MATCHWATCH : Bristol Rovers (h)

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday October 26 2024, 12.30pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161


After the Lord Mayor’s Show on Tuesday comes the chance to seriously capitalise with a visit from the blue half of Bristol. However the excellence of a midweek away win, at a team without a B in sight, could be flushed right down the toilet if Mr Orient turns up again so all need to be prepared.

The Gas are mid table and have won 5 games this season so far, however only 1 of those wins have come on their travels (3-1 at Burton) and they’ve only gathered 1 other point away from Bristol (0-0 at Rotherham), so this is has all the makings of the proverbial banana skin.

Rovers now field Clinton Mola (pretty much an ever present so far this season) and have also brought in another 8 signings plus 5 loanees over the summer so there’s been plenty of changes since last season though one time right royal pain in the arse, Scott Sinclair, remains on their books and is already joint leading scorer (2 goals). New signings Promise Omochere (from Fleetwood) and Jamie Lindsay (from Rotherham) are the other Pirates who’ve also reached 2 goals so there’ll be a fair amount to watch out for on Saturday. Finally the other former Royal still on their books is striker Chris Martin and though he is more of a bit part these days it wouldn’t be a footballing surprise if he came back to haunt proceedings.

Pereira and Camara both returned from injury on Tuesday leaving just Dorsett, Abrefa and the youngsters Clarke and Ryan on the treatment table. Would therefore hope for an unchanged team from Tuesday unless there’s been any knocks received during that tremendous result at Exeter.

Referee

Simon Mather

Previously

13 Feb 24 > Fleetwood Town 1-1 Reading
05-Aug-23 > Reading 0-1 Peterborough United

No previous games

Historically

A long record of games against the blue half of Bristol. The two clubs have shared 41 previous seasons together and the home team usually proves dominant. In Reading there have been 25 victories for the Royals to 10 for the Rovers with 6 drawn. Big wins though usually go the way of Bristol with a 5-1 and 6-0 to their credit previously so it's not unreasonable to expect a catastrophe on occasion.

Highlights of last season’s drawn fixture:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4PzkGSoVag

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel to the game
2. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
3. Ring/text a mate for updates
4. Use a RoyalsTV subscription
5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[Royals and Racers]

Don’t turn up at 3pm as you will have missed it KO 12.30pm
Live on SKY +

[tidus_mi2]

Don’t turn up at 3pm as you will have missed it KO 12.30pm
Live on SKY +

Speaking of that, thankfully we only have 1 more 12:30 kick off up until January and that's away to Lincoln in December.

The next set of TV games are expected to be announced by Nov 1st and that will cover games following the end of the FA Cup 3rd round up until the end of March, so I would expect a few more to fall to the 12:30 time slot.

[Sutekh]

Don’t turn up at 3pm as you will have missed it KO 12.30pm
Live on SKY +

Speaking of that, thankfully we only have 1 more 12:30 kick off up until January and that's away to Lincoln in December.

The next set of TV games are expected to be announced by Nov 1st and that will cover games following the end of the FA Cup 3rd round up until the end of March, so I would expect a few more to fall to the 12:30 time slot.

forgot about all that palava (now edited above), it is of course the 3rd successive Saturday lunchtime tv home game. The next Saturday home league game after is meant to be Shrewsbury but that will get postponed for another week of international tedium so I think it’s Blackpool on Dec 14 when we finally return to Saturday normality at home.

[Snowflake Royal]

First half vs Exeter was, I think, our best midfield performance by far. So would absolutely stick with Knibbs, Wing and Savage.

Would probably shuffle Akande/Camara in for Campbell. And I continue to be concerned at over exposing Garcia, so would be nice to rotate at LB, if we had anyone. Would be nice to have a genuine RB, though a real shame for Craig to not be starting.

I wonder if Wareham was a one off or a more genuine switch as Smith hasn't been working as well recently

[LUX]

sorry, Smith just has to start.

[morganb]

First half vs Exeter was, I think, our best midfield performance by far. So would absolutely stick with Knibbs, Wing and Savage.

Would probably shuffle Akande/Camara in for Campbell. And I continue to be concerned at over exposing Garcia, so would be nice to rotate at LB, if we had anyone. Would be nice to have a genuine RB, though a real shame for Craig to not be starting.

I wonder if Wareham was a one off or a more genuine switch as Smith hasn't been working as well recently

From: https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/spor ... djustment/

I had a day off and I got a message from Michael Craig and he asked to speak with me. I’m quite open with them so we had a good chat and he told me ‘I just called you because I think you should know that in the Tottenham academy, I played as a right-back, I know the position and I think I can play there if you need me at any time.’

I realise that Craig had only played in midfield for us but does the above quote not also make him a genuine right-back?

Would expect Smith to be back in and hopefully Akande for Campbell

[Snowflake Royal]

First half vs Exeter was, I think, our best midfield performance by far. So would absolutely stick with Knibbs, Wing and Savage.

Would probably shuffle Akande/Camara in for Campbell. And I continue to be concerned at over exposing Garcia, so would be nice to rotate at LB, if we had anyone. Would be nice to have a genuine RB, though a real shame for Craig to not be starting.

I wonder if Wareham was a one off or a more genuine switch as Smith hasn't been working as well recently

From: https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/spor ... djustment/

I had a day off and I got a message from Michael Craig and he asked to speak with me. I’m quite open with them so we had a good chat and he told me ‘I just called you because I think you should know that in the Tottenham academy, I played as a right-back, I know the position and I think I can play there if you need me at any time.’

I realise that Craig had only played in midfield for us but does the above quote not also make him a genuine right-back?

