Bristol Rovers welcome Fleetwood Town to the Memorial Ground for a League One encounter on Saturday afternoon.

Despite both sitting in the bottom half, the two sides are still within a few points of the playoff places.

Match preview

Joey Barton's very young Bristol Rovers side have been thrilling to watch this season, even if the results have not always gone their way.

Rovers have scored more goals than any other side in the bottom half, but it is not surprising to see that only Burton Albion and Forest Green Rovers, the two sides at the foot of the table, have let in more.

Following a fabulous start to October, which saw them win five in a row in all competitions, they have picked up just two points from their last three games.

However, Barton has remained positive over the last few weeks, given their unfortunate injury list and the quality of opposition they have faced in that spell.

It is also worth bearing in mind how impressive and important that run of victories was, as they had won just two games from 13 beforehand.

Starting games off better will be a target for the manager though, as games against Plymouth Argyle and Derby County saw them 2-0 and 4-1 down at half time respectively.

Their attacking form has been heavily influenced by the superb start to the season made by Aaron Collins.

No player has contributed to more goals in League One than the Welshman's 15 (nine goals, six assists) - a total which accounts for more than half of their league goals.

Spirits will be higher somewhat, after the Gas were able to see off League Two strugglers Rochdale in the FA Cup last week.

While Bristol Rovers may be electric in attack at the expense of defensive solidity, the same cannot be said of their upcoming opponents Fleetwood.

Only Bolton Wanderers and Barnsley have been as defensively sound as Fleetwood, but their current position of 15th shows their profligacy in attack.

Averaging just one goal scored per game, 16 of their 17 League One matches this season have seen three goals or fewer scored.

The recent form of Luton loanee Carlos Mendes Gomes could change that though, as the Portuguese attacking midfielder has five goals in his last seven games.

He has seemingly rediscovered the form which saw him score 16 in Morecambe's promotion season from League Two back in the 2020-21 campaign.

Midfielder Lewis Warrington also showed what prowess he has in front of goal, after he notched his first goal for the club since arriving on loan from Premier League Everton with a stunning strike in the cup win over Oxford City at the weekend.

Team News

Both sides are dealing with eye-watering injury lists at the moment.

For Bristol Rovers, they are without captain Paul Coutts and attacking duo Ryan Loft and John Marquis.

That has given Aaron Collins more responsibility to shoulder in attacking terms, and he will look to end a mini three-game scoring drought.

Harry Anderson and Lewis Gibson are another two first-team regulars who are missing for Bristol Rovers.

Some other absentees should return in the next week or two, like James Connolly did recently, after he made his first start since August in the cup win last weekend.

Fleetwood also have a fair share of injury concerns themselves, with Harvey MacAdam, Toto Nsiala and Admiral Muskwe all currently out.

Shaun Rooney will be assessed after he missed the cup win, as will attacker Joe Garner, who went off early against Accrington Stanley at the end of October.

Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:
Belshaw; Gibbons, Connolly, Thomas, Gordon; Evans, Finley, Rossiter; McCormick, Collins, Sinclair

Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:
Lynch; Johnston, Baker, Holgate, Earl, Andrew; Warrington, Vela, Batty, Mendes Gomes; Morton

We say: Bristol Rovers 1-2 Fleetwood Town

There is very little to split the sides in terms of form and league position, but despite Bristol Rovers' excellent offensive output, Fleetwood's strong defence may be able to do a good job on a side littered with injuries.

Another win which saw them score three goals last weekend shows that Fleetwood are improving at the other end too, and Rovers' softness in giving away goals could cost them here.

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