The Cobblers travel to Bristol Rovers this afternoon looking to bounce back from a desperate night at Yeovil a couple of weeks ago. With Scunthorpe’s involvement in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final last weekend, we missed a chance to get out of the bottom four, instead slipping a further point off the pace and time is running out for a final push for survival.
Team News
The Gas may be without first choice keeper Lee Phillips for the game, with on loan Stoke City stopper Danzelle St Louis-Hamilton ready to deputise. Striker Darryl Duffy hopes to shake off a calf injury picked up in the defeat at Tranmere.
Stuart Gray is without Luke Guttridge, whose knee injury flared up again last week whilst Colin Larkin was injured in training. But on loan defender Adam Watts could make his debut after overcoming concussion and he could take the place of Chris Doig who is struggling with an Achilles injury.
Form
Both sides go into today’s game on a poor run of form. Rovers were pushing for the playoffs a few weeks ago but three defeats in four have ended those hopes. Last weekend, Paul Trollope’s men were beaten 2-0 at Tranmere as Aaron Cresswell and Ian Moore struck to send Rovers hope pointless.
The Cobblers faded after a 4-0 win over Stockport County a couple of weeks ago, with a 4-3 home defeat at home to Swindon followed by a draw at Carlisle and defeat at Yeovil. One point from three massive relegation battles wasn’t good enough and inevitably we slipped into the bottom four following the loss at Huish Park.
Last Time Out...28/12/08...COBBLERS 0-0 BRISTOL ROVERS
On a disappointing afternoon at Sixfields, 2008 was seen in very quietly as neither side could find a way through and the game ended goalless.
Previous Meetings...
12/03/08: ROVERS 1-1 COBBLERS
Sean Rigg put the Gas in front but Poul Hubertz grabbed an equaliser to keep the Cobblers in the hunt for a top half finish towards the end of last season.
06/11/07: COBBLERS 0-1 ROVERS
Days after a good league run came to and end at Southend, Rovers doubled the misery by winning with a Rickie Lambert goal.
19/11/05: COBBLERS 4-0 ROVERS
Two goals from Andy Kirk, one from Martin Smith and a late header from Pedj Bojic seal a comfortable win en route to promotion.
07/10/05: ROVERS 0-0 COBBLERS
Stalemate in the Cobblers' promotion season of 05/06.
03/01/05: ROVERS 3-1 COBBLERS
Former Cobbler James Hunt gives Rovers the lead before it's doubled by Chris Edwards. Eric Sabin gives us hope with ten minutes to go but Junior Agogo makes it 3-1 in stoppage time.
Head to Head...Gas v Cobblers...
Games Played: 121
Bristol Rovers Wins: 30
Draws: 35
Cobblers Wins: 47
No comments:
Post a Comment