Bristol Roversvs.Exeter

The Gas will be desperate to stop the rot after five defeats on the bounce, while the Grecians will be looking for their second win this month.

Match preview

Inigo Calderon's Rovers may have thought that their fears of demotion were misplaced after recording back-to-back wins in early March, but having lost five consecutive games leading up to this weekend's clash, they will be looking over their shoulder.

Last time out, the Gas were beaten 1-0 by promotion-chasing Bolton Wanderers, and though the result was not unexpected, the manager will be disappointed that his team were only able to muster one shot on target at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

Dropping another three points against the Trotters has left Calderon's side 20th in the table with 42 points, and given that they are just three above 21st-placed Burton Albion - who also have a game in hand on the Pirates - the threat of relegation is looming large.

That being said, Saturday's hosts could draw confidence from the fact that they have won two of their last five at Memorial Stadium, a significantly better record than their travelling form that features one win in all competitions since November.

Should Rovers earn a rare victory this weekend, then they could create a six-point cushion between themselves and Burton in the drop zone, though defeat would give the Brewers the chance to overtake the Gas due to their superior goal difference.

Meanwhile, Gary Caldwell's Exeter have lost just two of their 10 games since the beginning of March, though while they have proven difficult to beat in recent weeks, they have only won four of their last 18 matches across all competitions.

On Tuesday, the Grecians came from behind to earn a point in a 1-1 draw with a struggling Wigan Athletic team thanks to a 69th-minute equaliser from midfielder Reece Cole after Dayle Taylor had opened the scoring for the Latics from the penalty spot.

That stalemate has Caldwell's side 15th in League One, where they are now a comfortable 10 points ahead of 21st-placed Burton Albion in the relegation zone and seven in front of their at-risk opponents.

Regardless, Saturday's visitors will want to be mathematically safe from the drop, and given that they are undefeated in their last four on the road and beat Barnsley 2-1 on their most recent trip away from St James Park on April 1, they will be confident of taking one step closer with another win this weekend.

Three points could be enough to see Exeter go level with 14th-placed Stevenage and move 13 clear of relegation in a best-case scenario, though they could slip down to 18th and be leapfrogged by Peterborough United, Mansfield Town and Wigan should they lose.

Bristol Rovers League One form:

W

L

L

L

L

L

Exeter City League One form:

D

D

L

W

L

D

Team News

Rovers' top scorer Ruel Sotiriou should start on the left flank, supporting striker Gatlin O'Donkor along with his opposite winger Shaqai Forde.

Elsewhere, Romaine Sawyers will patrol the centre of the park with Kofi Shaw and Matt Butcher just in front of him, while captain James Wilson partners Connor Taylor at the heart of Calderon's defence.

As for Exeter, midfielder Reece Cole, who scored his side's equaliser against Wigan, should be joined by Ryan Woods in the middle third, with Joel Colwill ahead supporting strikers Sonny Cox and Josh Maggenis.

Wing-backs Jack McMillan and Ilmari Niskanen will provide width, while centre-backs Angus MacDonald, Jack Fitzwater and Alex Hartridge protect goalkeeper Joe Whitworth between the sticks.

Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:

Ward; Moore, Wilson, Taylor, Swinkels; Sawyers; Forde, Shaw, Butcher, Sotiriou; O'Donkor

Exeter City possible starting lineup:

Whitworth; MacDonald, Fitzwater, Hartridge; McMillan, Woods, Cole, Niskanen; Colwill; Cox, Magennis

We say: Bristol Rovers 1-1 Exeter City

Rovers have scored in each of their last 11 home games, and with the pressure of demotion on their minds, they will be motivated to put in a strong performance this weekend.

Written by

Anthony Nolan

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