Bristol Rovers head into Tuesday night’s fixture on the back of just one defeat in the last five games but face a Wycombe Wanderers side who will be desperate to get their play off push back on track.
Since suffering a fourth league defeat in a row when losing 1-0 to Lincoln City on February 11th, the Gas have enjoyed somewhat of an upturn in fortunes and have only tasted defeat once in the following five matches. Their 3-1 victory away at Forest Green Rovers last time out has seen them sit comfortably in 13th.
The visitors to the Memorial Stadium are a Wycombe Wanderers side who are still coming to terms with losing long term boss Gareth Ainsworth and have yet to get going under new manager, and club legend, Matt Bloomfield. The Chairboys have only won once since the change in the dugout and find themselves six points off the playoffs, with tonight’s fixture being the first of two crucial games in hand on Bolton Wanderers above them.
Players to Watch
Aaron Collins (Bristol Rovers)
Perhaps an obvious choice, but the Welsh international hopeful has notched up an impressive 25 goal involvements this season and has found the net himself 15 times. Joey Barton has used him differently in recent weeks, most recently in behind a front 2 but also as the central striker of a front 3 and from the left. These positional changes will no doubt keep Wycombe guessing but there is no doubting the threat that Collins could pose. Special mentions also to John Marquis and Scott Sinclair after earning their place in @TheLeaguePaper team of the week.
Lewis Wing (Wycombe Wanderers)
This was a tough choice and the home side will need to be wary of the dangers Gareth McCleary poses too. Wing, however, is having a good season with 12 goal involvements so far this campaign from midfield. Aside from his goals, he is one of his teams most accurate passers and tacklers and is one the Gas will have to be alive to.
Head to Head
Overall- 15 wins 2 draws 13 wins
December 26th 2022- Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 Bristol Rovers
February 8th 2020- Wycombe Wanderers 3-1 Bristol Rovers
August 10th 2019- Bristol Rovers 0-0 Wycombe Wanderers
The Managers
Joey Barton – Bristol Rovers
The one cap England international has been in charge of the Gas since February 2021 when Paul Tisdale’s short spell came to an end. He couldn’t rescue Rovers from relegation to League 2 but orchestrated their immediate return to the third tier after a dramatic last day to the season.
2022/23 has been a season of mixed spells for Barton and his men, and has included runs of 9 and 6 games without a win a 6 game unbeaten run.
Before taking Uber at the Memorial Stadium, Barton was in charge at Fleetwood Town for two and a half years before being sacked with the club just outside the League 1 play off spots.
Matt Bloomfield – Wycombe Wanderers
A Wycombe playing legend with over 550 EFL appearances to his name for the club who has recently returned to fill a manager’s chair that had been firmly in the possession of Gareth Ainsworth.
His start to life back at the club hasn’t been what he would have hoped for, winning only one of his four matches in charge. He will be hoping to right the ship and continue a push for the play offs and another crack at Championship football.
Before returning to Adams Park, Bloomfield’s only previous first team manager role was a short stint at League 2 Colchester United where he won 9 of his 27 games in charge and left the club 9 points clear of the drop zone.
