in his displays against Ipswich Town and Barnsley. It could certainly be argued though that Sawyers’ presence allowed Grant Ward to get onto the ball and drive forward, exactly what he’s best at.
The midfielder was exceptional against Barnsley, doing superbly to recycle the ball before crossing for Gatlin O’Donkor to score the game’s first goal. He ran the show in the middle and has been one of the early success stories of the Inigo Calderon era after struggling for frequent game time under Matt Taylor this term.
Ahead of the duo, Luke Thomas is another success story and was a slightly unsung hero against the Tykes. The winger consistently looked a threat whenever he picked up the ball and made important runs. There’s really no reason for the wide man to lose his place.
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On the opposite flank, Scott Sinclair was excellent a couple of weeks ago at Cambridge and doesn’t have an abundance of competition on that side. Technically, Shaq Forde could come in on the right with Thomas over on the left or Gatlin O’Donkor, who we’ll get to shortly, could also be deployed there. However, Calderon clearly likes to have experience where he can and Sinclair, also being captain, certainly sets a good example.
In the middle of the two, Isaac Hutchinson deserves to keep his place. Calderon rightly noted in the week that the attacking midfielder’s start to the Barnsley game was well below par but he grew into the contest and ended up bagging himself a much-needed goal.
It’s a similar story for Ruel Sotiriou who got a goal he would have been crying out for for months but, having come off the bench, there’s unfortunately not really a place in the starting line up for him it seems. Again, with the Charlton game not far away rotation could certainly be an option then.
Striker
That man Gatlin O’Donkor absolutely has to start and the only reason why he might be used out wide instead of up front would be to accomodate Chris Martin.
The Oxford United loanee was outstanding against Barnsley, having impressed a couple of weeks earlier against Leyton Orient. That goal was well-deserved and hopefully the 20-year-old can take confidence from it.
Martin would also be a good option to have in the side but, if there’s no room to start the experienced striker, he’s a great option to have come off the bench. The same with Ruel Sotiriou.
As things stand, it looks as though Inigo Calderon could well be naming an unchanged team.
Bristol Rovers XI (4-2-3-1): Josh Griffiths; Taylor Moore, James Wilson, Connor Taylor, Lino Sousa; Romaine Sawyers, Grant Ward; Luke Thomas, Isaac Hutchinson, Scott Sinclair; Gatlin O’Donkor