Bristol Rovers’ next five games feature Clarke-Harris and Loft reunions, a return on the road, and young Irons.
Bristol Rovers are without a game this weekend due to international call-ups, but they will have a busy calendar when they return.
Although an international break does not apply to League One clubs, with only two scheduled fixtures slated to take place this weekend and most matches in the third tier postponed due to international call-ups, it may as well.
Bristol Rovers were scheduled to play Reading in one of their shortest travels of the season this weekend. The game was called off due to multiple call-ups in the Royals’ team.
However, after a busy summer that included 12 new signings, a club takeover, the start of the season, and missing out on a club-record deal for Jonson Clarke-Harris by seconds, a break is certainly in order.
Joey Barton’s men have taken six points from their first six league matches, scoring six goals. Given the caliber of some of their opponents thus far, it’s a decent start, but the widespread feeling is that some of the performances merited a higher point return.
It wasn’t a spectacular performance, but Rovers’ 1-1 draw with Lincoln City last Saturday was a step in the right direction. It was the third consecutive game in which the Gas commanded possession with at least 60% of the ball while facing compact, tenacious opponents.
Again, Rovers struggled to create chances against such a club, but they appeared to be the more likely of the two teams to produce a quality moment. Furthermore, they had previously lost to Wycombe Wanderers and Cambridge United.
Three days later, the Gas preserved their greatest performance of the season for an EFL Trophy match against Cheltenham Town, which they won 4-1.
Granted, the visitors were awful on the night, but a much-changed Rovers squad played with ease and generated multiple chances that could easily have resulted in more than four goals.
Waiting 10 days for the next game after such a performance is frustrating, but it should be utilized as an opportunity to think and heal while also working on playing in a different system.
When Barton’s team returns to action, they will have another rigorous schedule of five games in 17 days, but it should provide an opportunity to start picking up more points as they attempt to climb the table. But what about their next round of games?
Shrewsbury Town (A) – Saturday, September 16
Rovers’ final away game of the season, a 2-1 defeat at Shrewsbury, seems like it was only yesterday.
The encounter will be remembered for the ‘disrespectful’ celebrations of ex-Gas player Luke Leahy, which Barton called out. This time, however, Shrewsbury will be without Leahy, who faced the Gas for new club Wycombe two weeks ago, as well as former Bristol City boss Steve Cotterill.
With ex-Walsall manager and Barton’s former Burnley teammate Matt Taylor now in charge at the New Meadow, the Shropshire club has had a mixed start to the season.
Shrewsbury Town are 14th in the table after three victories and three defeats, despite having a more favorable fixture calendar to begin the season.
Their three victories have all come by a single goal against League One’s current bottom three, Cheltenham Town, Burton Albion, and Fleetwood Town.
Taylor’s men also gave newly promoted Carlisle United their first victory in the third tier last weekend, with their other defeats coming at the hands of high-flying Stevenage and Lincoln.
It will be a difficult trip, but it is one that should be targeted as an opportunity to secure a second league win if the Gas are serious about climbing the table.
West Ham United U21s (H) vs. Chelsea (H) – September 19 (EFL Trophy)
Following a crowd of just under 1,200 for the Cheltenham game, it wouldn’t be surprising if less than 1,000 fans attend this one, given the boycott of many Gasheads over Premier League academies participating in the EFL Trophy.
This will be the first match in the competition for the Hammers, who have had a solid start to their Premier League 2 campaign, winning three and losing one of their first four games.
Furthermore, with their under-18s winning the FA Youth Cup last season, a few of players from that side could be promoted, meaning Rovers will face a particularly talented set of teenagers.
You’d hope that experience triumphs and that a win secures Barton’s men a spot in the knockout stages, but it could turn out to be a bit of a banana skin.
Wigan Athletic (H) – 23rd September
Based on their start, it’s difficult to predict which Wigan will show up at the Mem in two weeks.
The Latics are playing catch-up after relegation from the Championship, having started the season with an eight-point deduction, but have taken what would normally correspond to ten points from their first six games.
However, the results have been mixed to say the least, with a 2-1 win at pre-season promotion favourites Derby County on the opening day and a 4-0 triumph at current favourites and Greater Manchester rivals Bolton Wanderers.
Shaun Maloney’s team beat newly-promoted Northampton Town 2-1 in their first home game, but fell to Barnsley 2-0 the following week at the DW Stadium. Their other results were a 1-1 draw at Carlisle and a 2-1 defeat against fellow relegated side Blackpool.
It’s a tough call with Cambridge playing their league game at home before traveling to the West Country, despite the fact that they entered this temporary international break with back-to-back defeats.
Peterborough United (A) – 30th of September
Having this game when the Clarke-Harris injury is still fresh is not ideal, and the striker will almost certainly play for the Posh against the team he was seconds away from rejoining.
Gas fans might take heart from the fact that the striker had two quiet performances against his former club last season, as the Gas beat Peterborough 1-0 on aggregate in both league matches.
Furthermore, Darren Ferguson’s men have experienced a full turnaround in results, opening the season with three consecutive victories before losing their last three in League One.
Last season’s play-off semi-finalists, though, have five games remaining before playing Rovers, including league games against Leyton Orient, Cheltenham and Bolton, as well as hosting Cambridge in the EFL Trophy and traveling to League Two Mansfield Town in the League Cup.
Playing a juvenile team at this stage of the season may be seen as an advantage for Rovers, but the same could be said for the Gas, who are in the process of adapting to a new style of play with a mainly new roster.
Port Vale (H) – 3rd October
At the time of writing, Rovers’ next five games are the toughest on paper, with Port Vale now fourth in League One after a great start despite a 7-0 hammering at Barnsley on the opening day.
Vale, who were promoted alongside the Gas in 2022, have won four of their first six games, defeating Reading, Charlton, Carlisle, and Oxford United, while drawing 0-0 at Blackpool and getting annihilated at Oakwell.
The game will also be a quick return to the Mem for Ryan Loft, who left the Gas for the Valiants on deadline day with the expectation that his game time would be cut even further due to Clarke-Harris’ arrival.
If you want to be in the running for promotion, your home form needs to be perfect, and that’s one of Barton’s biggest challenges to overcome with only two league triumphs at the Mem this season.
