Marcus Braddock looks ahead to thi
After a couple of draws on the road, Shrewsbury Town return to the Montgomery Waters Meadow for the visit of Bristol Rovers. The Gas sit in 12th place in League One with 18 points from 13 games
Their goal difference of -1 doesn't hint at it but this is a team capable of scoring lots of goals, unfortunately it concedes just as many. Rovers are the 4th highest scorers in L1 but also have the third worst defence. They've garnered six points from their six away games this season and have the 11th best form over the last eight games, winning 12 points over that period.
The Manager
Mansfield born winger Darren Clarke played for his home town club Mansfield Town from a youth player to a first teamer with near to 200 games under his belt. He moved on to Hartlepool and made over 100 appearances before moving into “non League” Salisbury who he eventually managed in 2010. He managed Salisbury to two play off wins in the Southern League and then the National League. Bristol Rovers noticed his success and decided he was their man, signing Clarke in 2014. Since then he's lead Rovers to a play-off final and then promotion from League Two.
Goalscorers
B. Bodin 7 goals, 4 away
R Gaffney 5 goals, 1 away
Goal Distribution
There have been 20 goals scored in the last 15 minutes of Bristol Rovers games, 11 for Rovers and nine for the opposition. In away games there have been nine goals scored in the last fifteen minutes of, four for Rovers and five for their opponents. There is a distinct pattern for Rovers away games, they start off with very few goals in the first half but as the game continues they score and concede progressively more. So could this be a team that loses it's shape the more it pushes forward? It's certainly a team that doesn't like to draw with absolutely none for Gas this season in League One.
Clean Sheets
One, against Northampton Town away.
Failed to score
Three times in away games and once at home.
Assists
Chris Lines 5
Lee Brown 3
Rory Gaffney 3
Referee - Darren Handley from Lancashire: Yellow card average: 3.15 over 13 games. One red card
Assistants:Richard Bartlett and Lee Freeman
Fourth Official: Paul Hobday
Squad News
Bristol Rovers will be without top scorer Billy Bodin (hamstring).
Paul Hurst has no new injury concerns.
Summary
This looks like a game that could well entertain us if Rovers goal stats are anything to go by. They may find it a little difficult to score quite as freely without top scorer Billy Bodin but they have plenty of other players capable of hitting the back of the net. With so many goals in the final fifteen minutes in Rovers games, leaving before the final whistle may not be the best option.
COYB!!!
Marcus