Bristol Rovers Vs Crawley Town, Memorial Stadium, Bristol, FA Cup 2nd Round, Saturday 7th December 2013, 3:00pm Kick Off please log in to view this image Vs please log in to view this image
i think it will be 3-1 crawley. packwood cant play and he has been great for us i think. im not confident on this one.
A look at tomorrow's opposition Taking a break from League action, Bristol Rovers this weekend entertain Crawley Town in the FA Cup. Earlier this week the Sussex team announced John Gregory their new first-team manager. Greogry has signed an 18-month contract and will take charge for the first time on Saturday. The Reds were quick to make the appointment after sacking Richie Barker on 27 November. The 38-year-old former Bury boss had been in charge since August 2012. Barker took them to 10th place in League One last season, but they had not won any of their last seven league games, scoring only once. They appointed Chief Scout Martin Hinshelwood and striker Gary Alexander in interim charge. Perhaps testing fate Hinshelwood noted, "I had a few spells in charge at Brighton over the years and I enjoy it," he said. "I am unbeaten as a caretaker. In their latest game away to Crewe the Reds were being held 0-0 by a 10 man home team after Vadaine Oliver had been sent off after picking up two yellow cards, the second for what looked like a clear dive. Then an 81st minute header from Chuks Aneke's gave his team their first win in nine games. The winger, on loan from Arsenal, had only been on the pitch for a few moments when he converted Matt Tootle's cross at the back post. Hinshelwood could not hide his disappointment, "To be fair to Crewe they competed, they worked hard, they made so many blocks and the one from Mat Sadler was unbelievable, but we are very disappointed. "We are on a bit of a run at the moment and we have just got to believe in ourselves to get out of it. When [Crewe] went down to 10 men, we didn't pass the ball enough and we didn't keep it well enough. We had 90 minutes to win a game and we didn't. We have just got to do the things we believe in and I am sure it will fall for us." Talking about the away support he said, "I just wish we could have rewarded their loyalty and support for the team with a result. We are the most southerly based team this season which means an awful lot of travelling for our supporters. "We don't have massive away followings but Crawley supporters are extremely loyal and they do get behind the team so, on behalf of everyone in the club, our thanks for their support." Rovers and Crawley have met just twice in competitive football back in the 2011/12 season when the rampant reds steamrollered Rovers 4-1 at Broadmeadow and earned a 0-0 draw in the return game at the Mem. Talking about his team’s prospects for the rest of the season new Boss Gregory said, “I don’t want everyone associated with this club to think little old Crawley who were in the Conference a few years ago, we’re in League One punching above our weight. “I want us to have the mentality that we’re here on merit. This club have worked so hard to get where they are and it’s time to look up now. "This club has come a long way in a short space of time but it doesn't want to stand still. We are not happy just to get into League One so my vision is to look up. The Championship is not beyond us and when I sat down with the board and listened to what they had to say it was pleasing to hear the club is ambitious as I am. "The play offs are not beyond us. The play-offs are a minimum. Getting in the top two for automatic promotion is not beyond us. That is our ultimate aim." It has been a week of upheaval at the Sussex club with Steve Coppell standing down as director of football having been in the role since April 2012. Chief executive John Dunford noted, “Steve will always have a special place in our hearts at Crawley Town FC because he was instrumental in assisting Craig Brewster in securing our promotion to League One and has since been a very good advisor to the both the board of directors and the team management."
Everything you need to know ahead of tomorrow's game Opposition: New manager John Gregory will take carge of Crawley for the first time tomorrow, after joining the club this week. Gregory has signed an 18-month contract at the club, his first job in England since he was sacked by QPR in 2007. His side currently sit in 15th place in League One, having not managed a league win in eight games. Their last victory came against Hednesford Town in the first round of the cup. Opposition view: On his appointment at Crawley John Gregory said: "I'm delighted to be here, back in English football at a club who have made tremendous progress over the last three years. "When I met the directors I was impressed by their ambition to keep on moving Crawley Town forward. You can't stand still in football and the potential at this club is enormous. "We have got a good squad of players and I have every confidence that they can challenge for the play-offs. You have to aim high and I'm really looking forward to getting on the training ground with the players and kicking on." John Ward’s Comments: “We all would like to be in that draw on Sunday, and see what we can get. We have a lot to look forward to this weekend, and we will give it a good go. “They have just appointed a new manager, John Gregory is a very experienced manager and back in the fold after a long time out. “He is good football stock and knows about the game, and that always tends to give people a lift. “The FA Cup is a one off, and we have to try very hard and play well to get through. “We are the underdogs, they are a league above us, so we have to reproduce what we did last Saturday to give ourselves the chance of being the only team out of the two in the hat. “I would like to be through to that third round, but it will take a lot of effort.” Last Meeting: The last meeting between the two teams came at the Memorial Stadium in January 2012. The game ended 0-0. Team News: John Ward will be without John-Joe O'Toole and Chris Beardsley, who are both still suspended following their red cards at Burton. Ryan Brunt is expected to be out until Christmas time with his knee problem, and Will Packwood is unavailable as his parent club do not want him cup tied. Alefe Santos could feature after recovering from a hamstring injury. Tickets: Ticket prices for tomorrow's game reduced throughout the ground. Seats in the two main stands will be priced at £16 for adults and £9 for concessions. Terrace and South Stand seats will be £12 for adults, £7 for Over 65s and students and £1 for U16s. Tickets will be available to buy on the day. Listen Live: Unable to make the trip to the Memorial Stadium tomorrow? Then you can follow all the action from 3pm as Bristol Rovers take on Crawley LIVE on Gas Player. Betting: Rovers are 9/4 to make it into the hat for the third round of the FA Cup. You can get 13/2 on David Clarkson to be the first goalscorer, or 28/1 on ELiot Richards to score in both halves. Read more at http://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/article/sky-bet-nov29-1203808.aspx#4Q0rRShb6sBZ8ja5.99 Bristol Rovers will benefit as you bet throughout the season, so make sure you open your Sky Bet account via www.skybet.com/bristolrovers Join the £5 Free Bet Club you get a FREE £5 BET every week - Place a £5 accumulator on any sport with combined odds of 5/1 or more before midnight Sunday. Your £5 free bet will then be credited by 7pm Monday for you to use on any sport.
