please log in to view this image VS please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
All news and build for the festive fixtures will appear on this thread and if anyone is around for Torquay away then its also the match day thread Vote how many points we will get over Xmas using the poll above Poll closes Friday at 03:07 PM
[video=youtube;SZHjGS_R580]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZHjGS_R580&list=UU7dLKUWi0j2nvokTme6U4TQ[/video]
I think we can win the two home games and either draw or win at Torquay. But they're three really tough games, so it could be just two or three points... hope not!
damn it. i put 2 points thinking we will get draws against torquay away and macclesfield home. i only predicted for these 2 games as the title of the thread was for these 2 games. i didnt realise it was for both torquay games! so now i know its 3 games, i will change my 2 points to 3 points
Boxing Day Guidelines from Torquay United Torquay United would like to advise visiting fans from Bristol Rovers that there will be a limited number of tickets available from the ticket office ONLY for the Boxing Day game. They will not be able to sell any tickets from the turnstiles to visiting supporters.
TORQUAY GROUND GUIDE Plainmoor (Launa Windows Stadium) Telephone: 01803 328666 Website: www.torquayunited.com Ticket Information: 1,150 Tickets sold Away fans are housed in the Marsh Toyota Away Stand (covered standing) and a small section of the Bristowâs Bench Stand (covered seating). Capacity: 6,500 How To Get There: Take the M5 southbound for approximately 80 miles. At the end of the M5 follow the A38 and then turn left onto the A380. On reaching Kingskerwell, take the first exit at the large roundabout onto the A3022 towards Torquay. After one mile, turn left towards Babbacombe (signposted Babbacombe (A379)). After 1 mile turn left into Westhill Road, which continues onto Warbro Road. Torquay United is signposted on nearing the ground. Some street parking is available on Marnham Road, where Plainmoor is, and surrounding streets. Sat Nav: TQ1 3PS Distance: 101 miles Duration: 1 hr 47 mins Away Facilities: There is a supporters club bar at the ground called Boots & Laces which is away fan friendly. The closest away fan-friendly pub is Pub Alibi (113 St Marychurch Road, TQ1 3HL, Torquay).
For the second year in a row on Boxing Day Bristol Rovers take the short trip down the M5 to the South Devon Coast to visit Torquay United. Last season both teams were paying in Division 2 this season they find themselves competing in the Vanarama Conference. Last seasonâs fixture ended up all square, 1-1. The home side took a sixth minute lead when they were awarded a penalty which John Marquis duly despatched. Almost constant Roversâ pressure was rewarded on 27 minutes when Matt Harrold was on hand to bundle the ball over the line from Lee Brownâs corner on the right. Last weekend the Gulls faced the same ignominy as the Gas did earlier this season when they went down 2-0 to Alan Devonshire's Braintree part-timers. James Mulley, Chez Isaac and Sean Marks all went close before Marks gave the the Essex team the lead in the 20th minute. Mulley crossed from their right, Gullâs custodian Martin Rice came off his line, hesitated and Marks header looped over him into the empty net to open the scoring. In the 45th minute Braintree punished an Angus MacDonald foul when Mulley whipped the free-kick in behind United's defensive line and Simeon Akinola headed in off Rice's fingertips to double the home teamâs advantage. Gulls manager Chris Hargreaves did not mince his words after the game, "That was not acceptable. Normally, my team is at it, but they weren't today, and I can only apologise to our travelling fans. It was poor.â "All credit to Braintree, because they did all the basic things, the ugly things if you like, better than us. They were the better side. We deserved no more than what we got." "We were missing a couple of important players, but those in the squad should relish the chance to prove themselves," said Hargreaves, "A lot of people here are fighting for their futures, 10 contracts are up in the summer, and I wanted a reaction from the players. Unfortunately it didn't happen. "But we will recover, the players will react. On the whole this season, 99% of the time, they've been at it for me. I believe in the group, I believe there's a good 11 there, but today they've fallen below the standards that the fans expect and that I expect at this football club." Despite that performance the Devon team are unlikely to sign any players in January. The Gulls have released winger Niall Thompson after he came to the end of his six-month contract at Plainmoor. Hargreaves has brought in former