Town will be hell-bent on securing a massive three points and the local bragging rights when they make the short trip to Bristol Rovers on Saturday (12:30pm Kick-Off).
Luke Williams’ troops are in Derby Day action tomorrow at The Memorial Stadium and they will be looking to bounce back after suffering a narrow defeat at home to Peterborough United last weekend.
Rovers were also on the losing side last time out having been put to the sword by Walsall away from home.
Lloyd Jones gave Town an early lead when the two sides last met back in September 2016, but a Matty Taylor penalty and a late Raphael Rossi-Branco own goal ensured that the Gas walked away from SN1 with all three points.
STAT ATTACK:
Town and Rovers have done battle on 147 occasions in all competitions and the Reds are able to boast the better head-to-head record by the narrowest of margins with 64 wins to their name, compared to the Gas’ 63.
FULL RECORD V BRISTOL ROVERS:
P147 W64 D20 L63 F210 A222
TICKET NEWS:
Town have sold around 1,190 tickets for tomorrow’s game with tickets now off sale. Tomorrow’s game is also all-ticket with fans unable to purchase tickets on the day.
FORM GUIDE (LAST SIX GAMES IN ALL COMPETITIONS):
BRISTOL ROVERS - WWLWLL
TOWN - LLDDWL
TOP SCORERS:
BRISTOL ROVERS - Matty Taylor (19)
TOWN - Luke Norris (4)
TEAM NEWS:
BRISTOL ROVERS - The Gas will be without Peter Hartley for tomorrow’s game, with the defender the club’s only long-term injury concern.
However, Rovers could call upon new signing Jonny Burn with the defender arriving on a permanent deal from Premier League outfit Middlesbrough earlier this week.
TOWN –Striker Jon Obika will continue to miss out, as will defender Bradley Barry who is still nursing an ankle injury.
Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill and Ellis Iandolo are both progressing well from their respective knocks but tomorrow’s game will come too soon for the pair, while Anton Rodgers is expected to recover from bruised ribs in time for the trip to the Memorial Stadium.
And Town will be boosted by the news that new recruit Dion Conroy, who signed a two-and-a-half-year deal earlier today after arriving from Premier League leaders Chelsea, will be available to feature.
A WORD FROM BOTH CAMPS:
Darrell Clarke, Bristol Rovers Manager: “We are expecting a tough game against a good footballing team.
in League One and we are looking to build as high as we can.”th“I’m sure our fans will be behind us in numbers on Saturday. The supporters will be enjoying the season to date, with us sitting 10
Luke Williams, Swindon Town Head Coach: “We won’t need much of a pep talk before this game and the motivation is all there – everyone is buzzing for it.
“As always, there will be fantastic away support on Saturday and it really does drive the players forward.”
OFFICIALS:
Referee - James Linington
Assistants - Neil Davies & Daniel Leach
Fourth Official - Christopher Sarginson
PLAYED FOR BOTH:
Wayne Carlisle, Kaid Mohamed, Sammy Igoe, Andy Williams, Steve Book, Charlie Colkett, Jamie Cureton, Andy Monkhouse, John Trollope, Rhys Evans, Nicky Hammond, Jerel Ifil, Jo Kuffour, Cristian Montano, Jack Smith, Steve White.
FOLLOW THE ACTION LIVE:
, Snapchat and Instagram accounts.Facebook(@Official_STFC),Town fans will be able to keep up to date with all the action at The Memorial Stadium tomorrow across our Twitter
in the wake of the game. www.swindontownfc.co.ukSTFC Player HD subscribers will also be able to enjoy full uninterrupted commentary of the match whilst there will be a full match report and plenty of reaction on
