Following the sacking of manager Joey Barton on Thursday, Bristol Rovers will begin a new era under temporary stewardship as they welcome Northampton Town to the Memorial Stadium on Saturday in League One.
The Gas are currently three matches without a win after being forced to share the spoils with Stevenage on Tuesday, whilst Northampton earned a point against Leyton Orient on the same night.
Match preview
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With a change of ownership and 12 signings over the summer, expectations have risen significantly at Bristol Rovers for the 2023-24 term, and it is ultimately a mixture of poor recent results - coupled with some off-field issues - which have led to former Queens Park Rangers man Barton being relieved of his duties.
The Gasheads seem split in their analysis of the decision, but all those of a Rovers persuasion will admit that Tuesday's 1-1 draw with high-flying Stevenage was a decent result, with striker Chris Martin bagging his first strike for the club after nine-goal winger Jamie Reid had put Steve Evans's men ahead at the Memorial Stadium.
Barton's former assistant Andy Mangan will take charge of the Gas as Northampton arrive in Bristol on Saturday afternoon, with Rovers currently sitting 16th in the League One standings, seven points behind sixth-placed Blackpool and five points ahead of Wigan Athletic in 21st.
With the club's fresh ownership targeting a playoff push this season, Barton's eventual successor knows that they will have to improve the team's form at the Memorial Stadium, with Mangan's men winning just two of their opening six home league matches during the 2023-24 term.
As Rovers continue to struggle with injuries to their attacking options, the burden of putting the ball in the back of the net has been shared around the squad so far, with winger Aaron Collins and right-back Jack Hunt scoring five goals combined as the Gas look to fire themselves towards the top six.
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Northampton's winless run in League One now stands at three matches after a four-goal thriller against fellow newly-promoted side Leyton Orient ended in a score draw on Tuesday night, when it was a club legend in the making who provided the decisive moments for the hosts at Sixfields Stadium.
Sam Hoskins bagged from the penalty spot and open play to put the Cobblers ahead following Rob Hunt's opener for the visiting O's, however the dismissal of 21-year-old forward Kieron Bowie in the second period stimulated a wave of late pressure from Richie Wellens's men, who scored an added-time equaliser courtesy of substitute Shaq Forde.
After finishing third in League Two last term and gaining automatic promotion to the third tier, Northampton have experienced a steady start to life back at this level following a two-year absence, with Jon Brady's men currently 19th in the League One table, three points ahead of the relegation zone.
Key to the Cobblers' attempts to survive this term will be winger Hoskins, who has already netted eight league goals for Saturday's visitors - only Devante Cole, Alfie May and Stevenage's Reid have scored more than the 30-year-old during the opening months of the 2023-24 season.
This weekend's meeting between the Gas and the Cobblers has extra significance considering that this is the first time the two clubs have faced off since their extraordinary battle for League Two promotion in the 2021-22 term, when Barton's Rovers side smashed Scunthorpe United 7-0 on the final day to secure a return to the third tier, simultaneously condemning Northampton to the lottery of the playoffs.
Team News
Bristol Rovers interim boss Mangan is set to make a couple of changes from the XI who struggled in the first half against Stevenage last time out, meaning veteran defender George Friend could be handed a start at the expense of Joshua Grant.
Returning after six weeks out with an injury, centre-back Tristan Crama was a composed figure in the Gas' defence last time out and should retain his place alongside Connor Taylor.
Harvey Vale could be set for a spot in the XI after coming on at the half-time break on Tuesday, with the likes of John Marquis and Scott Sinclair also hoping to escape the shackles of the bench.
Northampton manager Brady handed a full debut for Jordan Willis in a back three last time out, and the 29-year-old should start once again alongside Sam Sherring and former Walsall man Emmanuel Monthe.
Hoskins will need a new partner in attack after Scotsman Bowie received his marching orders against Orient, meaning Tyreece Simpson should be reinstated into the visitors' XI following his exclusion in the week.
With a tightly-packed schedule leading up to the November international break, Australian boss Brady could decide to rotate in his engine room, with Congo international William Hondermarck pushing for his second league start of the term.
Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:
Cox; Hoole, Taylor, Crama, Friend; Evans, Finley, Grant; Brown, Collins, Martin
Northampton Town possible starting lineup:
Burge; Willis, Sherring, Monthe; Odimayo, McWilliams, Hondermarck, Brough, Pinnock; Simpson, Hoskins
We say: Bristol Rovers 2-1 Northampton Town
Bristol Rovers have fallen below their owners' expectations so far this term, but with interim boss Mangan at the helm, the Gas have a good chance of returning to winning ways this weekend.
Northampton are continuing to rely on Hoskins to get them out of jail, and we believe that the Cobblers will suffer their third defeat in four games on Saturday.
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Top tip
Carter White
