Preview: Bristol Rovers vs. Plymouth Argyle - prediction, team news, lineups

The Gas have already taken on the Pilgrims in the EFL Trophy this season, losing on penalties at Home Park in the group stage, but both teams still managed to progress comfortably.

Match preview

It is fair to say that Bristol Rovers have surpassed expectations in League One after winning promotion to the third tier last season, currently in eighth place, three points shy off the playoffs.

Joey Barton has managed to get his side playing a really entertaining brand of football, scoring 42 goals in their opening 26 league games, the fourth-highest total of any League One side.

However, this attacking style does mean that the Gas are regularly caught out at the back, with 43 goals conceded being the highest amount of any side not in the relegation zone.

To reach this stage of the competition, Bristol Rovers finished second in their group including Plymouth, Swindon Town and Crystal Palace Under-21s, before defeating Colchester United and MK Dons in the knockout rounds.

Last time out, Barton's side made it two wins on the bounce in League One, defeating Cambridge United 2-1 away from home to continue their solid away record, with 18 points in 13 matches on their travels ranking them as the sixth-best team on the road in the division.

Plymouth are also enjoying a very good season in League One, currently top of the table, five points clear of nearest-rivals Sheffield Wednesday, as they look to return to the second tier for the first time since 2010.

While the Pilgrims have conceded the most of any side in the top six, they have started to show improved signs in defence in recent weeks, only conceding two goals in their last six league matches, while also picking up four wins.

In their most recent match, Steven Schumacher's side picked up a decent point away at fifth-placed Bolton Wanderers, keeping it tight at the back in a 0-0 draw, following it up with a 3-1 win at home to MK Dons.

To get to this point in the EFL Trophy, Plymouth won their group, before beating Charlton Athletic, and then overcoming a 3-0 deficit against AFC Wimbledon to draw 3-3, going on to win the penalty shoot-out.

Even though they are performing very well, the Pilgrims have only won one of their last seven matches on the road, losing 5-1 away at Grimsby Town in the FA Cup, so Tuesday's game is sure to be a closely-contested encounter.

Bristol Rovers EFL Trophy form:

L

W

W

W

W

Bristol Rovers form (all competitions):

W

W

L

L

W

W

Plymouth Argyle EFL Trophy form:

W

W

W

W

D

Plymouth Argyle form (all competitions):

W

D

W

W

W

D

Team News

Now that we are reaching the latter stages of the competition, Barton and Schumacher may not choose to rotate as much as they did in previous rounds, but some changes are very likely for both sides.

Anssi Jaakkola has featured in goal for Bristol Rovers in every previous game, so he is set to come in for James Belshaw, who has been the first-choice keeper in the league for the majority of the season.

Luke McCormick has found starts hard to come by in League One, so he could be given game time in the centre of midfield, replacing Sam Finley, while youngster Lewis Gordon is set to start ahead of Scott Sinclair, and John Marquis is poised to start at striker.

Plymouth have Sam Cosgrove to thank for helping them reach this stage of the EFL Trophy, with the striker netting a hat-trick in the turnaround against Wimbledon, so the striker should keep his place, being partnered by Ryan Hardie.

19-year-old Finley Craske was given game time in the last round, so he may be called upon again by Schumacher, while 16-year-old Oscar Halls is an option at centre-back, with the teenager playing in the competition five times this season.

Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:

Jaakkola; Hoole, Thomas, Connolly; Gibbons, Coutts, McCormick, Gordon, Collins; Coburn, Marquis

Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:

Burton; Halls, Scarr, Pursall; Craske, Houghton, Butcher, Endacott, Roberts; Cosgrove, Hardie

We say: Bristol Rovers 0-1 Plymouth Argyle

Bristol Rovers have been in very good form recently, but given that Plymouth Argyle are the highest-ranked side in the competition, it would be unwise to bet against them.

Games involving the Pilgrims have not contained many goals as of late, so it would not be a surprise if the game went all the way to penalties in a stalemate, but we think that they will eke out a 1-0 victory.

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