Match Preview - Burton v Rovers

5 August 2022

Rovers are back in action this weekend against Burton Albion for our first away game of the League One season!

The Gas are back on the road this weekend to take on Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's Burton Albion side. Rovers will be looking to bounce back from our opening day defeat at The Mem against Forest Green Rovers.

Manager's Preview

Player Preview

Opposition View

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's side endured a tough start to their League One campaign last weekend against Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park. The hosts found themselves three goals to the good after 30 minutes in what turned out to be a nightmare start to the season for Burton.

An improved second-half performance was not enough for Burton to get anything out of the tie and Brewers boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink commented to burtonalbionfc.co.uk that Burton 'paid the price' for the errors in the first half,

"We were second best. They played from second balls, that's what they do, they hit Vokes and you need to squeeze the pitch, you need to work harder and condense that as much as possible so they can't pick up the second ball.

"There are certain things I want to see back that we have worked on in pre-season, and we didn't see it."

View From the Press Bench

Colston Crawford, reporter for Staffordshire Live, has said that Rovers will be visiting a hurt Burton Albion side after their opening day defeat to Wycombe Wanderers and that Gasheads should be keeping an eye out for The Brewers' six summer recruits this weekend...

Bristol Rovers will be visiting a wounded Burton Albion after an awful opening day performance, losing 3-0 away to Wycombe Wanderers. Three goals in the first half-hour put the game to bed. Like Joey Barton, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink feels his work is far from done in the transfer market as yet. He has made six additions so far. Davis Keillor-Dunn scored 17 goals from midfield for Oldham Athletic last season, so should be a threat. Tyler Onyango (from Everton) and Quevin Castro (West Brom) have both arrived on loan and are promising midfielders of well over six feet. They have good potential.

Potentially more significant is the arrival of holding midfielder Calum Butcher from Dundee United for a second spell with the club. The theory is that he will provide the steel and calmness which has perhaps been missing from midfield. Butcher missed out through suspension last week but will be available against Rovers. Hasselbaink was referring to a work in progress for much of last season and his squad still is. They have yet to gel and predicting how they will go against Rovers is a tricky one.

Last Time Out

Away Day Pubs

The Beech Hotel is an away fans-only pub. Gasheads can enjoy hot and cold food, an outside bar and Sky Sports as well as plenty of parking and space inside. The Beech Hotel is located on the A5121 and is only a short walk to Burton's home ground, the Pirelli Stadium.

Ref Watch

The referee for the game at the Pirelli Stadium is Ross Joyce. The Cleveland-based official is in his eighth campaign as an EFL referee. Rovers fans will remember Joyce as being in charge for our comeback 4-3 win at Rochdale in our penultimate game of last season - sending off skipper Paul Coutts for an off-the-ball-incident, for which he is still suspended. Joyce officiated 20 fixtures in leagues One and Two last term, dishing out five red cards, 54 yellows, and awarding three penalties.

Betting Preview

EFL sponsors Sky Bet have priced Rovers at 15/8 for the win on Saturday afternoon. Rovers can also be backed at 14/1 to win the game 2-0. On the goalscorer markets, John Marquis is priced at 13/2 to open the scoring, whilst Antony Evans can be backed at 3/1 to score at any time throughout the clash at The Mem.

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

How to Follow

Supporters based in the UK can purchase an audio match pass for £2.50. To find out more about iFollow, please click HERE.

Match Reports

Match Report - Burton 0-4 Rovers

6 August 2022

Rovers romp to a 4-0 victory at the Pirelli Stadium to seal our first win of the League One season.

First-half goals from Evans, Connolly and an Aaron Collins brace sealed all three points for the Gas.

Rovers made three changes to the starting line-up as they looked to bounce back from the opening day defeat to Forest Green Rovers. New signing Lewis Gordon was thrust straight into the starting XI for his Rovers debut.

There were only 49 seconds on the clock when Burton’s Shaughnessy was caught napping at the back and was forced into fouling John Marquis. The Rovers number 9 was clean through on goal so referee Joyce was left with little choice but to brandish a straight red card.

As if that wasn’t enough punishment for the Brewers, Evans stepped up to fire expertly home from the free kick and give the Gas a dream start in Staffordshire.

It got even better on 12 minutes. A corner was worked short to Evans and he crossed deep into the Burton box for James Connolly to stab home for his second goal in a Rovers shirt.