Plymouth Argyle defender Durrell Berry and ex-Walsall midfielder James McQuilkin on non-contract terms. "I don't see us moving in any way to get any players. There's simply no money," said Hargreaves, "The only possibility is players moving out on loan or if they would like to play for another club. And Hargreaves feels his squad, who have not won back-to-back games in the Conference since a six-game winning run in September, have the talent within their squad to challenge at the top of the table. "This season we've proved that we're good enough many times and we'll prove it again. The players have got to find it in themselves to react in the right way, I still back them, I believe in them, so it's got to be from within this squad." Meetings between the Gas and the Gulls go back a long time, the first being an FA Cup tie on 27 November 1926 when the game at Plainmoor finished 1-1. Four days later Rovers won the replay 1-0. The first League meeting took place on 29 October 1927 and Rovers thrashed United 5-1 at Eastville. It took the Gulls five more attempts before they were victorious on 2 April 1930, 2-1 at Plainmoor. Roversâ record in Devon is not a bad one, with 10 wins, 11 draws and 17 defeats in their 38 visits. The one black mark was back on 29 March 1932 as United ran riot winning 8-1. The irony of this score was that the teams had played out a 1-1 draw 3 days earlier in Bristol. You have to go back 18 games to find anything greater than a single goal difference between the teams and 24 games to find a greater margin (a 4-0 League Cup victory for Rovers at Plainmoor, their best result there, on 15 September 1983 with goals by Nicky Platnauer, Mike Barrett, Paul Randall and Archie Stephens). During the late 1960's there were some very close games between the two teams. Torquay included John Bond, Ken Brown (both ex-West Ham players who went on to manage teams with great success), John Benson and the lethal strike force of Jim Fryatt and Robin Stubbs. Rovers found it so difficult to contain Stubbs that in the summer of 1969 they bought him. He went on to score twice against his former club; both his goals helped his new team to victory in each game. During those late 1960âs games there was never any more than two goals between the teams. Away victories were rare although Rovers twice collected full points in Devon, in 1968-69, 1-0 and the following season when they won 2-1. Rovers are currently seven points better off than Torquay and Hargreaves will wait until as late as it takes to give injured duo Luke Young and Durrell Berry time to pass fitness tests. âTheyâve both got a chance.â James McQuilkin, who limped off last Saturday with a knee problem, is also improved, and striker Elliot Benyon (stomach bug) and winger Courtney Cameron (infection) have both returned to training this week. The Gullsâ boss admitted: âThere were lessons to be learned from Braintree , and weâve had a bit of straight talking this week. âYou have to look on games like this, on occasions like this, as big chances. They give you a stage to step up and show what you can do. You have to grab those chances and make the most of them.â Talking about his 21 year old captain Luke Young and his former Plymouth Argyle team-mate Durrell Berry Hargreaves said, âWeâre doing everything we can to get Luke and Durrell back for Boxing Day â and weâre hopeful that they will make it. They were both big misses last weekend.â âOur fans had every right to have a go after the Braintree game. There have been only two games this season where Iâve been disappointed with our whole application; Aldershot in the FA Cup and Braintree.â âAlthough we lost at Kidderminster after Aldershot, we then went to Barnet and won.â He noted. âWe got that reaction then, and we need another one now. Iâm expecting everyone to be firing on Friday, because I know we can beat Bristol Rovers at our best.â
Line Up Rovers: Spiess, Leadbitter, Trotman, Parkes, Lockyer, Mansell, Monkhouse, Gosling, Sinclair, Taylor, Blissett. Substitutes: Puddy, Martin, Harrison, Goldberg, Wall.
Torquay Line Up Seabright, Pearce, Young (c), Bowman, Ajala, Cameron, Richards, MacDonald, Ofori-Acheampong, Ives, Berry Rice (gk), Cruise, Briscoe, Yeoman, Benyon
Radio Bristol said 4312 formation. --------------------Spiess------------------- Leadbitter--Trotman--Parkes--Lockyer -----Monkhouse--Mansell--Gosling----- -------------------Sinclair------------------- ------------Blissett------Taylor------------ Brown and Clarke are ill so Lockyer crosses over from RB to LB allowing Leadbitter to come in to RB. McChrystal is still injured so Trotman starts alongside Parkes. Gosling starts in place of injured Balanta. Blissett returns from injury to replace Wall who drops to the bench.
