The Blues are off to a flyer this season. 5 games in all competitions, 3 of which ended in victory and still yet to taste defeat. This weekend it’s league action again as Bristol Rovers are in town!
A pulsating second half display in midweek saw Danny Cowley’s side romp to victory, dispatching Cambridge United by 4 goals to 1 at Fratton Park.
Strikes from Colby Bishop, Ronan Curtis, Michael Jacobs and Connor Ogilvie helped move Pompey up to 3rd in the League One standings. And it’s back to PO4 we go next to find out if the Blues can pick up from where they left off just 4 days prior.
MANAGER
The Gas, as Bristol Rovers are known to be named, have been directed by former Premier League midfielder Joey Barton since his appointment 18 months ago.
The ex-Manchester City, Newcastle and Queens Park Rangers hothead joined the West Country outfit when they were staring relegation to the bottom tier directly in the face, in the end he was unable to divert the club’s fate of relegation.
He did, however, bring Rovers straight back up into League One and in dramatic fashion too, with Northampton winning 3-1 at Barrow on the final day, the Gas had to win by 7 goals against already-relegated Scunthorpe to overtake the Cobblers into the final promotion place. And they did just that, finishing 3rd in League Two and securing Barton’s first big managerial achievement.
The 39-year-old, who is no stranger to controversy both on and off the pitch, has only previously held one other role in the dugout, having spent nearly 3 years at Fleetwood Town following his appointment in 2018.
ONE TO WATCH
Once again we focus our attention here on a former Blues player and for good reason too. 30-year-old forward John Marquis now features for Bristol Rovers, having left Fratton Park in January to join Lincoln City, where he only managed 5 goals from 20 appearances.
Marquis spent 2-and-a-half years at Pompey following his hugely anticipated arrival from Doncaster Rovers in 2019, however failed to really live up to the expectation and the promise shown at Donny, leaving PO4 with 28 goals from 92 League One games wearing the Portsmouth colours. Marquis has found the back of the net once in his first 4 league appearances for The Gas this season.
TOP SCORER
Whilst Pompey have the league’s top-scorer, Colby Bishop in their arsenal, Bristol Rovers possess the man who is joint second. 25-year-old Aaron Collins has so far bagged 3 goals upon the club’s return to the 3rd tier, with 2 coming in one match against Burton Albion.
The Welshman grew up in the Rovers academy before moving to Newport’s in 2014, making his senior debut against Swindon Town in the Football League Trophy in the same year whilst with The Exiles.
Collins is by no means shy in front of goal despite the fact he’s currently on a 3-game drought. The striker netted on 16 occasions in League Two last term, making him the division’s 5th highest scorer.
CURRENT FORM
Rovers currently sit 10th in the early League One standings, having picked up 6 points from their opening 4 games. Joey Barton’s side opened the new campaign with a loss at home to Forest Green Rovers, before thrashing Burton Albion away from home a week later.
The Gas are out of the Carabao Cup following defeat to Crawley in the first round, which proceeded a 1-0 win over Oxford upon their return to league action. Most recently in midweek, they fell to a 3-0 defeat away at Barnsley.
Can Pompey continue their electric start to the season or will they fall to defeat for the first time, at the hands of Bristol Rovers?
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