Match Preview - Rovers v Colchester United

14 March 2022

Rovers are back at The Mem for the second time in four days when we take on Colchester United on Tuesday evening.

Rovers comfortably dispatched Harrogate Town on Saturday afternoon after a double from Aaron Collins and an Elliot Anderson solo goal. Next up for the Gas is the visit of Colchester United to BS7. Rovers drew the reverse fixture at the JobServe Community Stadium in a game that saw Cian Harries and Trevor Clarke both sent off for Rovers in the closing stages of the game.

Manager's Preview

Joey Barton has said that momentum is 'huge' as we approach the closing stages of the league season.

"It’s huge. In football it is everything. In football honestly, it is absolutely everything and we’ve got it. We must work hard to maintain it because if you get complacent or sloppy, you can lose it as quickly as you’ve gained it.

I think our lads are well-versed and they’re ready to go. The key for me is because we’ve done everything right. We ate right. We’ve trained right. We’ve slept right and we’ve travelled right. Nobody will be in better shape than us in this last period.

At the very best, they can be as good as us, but nobody will be in better shape than us. We’ve got a better squad and the depth of the squad is as good as anybody's. The lads are trained and primed.

We’ve got Clarkey and a few lads coming back to it next week. It’s going to be tough to stop us, for anybody. We might get promoted. We might be in the playoffs. But again I wouldn’t swap with anybody, especially with our following.

There are not many teams who’ve got the following we do. So if it’s play play-offs and Wembley, we’ll see 40,000 tickets. There are not many other teams in the division that could do that.

So we don’t want to do that, because I fancy going and seeing my missus and kids a lot earlier, but again we’ve got lots of hard work in front of us and we’ve got to make sure that we’ve jockeyed into position and that we capitalise in the next ten games.

On current form and trajectory, you’d be a fool to bet against us."

Last Time Out

Form Guide

Tuesday's visitors currently sit in 19th place in the League Two standings with a 39 point return from their 36 games this season. Interim Manager, Wayne Brown took over from Hayden Mullins following his departure from The U's in January. Since Brown took over Colchester have won four, drawn five and lost three. In their last outing, Colchester were victorious against Scunthorpe United winning 1-3 against the Irons.

Ref Watch

Sam Allison has been appointed as the match official for Tuesday evening's clash at The Mem. In League Two this season, Allison has officiated 10 games where he has shown 40 yellow cards and a single red card. Allison last officiated a game involving Rovers in our 2-1 victory against Northampton Town at The Mem. Coincidentally, our game against Northampton was the game in which Allison showed his only red card in League Two this season when he sent off Glenn Whelan for a second bookable offence.

Betting Preview

EFL sponsors, Sky Bet have priced Rovers at 10/11 for the win on Tuesday evening. Rovers can also be backed at 14/1 to win the game 3-0. On the goal-scorer markets, Aaron Collins is priced at 7/2 to open the scoring on Tuesday. Luca Hoole can be back at 11/2 to score at any time in the match.

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

How to Watch

Our clash against Colchester United is available to watch on iFollow!

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

To purchase a match pass - please click HERE.

Match Reports

Match Report - Rovers 1-0 Colchester

15 March 2022

Anderson worldie fires Gas into playoff spots!

Elliot Anderson scoring early in the second half was enough to move the Gas into the playoff places with a fantastic curling effort which left the Colchester keeper Shamal George with no chance at all.

The Gas were once again unchanged with boss Joey Barton naming the same starting XI from Saturday's win against Harrogate Town at The Mem.

Rovers had most of the possession in the first half with the better chances but the stubborn Colchester defence looked organised as they thwarted every opportunity that came Rovers way.

A cagey first 10 minutes saw Rovers give away a couple of early free kicks putting pressure on the defence that came to nothing for the visitors. The first real chance of the game fell at the feet of Harry Anderson who showed quick feet but got crowded out by the Colchester defence.

Antony Evans brought a great save from George with a fierce free-kick which was pushed out into the box with no Rovers players being able to take the chance on the rebound. The U's broke through the Rovers defence on a handful of occasions with Noah Chilvers forcing James Belshaw into a comfortable save, keeping his 13th clean sheet of the season in the process.

Colchester had the first opportunity to go in front in the second half with consecutive corners, the first being cleared off the line by Connolly. The stage was set for Man of the Match Elliot Anderson, who impressed on the left-hand side for the Gas again forcing his way into the box and sliding a ball into Evans' feet. As the tackle came in, Anderson picked up the loose ball, took one touch and sublimely curled the ball into the top corner sending the home fans wild.

The goal sparked Rovers into life and they created more chances with Finley putting a brilliant ball behind the Essex club's defence, with Elliot Anderson being outmuscled as he tried going through on goal. The link-up play between Evans, Aaron Collins and Finley was pulling the Colchester midfield all over the pitch, making space for the Gas to take advantage of.

Colchester threatened a couple of times with Luke Hannant and Chilvers the main threat to the Rovers defence. Hannant providing a tough opponent for Luca Hoole cut into the box and forced Belshaw into a save low down to his left which popped out into the penalty area with Taylor able to clear. Hoole was in the thick of the action again with a clearance from a dangerous freekick, the following corner being cleared by the solid Rovers defence.

Harry and Elliot Anderson both left the field to standing ovations, with Harvey Saunders and Ryan Loft coming on respectively.

Rovers are back at The Mem for our next game in the league when we take on Mark Hughe's Bradford City on Saturday, 2nd April at 3pm.

Bristol Rovers: Belshaw, Connolly, Finley (79), Collins, E Anderson (84), Coutts (c), Anderton, Taylor, H Anderson (68), Evans, Hoole.

Subs: Ward, Thomas, T Clarke, Saunders (68), Harries, Whelan (79), Loft (84)

Colchester United: George, Chambers (c), Sarpong-Wiredu, Hannant (76), Skuse (85), Sears, Edwards, Chilvers, Kenlock, Eastman, Coxe.

Subs: Hornby, Welch-Hayes, Andrews (85), Tchamadeu, Akinde (76), Marshall, Wright.

Referee - Sam Allison

Attendance - 7314 (214 away)