MX23RW : Sunday, January 12 01:56:51| >> :120:35025:35025:
[monks data]
Bristol Rovers
League Two | Gameweek 42
Apr 15, 2022 at 3pm UK
Memorial Stadium
Salford City

Bristol Rovers
1 - 0
Salford City

Anderson (76')
Finley (45+3'), Evans (62'), Anderson (90+3')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Touray (24'), Kelly (44'), Ndaba (59')

Preview: Bristol Rovers vs. Salford City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Friday's League Two clash between Bristol Rovers and Salford City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

A key battle in the race for promotion in the League Two table will take place on Friday, as Bristol Rovers host Salford City.

Only two places currently split the two teams with the hosts two points better off in sixth place.


Match preview

Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton pictured in May 2021© Reuters

Bristol Rovers gave their playoff hopes a huge boost in a run of games between mid-February and mid-March, collecting eight wins and 25 points from 10 fixtures to climb into the playoff places.

That run culminated in four straight wins, as Joey Barton's side firstly toppled Crawley Town and Harrogate Town before seeing out hard-fought 1-0 victories over Colchester United and Northampton Town.

After a narrow defeat to Carlisle United stopped the run from growing, the Gas were quickly able to make a return to winning ways, coming from behind to beat Bradford City 2-1 on home turf thanks to second-half goals from Sam Finley and Connor Taylor, before taking a point away at Tranmere Rovers last time out.

Kane Hemmings put their hosts ahead soon after the break, but Elliot Anderson quickly levelled the game to ensure his side kept a small lead over the chasing pack.

With that gap between themselves and Friday's opponents now standing at two points, Barton's men will know they must make a return to winning ways to help secure their place in the playoffs at the end of the campaign, given their opponents would leapfrog them with a victory.

Salford City make the trip having also boosted their position in a hotly-contested playoff race recently, with the Ammies going 11 games unbeaten over the entirety of February and March.

In that time, Gary Bowyer's men took 25 points and earned seven victories, four of which came consecutively at the end of the run as they saw off Walsall, Crawley Town and Hartlepool United after thrashing Scunthorpe United.

That streak was eventually put to an end by a narrow defeat to third-placed Port Vale, but the Greater Manchester side were able to make an instant return to winning ways at the weekend.

Bowyer's men hosted Harrogate Town, and a Matt Smith brace in the last 20 minutes ensured they came away with a 2-0 victory, moving within one point of the playoff places and two points behind Friday's hosts as a result.

Now knowing that a win would see them move into the top seven for the first time this season, with four games left to play, the Ammies will aim to build another winning run heading into the end of the campaign.

Bristol Rovers League Two form:
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • D

Salford City League Two form:
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W



Team News

Gary Bowyer in charge of Salford City on December 5, 2021© Reuters

Despite competition from experienced forward Leon Clarke, Aaron Collins should continue to lead the Bristol Rovers attack, having netted 11 goals in 40 League One appearances this term.

Anthony Evans, who has contributed eight goals and eight assists from midfield, is out injured, leaving Paul Coutts to command the central unit alongside Elliot Anderson.

Salford's front line will be spearheaded by new arrival Matt Smith, who has already netted six goals since his January move from Millwall, including the match-winning brace at the weekend.

He should again be flanked by star man Brandon Thomas-Asante, who has 10 goals to his name in 34 league appearances this term, while winger Ashley Hunter, experienced forward Ian Henderson and goalscoring midfielder Matthew Lund will all be vying to come into the starting XI.

Further back, Bowyer has no reason to change the back four of Jason Lowe, Theo Vassell, Corrie Ndaba and Ibou Touray after a strong display at the weekend.

Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:
Belshaw; Hoole, Taylor, Connolly, Clarke; E Anderson, Coutts, Finley; H Anderson, Collins, Nicholson

Salford City possible starting lineup:
King; Lowe, Vassell, Ndaba, Touray; Kelly, Lund, Watson; Thomas-Asante, Smith, Hunter


SM words green background

We say: Bristol Rovers 1-1 Salford City

Given both teams are full of confidence from their positive runs, Friday's game is a tough one to call, and we see a share of the spoils being the most likely outcome.

With only four games left to play after this weekend, both teams will know the consequences of a defeat in the race for the playoffs and should play in quite a reserved manner to at least take a point as a result.


ID:483255:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect8817:
Written by
Sam Varley

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Bristol Rovers win with a probability of 40.8%. A win for Salford City had a probability of 31.24% and a draw had a probability of 28%.

The most likely scoreline for a Bristol Rovers win was 1-0 with a probability of 12.25%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (8.29%) and 2-0 (7.75%). The likeliest Salford City win was 0-1 (10.36%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (13.1%). The actual scoreline of 1-0 was predicted with a 12.3% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted a 1-0 win for Bristol Rovers in this match.


Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Bristol Rovers vs Salford City

Bristol Rovers
72.7%
Draw
27.3%
Salford City
0.0%
11
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1am
Steelers
@
Ravens
6pm
Broncos
@
Bills
9.30pm
Packers
@
Eagles
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham23165241172453
2Wycombe WanderersWycombe25156450272351
3Wrexham25156437181951
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield24145537191847
5Barnsley2512673933642
6Reading2412573933641
7Stockport CountyStockport25108737271038
8Leyton Orient24114932221037
9Mansfield TownMansfield2311483126537
10Bolton WanderersBolton2411493637-137
11Charlton AthleticCharlton239772721634
12Lincoln CityLincoln258892830-232
13Rotherham UnitedRotherham248792424031
14Stevenage238781820-231
15Exeter CityExeter2494112831-331
16Blackpool247983235-330
17Wigan AthleticWigan2376102123-227
18Northampton TownNorthampton2568112439-1526
19Peterborough UnitedPeterborough2474134146-525
20Bristol Rovers2474132238-1625
21Crawley TownCrawley2355132443-1920
22Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury2445152444-2017
23Cambridge UnitedCambridge2445152243-2117
24Burton Albion2428142038-1814


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!