Well, we know what to expect tomorrow night, as we only played Bristol Rovers on Saturday! Following yet another disappointing home performance, fans will be desperate to get something out of the return game. Chris Hutchings may have said that he was happy with a share of the spoils after the game, but he must be just about the only one. We are now just five points clear of the relegation places, with three consecutive away games to come. This one, Leeds and Oldham (one of the teams desperately trying to catch us).

The talk of making the play offs that abounding from the camp earlier in the season now looks to have been totally unrealistic, as we are now 15 points behind sixth place and in danger of being dragged into a relegation scrap. That might be not such a worry, if not for the fact we are just not creating any chances, with just 3 shots in target in the last 180 minutes of football at home.

It might also be time to remind Chris Hutchings that his record is won 17, drawn 17, lost 19, compared to his predecessor’s, the hapless Jimmy Mullen, of won 10, drawn 5, lost 14. Hutchings is averaging 1.28 points per game, Mullen 1.20 – almost identical. Remember also that Bonser’s stated reasons for sacking Mullen were a poor home record and falling gates. Well, this season, we have a home record of won only 4, drawn 7 and lost 4 and gates are plummeting.

So, that means that we have to try to get something out of this game. Hughes may have been on the bench, but he hasn’t trained and neither has Manny Smith. Weston is out, so the defence picks itself.

Up front, Deeney is available and will be likely to return (although I thought Parkin had a decent game considering the scraps he was getting). Byfield, however, looks out of sorts, but I don’t think Hutchings will take the drastic step of leaving him out.

That leaves the midfield. To me, Saturday proved Mattis and Taundry are too alike, but, if one were to be dropped, it’d be Mattis for me, as I thought Taundry had the better game. Nicholls ought to get the nod ahead of the ineffective Till, or Richards, who had his poorest game for some weeks on Saturday, but he probably won’t. I suspect Deeney for Parkin will be the only change.

As for Rovers, it’s just as difficult to predict their line up, as manager Trollope is holding out the prospect of loan signings (whatever they are) before the game. Just what we need, fresh blood.

Predictions?

Rovers’ away form wasn’t too good, so we had a decent chance to get three points on Saturday, but, quite frankly, never looked like it and, certainly, didn’t deserve it. At home, though, they tend to be a different proposition, with a record of won 8, drawn 1, lost 4. That “lost 4” looks a little more promising, of course, but I think we’ll be lucky to get anything out of this one.