Here is our Bristol Rovers predicted team, as they host Accrington Stanley in League Two
Goal celebrations for Richie Smallwood of Bristol Rovers through the Sky Bet League 2 match between Gillingham and Bristol Rovers at Priestfield Stadium, Gillingham on 21 March 2026 (Photo: Rachel Le Poidevin/PPAUK)
Bristol Rovers are getting nearer to securing their League Two standing for subsequent season, with 13 factors separating them from the underside two with seven video games to go. This follows a run of 16 factors from the final 21 accessible, in addition to 5 wins from the final six matches at The Mem.
The Gas have an opportunity to enhance on their spectacular latest kind when Accrington Stanley journey to BS7 on Saturday. John Doolan’s aspect are winless of their final seven, however are 5 factors and two locations above Rovers. They additionally received the reverse fixture 3-1, with Farrend Rawson and Isaac Sinclair scoring late after Kamil Conteh had equalised simply earlier than the hour mark.
Accrington have additionally confirmed to be a bogey team for Rovers previously, successful 11 of their final 14 league video games in opposition to the Gas.
Steve Evans will not have Yusuf Akhamrich accessible on Saturday, because the Tottenham Hotspur loanee is on worldwide obligation with Morocco’s Under-23s. Shaq Forde is ready to return following his two-match suspension, although, and he can be eager to play a component on this one.
With that stated, right here is how we predict Rovers will arrange in opposition to Accrington…
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Goalkeeper and defence
Aside from the purpose in opposition to Bromley, Brad Young has been faultless by way of his shot-stopping and continues to impress beneath Evans. We see no purpose for him to get replaced on Saturday.
Evans began with a back three of Kofi Balmer, Alfie Kilgour and Riley Harbottle in opposition to Gillingham, and other than a doubtful penalty that was given in opposition to the latter, they appeared comparatively untested.
Harbottle was substituted at half-time, with Rovers switching to a back 4, however given the pinnacle coach’s willingness to make in-game adjustments if issues aren’t going to plan, we predict he’ll follow the three outlined above to maintain it tight defensively within the first 45 minutes.
Joel Senior has been probably the greatest gamers for Rovers in latest weeks, together with his defensive work fee and attacking aptitude with no consideration wing-back giving Evans’ aspect a big risk on the flanks. He is likely one of the first names on the teamsheet proper now, and he can be eager so as to add to his three assists within the league thus far this season. Senior will begin in opposition to Accrington.
Jack Sparkes was not at his finest within the first-half in opposition to Gillingham and was taken off at half-time as a part of a quadruple change. He impressed within the latest wins in opposition to Shrewsbury Town and Barrow, although, and is often dependable within the left wing-back position.
Midfield
As already talked about, Evans made 4 half-time adjustments in opposition to Gillingham, however Richie Smallwood and Clinton Mola stayed on the pitch. While Mola moved back to left-back, Smallwood was the deepest of the three midfielders within the second half, alongside Ryan De Havilland and Kane Thompson-Sommers.
We’ve seen how efficient Smallwood and Mola may be subsequent to one another, particularly within the win in opposition to Shrewsbury and the second half in opposition to Bromley earlier than Forde’s crimson card. De Havilland and Thompson-Sommers did not do a lot incorrect of their cameo final weekend, particularly the previous, however we predict Smallwood and Mola simply get the nod because the midfield pairing in a 3-4-1-2.
Attack and striker
Forde is a contender to begin because the quantity 10 on this system, however Tommy Leigh’s kind cannot be ignored. The Bradford City loanee has scored 4 targets in his final 4 video games, and regardless of being taken off at half-time in opposition to the Gills, he created one of the best likelihood of the primary 45 for Rovers when his pushed cross was headed goalwards by Ellis Harrison.
Leigh ought to begin this one, however Forde can be ready within the wings to return in an try to rediscover his kind earlier than the damage he picked up in opposition to Chesterfield in early February.
Fabrizio Cavegn hasn’t fairly been at his finest in latest weeks, and the model of soccer does not appear to be fairly suiting him at this second in time. He was an remoted determine in opposition to Gillingham and Shrewsbury, with quite a few lengthy balls performed in his path.
We know this is not the Swiss striker’s recreation, however in opposition to an Accrington team, who common the seventeenth highest common possession in League Two, Evans would possibly need a keen runner in behind alongside Joe Quigley, provided that Rovers will probably dictate the tempo of the sport.
This may appear harsh on Harrison, who scored the winner in opposition to Gillingham final weekend, however a pairing of the 32-year-old and Quigley may be fairly one-dimensional, and provided that Cavegn is Rovers’ high scorer, we predict Evans will follow the 23-year-old.
Bristol Rovers predicted team (3-4-1-2): Brad Young, Kofi Balmer, Alfie Kilgour, Riley Harbottle, Joel Senior, Richie Smallwood, Clinton Mola, Jack Sparkes, Tommy Leigh, Fabrizio Cavegn, Joe Quigley.
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