Would expect Smith to be back in and hopefully Akande for Campbell

Never seen that before.

It's a bit bizarre given he keeps going awol and playing in central midfield, but maybe that's a deliberate choice... him and Wing are mostly managing it well, but it's iffy at times.

It certainly doesn't look a natural position for him and he does get beaten a bit easily at times and stand off a bit too much for crosses at others.

I think his abilities are wasted there and he's a much better DM/quarter back midfielder than RB.

[WestYorksRoyal]

sorry, Smith just has to start.

Smith has 4 goals in 10 starts this season but people say he's out of form. He gets goals at this league and works very hard for the team off the ball.

I'm guessing yesterday was just rotation and managing his minutes. Good on Wareham for shower we can rely on him if needed, but Smith is the main man.

On Craig, I feel he's our only genuine DM, and if you played him there you could push Wing further forward to influence the game more. But he's doing fine at right back, and Elliott and Savage have both contributed from midfield so far. Maybe the calculus would be different if we actually had available full backs.

[traff]

I assume we had to concede that Campbell gets a certain number of starts/minutes to get his signing over the line at the last minute.
I haven't seen anything from him to suggest he should be ahead of anyone in the pecking order.

[Snowflake Royal]

I assume we had to concede that Campbell gets a certain number of starts/minutes to get his signing over the line at the last minute.
I haven't seen anything from him to suggest he should be ahead of anyone in the pecking order.

I think that's a bit harsh. I'd say he's had more impact than a lot of our previous loan wingers!

Had a bit of a stinker last time out, but he's been ok, bit bland. I can see why his experience is favoured a little over Akande's raw enthusiasm.

I wouldn’t say he'll be on a listof players to sign permanently though

[WestYorksRoyal]

Didn't Wycombe say to expect about 1 good game in 5? We saw it against Burton.

Tbf he could have had an assist on Tuesday too if Savage had buried the chance for 3-0.

I would put Camara and Akande ahead of him, but none are standouts yet.

[Crowbar6753]

Didn't Wycombe say to expect about 1 good game in 5? We saw it against Burton.

Tbf he could have had an assist on Tuesday too if Savage had buried the chance for 3-0.

I would put Camara and Akande ahead of him, but none are standouts yet.

Its a tough one, lets face it Camara and Akande are homegrown produced from our academy which will always make them popular with our fan base. Both have raw pace and skill also attractive and pleasing on the eye, however, both have that tendency to fluff their lines when in the box.
Campbell on the other hand is the polar opposite!! Brought in from another club, is not as exciting on the ball (someone mentioned bland) however, he does have more experience and the big difference for me is that he can produce in the final third!! He has an eye for goal and can cause problems which in my eye just about gives him the edge for now.
Looking ahead for the future, Campbell probably will not progress much further than this level however, Akande and Camara under the right tutoring have the potential to move up a level.

[Snowflake Royal]

Didn't Wycombe say to expect about 1 good game in 5? We saw it against Burton.

Tbf he could have had an assist on Tuesday too if Savage had buried the chance for 3-0.

I would put Camara and Akande ahead of him, but none are standouts yet.

Its a tough one, lets face it Camara and Akande are homegrown produced from our academy which will always make them popular with our fan base. Both have raw pace and skill also attractive and pleasing on the eye, however, both have that tendency to fluff their lines when in the box.
Campbell on the other hand is the polar opposite!! Brought in from another club, is not as exciting on the ball (someone mentioned bland) however, he does have more experience and the big difference for me is that he can produce in the final third!! He has an eye for goal and can cause problems which in my eye just about gives him the edge for now.
Looking ahead for the future, Campbell probably will not progress much further than this level however, Akande and Camara under the right tutoring have the potential to move up a level.

I think that's overselling his finishing. He's scored two, but he's missed some great chances too

[Crowbar6753]

Didn't Wycombe say to expect about 1 good game in 5? We saw it against Burton.

Tbf he could have had an assist on Tuesday too if Savage had buried the chance for 3-0.

I would put Camara and Akande ahead of him, but none are standouts yet.

Its a tough one, lets face it Camara and Akande are homegrown produced from our academy which will always make them popular with our fan base. Both have raw pace and skill also attractive and pleasing on the eye, however, both have that tendency to fluff their lines when in the box.
Campbell on the other hand is the polar opposite!! Brought in from another club, is not as exciting on the ball (someone mentioned bland) however, he does have more experience and the big difference for me is that he can produce in the final third!! He has an eye for goal and can cause problems which in my eye just about gives him the edge for now.
Looking ahead for the future, Campbell probably will not progress much further than this level however, Akande and Camara under the right tutoring have the potential to move up a level.

I think that's overselling his finishing. He's scored two, but he's missed some great chances too

Maybe, however, 2 in 5 games for us plus his 3 for Wycombe and 2 for Charlton isn't to bad of a return for a wide player.

[Clyde1998]

Not looking like a good crowd. Probably around 11,000 home fans, but could be very similar to the Huddersfield attendance (10,452).

The Bristol Rovers forum suggests they're bringing roughly 1,800.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Watched Bristol Rovers against Shrewsbury on Tuesday. Rovers keeper kept them in the game. Will be stunned if we don't win this by 3+ goals.

[Snowflake Royal]

Watched Bristol Rovers against Shrewsbury on Tuesday. Rovers keeper kept them in the game. Will be stunned if we don't win this by 3+ goals.

[Clyde1998]

Pereira
Craig - Mbengue - Bindon - Garcia
Knibbs - Wing - Elliott
Camara - Smith - Ehib

Subs: Button; Savage; Wareham; Campbell; Holzman; Akande; Ahmed

[Sutekh]