The Cobblers welcome Bristol Rovers to Sixfields tomorrow evening, looking to bounce back from the weekend defeat to Southend United. Newly promoted Rovers come into the game in the lower reaches of the League One table but will still be a stern test under former Cobbler Paul Trollope.
Stuart Gray has no new injury worries ahead of the game but Joe Burnell and Brett Johnson were injured towards the end of last week, making them miss the Southend game. Alex Russell looks set to play despite having a knee problem.
Sean Rigg is set to start for Rovers despite sustaining a blow to the head in Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to Bournemouth but defender Byron Anthony remains on the sidelines, possibly until the New Year.
THE STORY SO FAR…BRISTOL ROVERS IN 2007/08…
Rovers find themselves in 19th place in the league table following a run that’s seen them pick up just four points from their last nine games.
The season began with a couple of 1-1 draws in the league with Port Vale and Crewe Alexandra sandwiching a penalty shoot-out win over Crystal Palace in the League Cup. Joe Jacobson scored the only goal in their 1-0 win at Oldham before West Ham won 2-1 at the Memorial Ground in the second round of the League Cup.
An entertaining 2-2 home draw with Nottingham Forest was followed by a 2-1 success at Luton Town but that would turn out to be Rovers’ last win up to now.
Leeds took home a 3-0 win from Bristol before the Gas went to Carlisle and got a point in a 1-1 draw. A 3-2 defeat to Orient was followed by a home draw with Southend and an away point at Brighton.
Rovers’ season had begun to stutter and defeats at Hartlepool and Gillingham sandwiched another home draw with Yeovil. The last two games have seen further losses, 3-2 at Gillingham and 2-0 at home to fellow strugglers Bournemouth to leave Rovers at the wrong end of the table going into the game at Sixfields.
RECENT MEETINGS…
19/11/05: COBBLERS 4-0 BRISTOL ROVERS
Andy Kirk gives the Cobblers a two goal leads before the break including one penalty before Martin Smith and Pedj Bojic wrapped up a comfortable win.
07/10/05: BRISTOL ROVERS 0-0 COBBLERS
Stalemate at the Memorial Stadium just over a month before the Cobblers hammer Rovers at Sixfields.
03/01/05: BRISTOL ROVERS 3-1 COBBLERS
James Hunt and Christian Edwards fire the home side two goals in front before Eric Sabin grabs an 81st minute lifeline for the Cobblers. But Junior Agogo wraps up the points in stoppage time.
25/09/04: COBBLERS 2-1 BRISTOL ROVERS
Two early goals from Scott McGleish put the Cobblers into a commanding lead. Dave Savage scores with ten minutes to go but it’s not enough to save a point.
07/02/04: COBBLERS 2-0 BRISTOL ROVERS
Goals from Magno Viera and Martin Smith hand the Cobblers a home win en route to the League Two playoffs.
26/12/03: BRISTOL ROVERS 1-2 COBBLERS
Wayne Carlisle gives Rovers the lead with a penalty just after half-time but goals from Derek Asamoah and Richard Walker turn the game around at a rain drenched Memorial Ground.
FOR THE RECORD…COBBLERS v ROVERS…
GAMES PLAYED: 118
COBBLERS WINS: 47
DRAWS: 33ROVERS WINS: 38
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