Bristol Rovers’ first West Country derby since returning to the Football League is taking place this weekend as they travel to Huish Park to take on Yeovil Town in what has the potential to be an exciting League Two encounter.
After an opening weekend riddled with disappointment for Darrell Clarke’s men, Rovers will be looking to put their defeat to Northampton behind them and try to get their first win of the season after former Pirate John-Joe O’Toole condemned them to a 1-0 home loss.
It certainly wasn’t the result that many Rovers fans had hoped for since they confirmed their return to League Two after beating Grimsby Town on penalties in the Conference play-off final at Wembley back in May.
And not only was the result frustrating for the fans, but the performance was mediocre at best from a side who only lost five games throughout the whole of last season.
Missed chances from both Ellis Harrison and especially Matty Taylor, who stumbled on the ball when it looked easier to score, summed up a lacklustre showing from Clarke’s side which was greeted with boo’s upon the final whistle.
Yet a much-improved showing midweek against Championship side Birmingham City has given Rovers fans hope that this weekend could be their real start to the season after last weekend’s false dawn.
A bit of tinkering with the tactics, which saw Clarke employ a 5-3-2 formation which had been tried and tested in pre-season, resulted in Rovers giving Birmingham a very good game – and one which they deserved much more than a defeat out of.
Had it not been for a mistake by veteran goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall, and a brief lapse in concentration from Rovers to concede just after they had equalised, Ellis Harrison’s scrappy finish may just have been enough to take Rovers deservedly through to the second round.
But although he would have been disappointed to have been knocked out, Darrell Clarke was rightfully pleased with his side’s performance – which showed plenty of grit, determination and ability to hold their own against good opposition.
The game will certainly have given the fans reason to be optimistic ahead of their trip to Yeovil on Saturday, and they will travel down in fantastic numbers to watch their side try and get their first three points of the season.
Rovers haven’t met new-manager Paul Sturrock’s side in the league since the team’s battled it out in League One back in 2011 – with Rovers running out 1-0 winners on that occasion.
But the result could be much different this weekend as Rovers face a side that just two years ago were playing in the Championship, and have found themselves in League Two after successive relegations.
Sturrock’s side also lost in their first game of the season which was away at Exeter, so Rovers know they will be facing a side who will be desperate for three points in their first home match of the season.
Chris Lines is expected to return to the Bristol Rovers line-up this weekend, which otherwise will probably stay unchanged from their midweek League Cup tie against Birmingham.
This one could go either way, but Rovers fans will certainly be hoping their team can perform like they did on Tuesday to give them reason to return to Bristol happy – and with three important points.
