Match Preview - Rovers v Salford City

14 April 2022

Rovers take on Salford City on Good Friday at The Mem!

Rovers return to BS7 on Good Friday to take on Gary Bowyer's resurgent Salford City. Last time out, Rovers were held to a 1-1 draw against Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park. Elliot Anderson's smart finish secured a point for the Gas as we continue our promotion push. Read up ahead of Friday's clash below!

Manager's Preview

Last Time Out

Form Guide

Gary Bowyer's side have been making up for their slow start to the season. Since the turn of the year, The Ammies have won 11 games in their last 20 (losing four and drawing five) and are now in the hunt for the final play-off places. Salford currently find themselves in 8th place in League Two with 65 points from 41 games. Their last result was a 2-0 victory against Harrogate Town at the Peninsula Stadium.

Danger Men

This season, Salford's main goal threat has been Brandon Thomas-Asante, who is now into double digits for the season. Thomas-Asante was the man who scored Salford's injury-time equaliser against the Gas back in November after Sam Nicholson had put Rovers one-up inside 15 minutes.

Ashley Hunter has been the creative spark in Gary Bowyer's team this campaign. In 22 appearances, Hunter has been directly involved in nine goals for his side (one goal and nine assists).

Brandon Thomas-Asante of Salford City

Ref Watch

Dean Whitestone is in charge of Friday's fixture at The Mem. This will be Whitestone's first game in League Two this season. This campaign Whitestone has officiated 28 games in the Championship and a game apiece in League One and the League Cup. Across his 28 games in England's second division, Referee Whitestone has produced 85 yellow cards (an average of 3.04 per game) and a sole red card. Whitestone also averages 20.79 fouls every game in the competition. His last game was Sheffield United's 0-0 home draw against Bournemouth, in which he produced five yellow cards.

Betting Preview

EFL sponsors, Sky Bet have priced Rovers at 11/10 for the win on Friday afternoon. Rovers can also be backed at 18/1 to win the game 3-0. On the goalscorer markets, Harry Anderson is priced at 12/1 to open the scoring, whilst Luca Hoole can be backed at 9/1 to score any time throughout the clash.

Odds correct at the time of writing. To bet with Sky Bet please click HERE. Please bet responsibly.

How to Follow

Our fixture on Good Friday against Salford City will be shown live on iFollow!

Match passes for the game cost £10 - with the majority of the revenue generated coming back to the football club.

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To purchase a match pass - please click HERE.

To find out more about iFollow - please click HERE.

Match Reports

Match Report - Rovers 1-0 Salford City

15 April 2022

Elliot Anderson was once again the man of the hour to help the Gas get all three points with the decisive 75th minute strike and his 5th goal of the season in this end-to-end bank holiday clash with Salford City.

The Gas made two changes to the team that played against Tranmere, with Josh Grant and Leon Clarke coming in, but Clarke had to be replaced 15 minutes before kick off after pulling up in the pre-match warm up. Ryan loft being brought in on the bench and Sam Nicholson moving into the starting XI.

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The Gas controlled the tempo in the first half, but the better chances early on came the way of Salford early on with striker Matt Smith causing a real menace to both Taylor and Connolly gaining the upper hand and the game went on.

Ryan Watson saw an effort hit the stanchion behind the goal and moments later dragged a shot past the right hand upright after good work from Smith and livewire Brandon Thomas-Asante.

With Salford being on a good run, it was time for The Gas to take control, Harry Anderson had the first chance on target which seemed to spark the game into life. It was the two Andersons who teamed up again for Elliott to have King scrambling back towards his own goal and the shot from 40 yards just going wide.

The best chance of the first half came to Aaron Collins, whose shot was saved down low to his right by King.

The second half started off in the same fashion, with the Gas dominating possession and keeping calm but Salford came up with the first big chance, Asante going through but Connor Taylor getting back to put him off before getting a shot away.

Rovers were getting more chances to get in front and causing the Salford defence with lots of freekicks going the way of the home team.

The introduction of Antony Evans gave an instant spark to the midfield and almost made an impact with his first touch, but his freekick crashing into the wall.

Salford piled on the pressure trying to get back into the game with James Belshaw commanding his box to perfection whilst getting his 15^th clean sheet of the season.

The Gas face table-topping Forest Green Rovers at the Mem on Saturday 23^rd April, 3pm KO with the Gas Girls playing Forest Green Rovers Ladies straight after in a #HERGAMETOO match.

Rovers – Belshaw, Connolly, Grant (70), Finley (79), Nicholson (60), Collins, E.Anderson, Coutts ©, Taylor, H.Anderson, Hoole.

Subs – Ward, Thomas (70), Anderton, Evans (60), Saunders, Whelan (79), Loft.

Salford – King, Love (80), Touray, Lowe ©, Ndaba, Watson, Kelly (68), Smith, Bolton (63), Thomas-Asante, Vassell

Subs – Torrance, Lund (68), Hunter, Burgess, Turnbull, Shephard (63), Henderson (80).

Attendance: 9,590 (178 away)

Referee: Dean Whitestone