Bristol Rovers vs Accrington MATCHDAY THREAD

I don't think anyone wants to start the match thread for the fear of being tarred and feathered....

We will win tonight.

It's got to be 3 points. It's that simple.

Tough one tonight as confidence is low and we seem to be making at least 1 or 2 mistakes every game that are punished. But I do think Barton will have given a few home truths to some players and they should also be fired up after the farce of the last game against them! Going for a tetchy 2-1 win!

for me I think we’ll see some changes as eluded to by JB in his presser but those calling out for Leahy to be dropped, I still think despite his mistake Saturday, he’s our most reliable Left Back at the club. Koiki and Tutonda have shown moments when they have played but Tutonda, whilst he has dribbling ability, his touch is iffy and he’s constantly over stretching or losing control of the ball but then using his speed to sometimes claim or work it back and Koiki - I haven’t really seen him do anything in his recent appearances and when he played longer earlier in the season, he constantly lost the ball always trying to take on the player. I think despite his flaws, we’ll need Leahy for his experience, his link play and his more rounded ability. (For me Tutonda and Koiki are both players for the future). I also think Kilgour will retain his place.

My team would be 3-4-1-2 and as follows:

Day

Baldwin, Kilgour, Harries (Ehmer was poor and I don’t think fully fit and Williams I think needs a rest and also is carrying a knock)

Rodman, McCormick, Westbrooke, Leahy (Grant is injured, Upson was meh on Saturday and also JB was unhappy at him not being ready to come on and the rest are youngsters)

Ozzy (I would say Nicholson but he’s appeared laboured and less influential at times recently and I think needs a rest for his hip)

Ayunga, Daly (Hanlan is struggling with his injury and Walker isn’t ready in my opinion to be starting)


Bench: JVS, Williams (versatility to play RWB, RB or RCB gets him the nod over Hare), Koiki (his versatility gives him the nod over Tuts), Martinez (picked him over Ehmer as we already have to right footed CBS playing and Martinez is left footed so can give us balance there), Nicholson, Hanlan, Upson (choice between him or Liddle and gone for Upson for his experience as we have 2 young players in the starting midfield)

Needs to be a win at all cost,or the pressure will increase for Saturday,I'd take four points for both games if you offered me now, but clearly two wins are needed, and sadly I can't see it happening,overjoyed to be wrong. UTG

I am going to change tack tonight and listen on the radio. Simply because (i am a tight fisted sod) we rarely win when i watch. Lets hope it works.

Tough call for this one as so many unknown factors:

Category A: Players carrying injuries
Category B: Players with a difference of opinion / lack of care from JBs perspective
Category C: Players that have 'had too many chances' or have made too many mistakes
Category D: Players that maybe are too young or too un experienced

Based on this and the formation we ended at Hull and some of the personnel here is my best guess:

3-4-1-2

***************Day**************
***Williams**Kilgour**Baldwin***
Rodman**McCormick**Upson**Leahy
***********Westbrooke***********
********Ayunga*****Daly*********

Leahy was 50/50 for me... no getting away from his attacking record this season - impressive. I would love to see Tutonda back but given he hasn't featured anywhere near the first team in a while I can't see it happening. Koiki is another one that I would like to see given a chance but like Dave, he hasn't really been a feature of late.

Ayunga is a must for me, have mentioned time and time again how much better he is in the air and physically. Will give defenders a physical battle, none of this easy get it down and knock it around. They will be sore.

Daly is in to press press press and has that poachers instinct along with getting his body in the right places within the penalty area

Have put Westbrooke in that number 10 role... just prefer him to be much higher up the pitch. We have seen how he can link play up with nice passes and cheeky back heels etc. Lets hope he can put Daly through.

Rodman has shown higher consistent performances in my opinion and Williams has a decent balance of pace and defensive qualities for me puts him ahead of Ehmer. Kilgour and Baldwin great in the air although both have had positional issues historically but faith in them to get us cleans.
Macca - one of the first on the sheet - admirable hunger especially as he is a loanee
Upson - with Grant out he is in
Day - like his quick thinking on recycling the ball out to the wingback to start our attacks - no let up

It's a must win (aren't they all) but really it's a must win - JB results from a points per game will drop to the lowest of the 4 we had this season. The 'other' players that are brought in should be hungrier and really up for impressing the trust the manager has on them. Bleedin Accrington did us 6-1 for gawd sake. Because of this I can see us really really going for it. Suffocating Accrington, leaving them no option but the long ball where (if positioned correctly) Kilgour and Baldwin will win everything.

Going to be odd but I'm going for a 4-0 to Rovers - finally everything clicks and no mistakes! Pride pride pride.

Thought he went out on loan?

At Yeovil mate.