It was almost three after 20 minutes when Sam Finley, restored to the starting line-up, charged forward and fired a shot narrowly wide from 25 yards. It was all Gas and new signing Gordon was enjoying lots of space down the left flank.

It was his cross that Loft headed over and Marquis then had a goalbound effort deflected over, before Harry Anderson raced clean through, only to drag his shot wide of the target. It was no exaggeration to say Rovers could be five goals to the good. Burton finally mustered an attack after 38 minutes as a fine touch from Jonny Smith almost saw a chance for Adeboyejo.

They were made to pay a minute later. Anderson fed Collins and he took a touch onto his left foot before firing into the top corner past Garrett. The 'keeper was suffering from Brewers’ droop after 44 minutes as Rovers made it 4-0. Marquis set Collins free down the left, he cut inside onto his right and steered home for his eighth goal in his last four games.

Burton made one change at half-time, with Butcher replacing Borthwick-Jackson.

The Gas took a while to get going in the second-half but Marquis was inches away from opening his account. Loft’s cross in the 53rd minute was slightly behind the striker but his connection on the header was sweet. Unfortunately, it cannoned back off the bar. A minute later, it was Loft’s turn to go agonisingly close; a cross from the right just being cleared as he waited to pounce.

Glenn Whelan replaced Finley after 66 minutes before Keillor-Dunn headed just over from Burton’s clearest chance of the afternoon. Powell then headed just wide as the home side pushed for a consolation.

Whelan was shown a yellow card for a foul in the 71st minute. Harvey Saunders then entered the fray, replacing debutant Gordon, who was greeted on the touchline with a hug from boss Barton.

Seconds later, the substitute raced clear from his own half. He looked odds-on to score but Garrett stood tall and deflected behind for a corner. Rovers were continuing to carve through the beleaguered Burton defence at will but couldn’t add to the four first-half goals in front of the travelling 1,318 Gasheads.

Evans went close in the 81st minute; his long-range effort parried by Garrett and the rebound fired over by Gibbons.

Marquis then showed a deft touch to set up Collins for a chance for his hat-trick. The striker feigned to shoot on his right, switching back on his left but his fierce shot was blocked from 15 yards.

Kilgour and Lawrence replaced Loft and Evans in the 88th minute.

Marquis then set up Saunders for another effort but his left-foot drive flew inches wide.

Next up for Rovers is a Carabao Cup game at Crawley on Tuesday, 9th August. (kick-off 7.45pm).

Burton Albion: Ben Garratt, John Brayford ©, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Deji Oshilaja, Sam Hughes, Davis Keillor-Dunn, Jonny Smith, Tyler Onyango, Victor Adeboyejo, Conor Shaughnessy, Tom Hamer.

Subs: Viljami Sinisalo, Calum Butcher, Joe Powell, Gassan Ahadme, Ciaran Gilligan, Louis Moult, Quevin Castro.

Rovers: James Belshaw, James Connolly, Lewis Gordon, Sam Finley ©, John Marquis, Aaron Collins, Ryan Loft, Harry Anderson, Antony Evans, James Gibbons, Luca Hoole.

Subs: Jed Ward, Alfie Kilgour, Harvey Saunders, Glenn Whelan, Harvey Greenslade, Jerry Lawrence, Ryan Jones.

Referee: Ross Joyce

Attendance: 3,363.

Ticket News

Ticket Info - Burton Albion

7 July 2022

Ticket information for our first away game of the upcoming League One season against Burton Albion.

Rovers travel to the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday, 6th August (3pm KO). The initial allocation for this fixture is 1,648. This game will be ALL-TICKET.

The club would like to remind fans that tickets ARE NOT available to purchase from the club shop on matchdays.

Online ticket sales will open to 2022/2023 Season Ticket holders, sponsors and Share Scheme members from 10am on Monday, 11th July. In-store ticket sales will also be available for Season Ticket holders from 10am on Monday, 11th July. Please be aware, Season Ticket holders, sponsors and Share Scheme members are only permitted to purchase one ticket per membership.

Members (Club and Gold members, Helpline and Supporters Club members) will be able to purchase tickets online and in-store from 10am on Wednesday, 13th July. Please note, members are only able to purchase one ticket per membership.

Subject to availability, general sale tickets will then be available online and in-store from 10am on Friday, 15th July.

To purchase tickets online, please click HERE.

Ticket prices can be found below: