Remaining Fixtures Thread And Poll

Take a look at the potential threats in the ranks of Monday's visitors to the Mem, Oldham Athletic.

#19 - Lee Erwin - Striker

The forward is on loan at Oldham from Leeds United and with ten goals this season, the twenty-three-year-old striker is Oldham's leading goalscorer, averaging a goal every 282 minutes played.
Erwin scored his first goal for Oldham in a 3-2 defeat aginst Shrewsbury in September and has been a regular feature for the club this campaign.
In recent weeks, the striker has found the net against Northampton, Oxford United, Peterborough United and Fleetwood Town, registering six goals in eight outings.
Since the start of 2017, Oldham are unbeaten in every game where Erwin has found the net.
Erwin was on the scoresheet on Saturday, scoring the only goal in Oldham's 1-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers.

#26 - Peter Clarke - Defender

With five goals in all competitions, the defender comes second on Oldham's top scorer list.
Earlier in the season, the defender's goals helped Oldham pick up draws on the road against both Charlton and Bradford.
More recently Clarke found the net against Coventry and Chesterfield United, helping Oldham to take maximum points on both occasions.

#30 - Temitope Obadeyi - Midfield

On loan from Dundee United, the twenty-seven-year-old attacking midfielder was a January transfer window acquisition by Oldham boss, John Sheridan.
Since arriving in League One Obadeyi has made eleven appearances in total, making his debut in Oldham's 1-0 victory over Chesterfield United.
To date, the midfielder's two goals have both helped Oldham pick up points, with his goals coming in a victory on the road at Northampton Town and a 1-1 draw against promoted Sheffield United.

 

By Gerry Prewett.

To quote John Lennon, “The dream is over”. With three games of the season left Bristol Rovers meteoric rise up through the League standings has come to an abrupt halt after the late loss at Gillingham on Good Friday. On Monday Rovers entertain an Oldham Athletic team.
One day following Rovers’ failed attempt to pick up maximum points in Kent, Oldham dented fellow Greater Manchester Bolton’s promotion credentials with a 1-0 victory at Boundary Park.
The match was decided in the 76th minute when Tope Obadeyi’s cross caused the Totter’s keeper Mark Howard to divert the ball off his defender Jay Spearing, leaving the Latic’s Lee Erwin to see it over the line.
Over the years there have been some remarkable games between the Gas and the Latics, 57 in total with 19 Oldham victories, 24 to Rovers and 14 draws. Only 5 of those games have been 0–0 and in one remarkable instance was 4-4.
The first meeting was in the FA Cup on 14 December 1935 as the teams tied 1-1 at Boundary Park, Rovers won the replay 4-1 at Eastville with a Phil Taylor hat-trick.
The first League meeting took place on 16 April 1954 with Rovers winning 1-0 at Eastville with a George Petherbridge goal. Three days later the teams drew 0-0 at Boundary Park.
In the 1967-68 season the goals really flowed in this fixture. Rovers won the home tie in front of a 6,864 crowd on 17 February 1968, 4-3 with goals by Alfie Biggs (2) and Johnny Williams (2, 1 penalty) for the home team and Tony Towers (2) and Laurie Sheffield (who had been on Rovers books at one stage without ever getting a game, he went on to score 132 goals in a 281 game career).
Oldham had gone ahead in the game but with 11 minutes left, Rovers were 3-1 up. Towers then scored and Sheffield equalised before Biggs headed his second.
At Boundary Park in the final game of the season there were even more goals as Bobby Jones (2), Wayne Jones, Harold Jarman and Stuart Taylor for the away team and an Ian Wood hat-trick for the home team led to a 5-3 away win.
Wayne Jones scored after 11 minutes and quarter of an hour later Bobby Jones doubled the lead. Wood then scored in the 53rd and 58th minutes to level the scores, but Taylor quickly restored Rovers lead. In the 78th minutes Wood completed his hat-trick and once again brought the scores level. Bobby Jones responded immediately and with just 8 minutes of the season left Jarman put the icing on the cake.
That 4-4 draw was on 27 September 1997, in front of a 5,990 crowd. A rampant Oldham team raced into a 3-0 lead, within the first half hour, with goals by Barlow (8 mins and 23 mins) and McCarthy (25 mins). 15 minutes later and Rovers had pegged it back to 3-3 with Beadle (30 mins and 33 mins) and Hayles (45 mins) scoring. Oldham re-took the lead with a 59th minute goal by Garner but Rovers were not finished, Cureton slammed home a penalty in the 87th minute.
In 2008-09 Rovers completed a 2-0 double over the Latics, which bettered the previous season’s 1-0 double! Prior to that Rovers’ last victory at Boundary Park was on 26 February 2000 as Rovers raced towards what appeared to be a certain automatic promotion.
Goals by Cureton (4 mins and 6 mins, penalty) and Astafjevs (11 mins) seemed to have sown the game up for Rovers within the first 15 minutes. A further goal by Thomson (48 mins) just after half time gave the Gas an unassailable lead and Oldham’s only response was a goal by Dudley in the 67th minute.
Speaking ahead of the Bolton game, Latic’s midfielder Ollie Banks praised returning Manager John Sheridan for putting the belief back into the squad, "We don’t go into games thinking we are going to lose, we don’t even think we are going to draw, we always feel like we’re going to win so it’s all positive at the moment.
"Performances have been a lot better personally. The gaffer allows players to express themselves, he doesn’t put too many things in your head, he just wants you to enjoy it.
“When you’re not quite on your game, the manager lets you know about it but behind the scenes he is calm and lets everyone work it out for themselves."
Sheridan equally complimented his players, who have now suffered only one defeat in 11 home games since his return, “Before I came, if you said I was only going to lose one out of 10 then I would have bitten your hand off. You have to respect the players for the way they have gone about it. You have always got a better chance winning at home than away so I look at that and we’ve done well at home.”
“If we were going to stay in the league then we would have to win at home, which is the same as last season as well.
“They weren’t winning games before I came in so they were playing with a bit of fear but you can see a massive difference in the players now. They are going out thinking they are going to win every game no matter who they are playing so that’s always a good starting point."

 

Gerry if the three teams immediately above us lose tomorrow and we win and the same on Saturday though I believe that Southend and Rochdale could draw then we could beat Millwall on the last day of the season and with others dropping points we could still make the playoffs. A long shot I agree but its not over until the fat lady sings and she hasn't cleared her throat yet. Tomorrow might paint a different picture but we still have to believe

 

Take a look at Monday's opponents, Oldham Athletic.

Darrell's View: 'We want to finish the season as high as we can with as many points as possible.'

Opposition: Saturday's win over Bolton Wanderers moved Oldham six points clear of the relegation zone. Oldham are now placed 17th in SkyBet League One. In their last ten outings, they have picked up four wins, four draws, with their two defeats coming against both Walsall and Southend United on the road.

One to Watch - #19 - Lee Erwin: The forward is on loan at Oldham from Championship side, Leeds United and with ten goals this season, the twenty-three-year-old striker is Oldham's leading goalscorer, averaging a goal every 282 minutes played.
Erwin scored his first goal for Oldham in a 3-2 defeat aginst Shrewsbury in September and has been a regular feature of the club this campaign.
In recent weeks, the striker has found the net against Northampton, Oxford United, Peterborough United and Fleetwood Town, registering five goals in seven outings.
Since the start of 2017, Oldham are unbeaten in every game where Erwin has found the net.
Erwin was on the scoresheet on Saturday, scoring the only goal in Oldham's 1-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers.

Last Time Out: Goals from Charlie Colkett and Jake Clarke-Salter allowed Rovers to register a 2-0 victory when the two sides met back in October.

Tickets: Early Bird prices are available online up until midnight Sunday. Tickets are available on the day. For a full list of ticket prices please click HERE.

Betting: League Sponsors SkyBet offer a Rovers victory priced at 10/11, the draw can be backed at 12/5.

Keeping Up With The Game: Full match commentary of Rovers game against Oldham Athletic can be heard through Gas PlayerHD. Supporters can access our LIVE match coverage by clicking here.
Alternatively, stay tuned to the club’s social media outlets.
Bristol Rovers found on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your match day fix and make sure you use #BristolRovers!

 

Not going to the game today been a bit busy

 

please log in to view this image

 

please log in to view this image

 

please log in to view this image

 

please log in to view this image

 

So many twists and turns...and with the other sides facing teams either fighting for their lives or in the mix for the playoffs we still have a chance. But goal difference may still come back to haunt us...

 

Having looked at the remaining fixtures for both us, and our closest rivals, and without wanting to tempt fate, my appraisal of the final 2 weeks games are as follows. If Millwall beat Oxford and lose to us, they end on 73 points. If Southend win both their games, away to Shrewsbury and home to Bury, they end on 73 points. I think Rochdale will draw away to Oldham and home to Bradford which will give them 69 points. If we draw at Peterborough and beat Millwall on the last day, we will end with 70 points. This would actually see us sneak into the playoffs in the final spot at Rochdale's expense. I know this is a lot of ifs, buts and maybe's, but it's a definite possibility at present, we just need a little luck and make sure we don't lose at Peterborough!!

 

Southend are on a very jittery run. So are Millwall. Rochdale and The Gas are in better form. And remembering how Accrington blew up last year, anything can happen...

 

We take a quick look at this weekend's opponents!

Darrell's View: "It's going to be a tough game, as they all are in this division. We owe Peterborough after the loss at the Mem earlier in the season.
"We're an outside shot in a three horse race, all we can do is win our games."

Opposition: Peterborough currently occupy 11th position in SkyBet League One, with a total of 59 points. In their last six outings, the Posh have won twice, lost twice and drawn two games. Saturday's host could finish the season as high as 10th, but could drop down to 15th place if they fail to win their remaining games and results go against them.

One to Watch - #21 - Tom Nichols - Striker

The twenty-three-year-old arrived at the AMAX last February from Exeter City and has already made almost fifty appearances for the Posh, despite missing the closing stages of last season through injury.
In all competitions this term the striker has found the net on thirteen occasions, making him Peterborough's leading goalscorer for the campaign. Rovers fans will recall Nichols finding the net when the sides met back in October, with the striker scoring a dramatic late winner to give the Post a victory on the road.
In recent weeks the forward has been or target against Southend, Rochdale and Chesterfield, with five goals to his name since the start of 2017. Out of his thirteen goals so far this season, eight of those goals have come at home.
Erwin was on the scoresheet on Saturday, scoring the only goal in Oldham's 1-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers.

Last Time Out: Second half goals from Shaquile Coulthirst and Tom Nichols secured all three points for the Posh at the Mem back in October after Rovers took the lead from the panalty spot.

Tickets: Rovers have sold over 700 tickets in advance for this fixture but Gasheads can pay on the day.

Betting: Rovers could still make the play-offs with a couple of wins and help elsewhere and they are 7/5 with Sky Bet to pick up three points on the road at Peterborough. The visitors have won three out of their last four while Posh are a couple of places below them and have nothing left but pride to play for – they are 7/4 for victory with a draw 5/2.

Keeping Up With The Game: Full match commentary of Rovers game against Peterborough United can be heard through Gas PlayerHD. Supporters can access our LIVE match coverage by clicking here.
Alternatively, stay tuned to the club’s social media outlets.
Bristol Rovers found on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your match day fix and make sure you use #BristolRovers!