Preview: Bristol Rovers vs. Cheltenham Town - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors recorded a 1-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town on Thursday, while Bristol Rovers were on the wrong end of a seven-goal thriller with Exeter City in their last match.

Match preview

Bristol Rovers were involved in a thrilling match with Exeter on Thursday, with Joey Barton's side coming from behind to lead 3-2 in the 74th minute of the contest, but they then conceded twice more in the final five minutes to suffer a 4-3 loss in the pulsating clash.

The result has left the Pirates in 12th position in the table, boasting 31 points from their opening 24 matches of the campaign, just four points off the playoff positions.

Bristol Rovers secured promotion from League Two last season courtesy of their third-place finish, so any position above 21st would go down as a successful campaign.

Barton's team have actually now lost their last two in League One, having also been on the end of a 2-1 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers on Boxing Day.

The Pirates will now be bidding to begin 2023 with a positive result, but they have only won four of their 12 home league fixtures this season, drawing four and losing four.

Cheltenham, meanwhile, will enter the match off the back of a 1-0 victory over Shrewsbury, with Dan N'Lundulu scoring the only goal of the contest in the 38th minute.

The result moved the Robins into 15th position in the table, just three points behind their opponents here.

Cheltenham finished 15th in League One last season on their return to the third tier, so it would be a hugely successful campaign if they could potentially push towards the playoffs this term.

Wade Elliott's side have won three of their last five in the league but lost two of their last three, having suffered 1-0 defeats to Forest Green Rovers and Plymouth Argyle before overcoming Shrewsbury.

Cheltenham suffered a 4-1 loss to Bristol Rovers in the reverse game between the two sides earlier this season, while they have only won one of their last seven games against their opponents in this contest.

Bristol Rovers League One form:

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D

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W

L

L

Bristol Rovers form (all competitions):

D

W

W

W

L

L

Cheltenham Town League One form:

D

W

W

L

L

W

Cheltenham Town form (all competitions):

W

W

L

W

L

W

Team News

Bristol Rovers boss Barton will need to assess the fitness of his players following their energy-zapping contest with Exeter on Thursday.

There are expected to be changes from the side that took to the field against Exeter, with James Connolly and John Marquis likely to be included in the XI.

However, Aaron Collins and Josh Coburn were both on the scoresheet last time out and should retain their positions in the final third of the field.

As for Cheltenham, the visitors will be missing Charles Raglan due to the red card that he received in the second half of the win over Shrewsbury last time out.

As a result, there could be a spot at the back for Sean Long, but it might otherwise be the same side that took to the field for the first whistle of the 1-0 success last time out.

N'Lundulu scored the winner against Shrewsbury and is a certain starter in the final third of the field, while Ryan Broom should also feature in the starting side here.

Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:

Belshaw; Connolly, Thomas, Gibson, Gordon; Evans, Finley, Coutts; Collins; Coburn, Marquis

Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:

Southwood; Taylor, Long, Freestone; Jackson, Sercombe, Bonds, Ferry; N'Lundulu, Broom, May

We say: Bristol Rovers 1-1 Cheltenham Town

There are only three points between these two teams in the league table, and we are expecting it to be a close match on New Year's Day. Both managers will be keen not to lose, which could create a cagey affair, and we have had to settle on a low-scoring draw in this contest.

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