So two really tough games coming up against former league teams starting with Lincoln on Saturday their form is a bit patchy to say the least having beat Grimsby 3-1 and Barnet 4-1 they've fail to defeats to Chester (4-0) and Aldershot (3-0) so with that it mind I think we're looking at a draw. For me 2-2. Taylor to get both goals.
Lincoln's defence was appalling that day. Think this will be much tighter, but hopefully we'll nick it.
Picked us to win because we have to. Looking at the other games... FGR vs Grimsby - 5th vs 4th AND Barnet vs Woking - 1st vs 6th, So points will be dropped by some of our rivals Macclesfield vs Welling - 3rd vs 19th AND Eastleigh vs Telford - 10th vs 24th, should be easy points for the home teams. 7th Kidderminster, 8th Halifax & 11th Gateshead all not playing! All the way down to 11th is a real contender for a top 5 finish. We have to win. Another draw is not good enough now.
All you need to know ahead of tomorrow's fixture! Bristol Rovers return to the Memorial Stadium for the first time since the New Year's Day draw with Torquay to take on Lincoln City. Rovers: The men in blue and white have a fantastic record at the Mem this season picking up 10 wins and only conceding 9 goals. Rovers currently sit in second place in the Vanarama Conference table seven points behind league leaders Barnet. Team News: Rovers will be without midfield pair Ollie Clarke and Stuart Sinclair however loan signing Josh Wakefield is available for selection. Opposition: Tomorrow's opponents Lincoln City currently sit in 9th position in the Vanarama Conference Premier table just 2 points outside of the playoff places. Chris Moyses men have only picked up 3 points in their last 3 games with an impressive 1-0 over Dover on their last outing. The Imp's home form has been fantastic this season however they have struggled on the road having lost 9 games away from Sincil Bank already this season. Dangerman - Ben Tomlinson: Tomlinson has been impressive this season for the Imp's, scoring an impressive 11 goals this season with his most recent effort coming in the 1-0 win over Dover last weekend. The Lincoln frontman joined from fellow Conference side Alfreton in July 2013 for an undisclosed fee and scored 20 goals in 44 appearances for the Imps in last seasons campaign. Last Meeting: A 90th minute Ellis Harrison goal secured all three points for Darrell Clarke's men at Sincil Bank in a game the finished 2-3. Goals from Stuart Sinclair and Daniel Leadbitter gave the Gas a 0-2 lead before Lincoln leveled before the half time in a game where Lee Brown missed a 87th minute penalty with the scores level. Listen Live: BBC Radio Bristol on the 1548MW Frequency
Rovers are looking to get their season back on track when the entertain Lincoln City this weekend. Having drawn 3 and won the other of their four games in 2015 Rovers have failed to make much of a dent in the lead of top dogs Barnet. The Imps are 7 places and 10 points behind Rovers. The Midland team has had a very mixed season with short runs of victories and defeats. After going down 4-0 at Chester, manager Chris Moyses was so upset with his team he gave an 11-second interview to apologise for his side's performance. "I will give you a statement," said Moyses, "I will apologise straight away. That is unacceptable in my eyes. It is my fault, I will carry the can for it and that's the end of the statement. That is all I am going to say." It must have worked for Moyses as his team then went on to end Dover’s 13 match unbeaten League run at Sincil Bank. The win saw City close ground on the top five places having seen their play-off hopes take a battering with back-to-back defeats on the road. The Imps took the lead just after half time when Nolan laid his corner ball off to Newton, the full back whipped the ball in and Rafferty dropped his catch and Tomlinson pounced to make it 1-0 to the home team. City managed to weather the late storm and picked up their first win in three games. Back in September Rovers picked up their first away win of the season at Sincil Bank. First half goals from Stuart Sinclair and Daniel Leadbitter gave them a two goal cushion but the home side levelled before the break. In an open second half both sides had chances before Lee Brown missed an 87th minute penalty. However the defender set up Ellis Harrison who fired in a last minute winner, though Clarke’s side were indebted to goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall for a superb save from the final shot of the match. The last time the teams met in League competition was during Rover last promotion season. During the regular season the Imps came out on top with a 1-0 win at Sincil Bank and a 0-0 draw at the Mem. In the Play-Offs Rovers won the home leg 2-1 and expected a tough game at Lincoln. An early Stuart Campbell stunner settled Rovers nerves as they went on to win 5-3 on the night and 7-4 on aggregate. The failure was the fifth in successive Play-off competitions, a record for any club. Lincoln City have a proud history like Rovers the Imps were formed in 1883. Unlike Rovers they joined the League at an early point, in 1892-93 season. Division Two had teams such as Small Heath (later to become Birmingham City), Darwen, Ardwick, Burton Swifts, Northwich Victoria, Bootle and Burslem Port Vale at that time. They enjoyed some success at that time and in 1901/02 City conceded just 4 goals during their 17 home games. The Imps lost their League status after finishing last but one in 1919/20 season. When Division 3 North was founded in 1921-22 season they became founder members. They stayed there until they became Champions of the Division in 1931/32 season, beating Gateshead on goal average to promotion. On 1st March 1930 the Imps started a 37 game run during which they scored in every game. Unfortunately two unsuccessful seasons saw them back down in Division Three North again until once more they were crowned Champions in 1951/52. It was a season during which they scored a remarkable 121 goals, of which 80 were scored at Sincil Bank. Successive relegations in 1960/61 and 1961/62 saw the Imps hit the basement Division for the first time. They struggled until a young Graham Taylor took over the helm at Sincil Bank. They eventually had a superb season in 1975/76 when, they were runaway Champions. Their record at the end of that season bears close examination; Played Won Drew Lost Goals For Goals Against Points 46 32 10 4 111 39 74 That points total was an all time record under the two points for a win system. In this day and age that would have given them 106 points! That 111 goals scored was the best since Spurs had scored the same number in 1962/63 season. The Imps yoyo existence continued however when Graham Taylor went on to manage Watford. They suffered relegation in 1978/79, won promotion again in 1980/81, were relegated once more in 1985/86 and then finished bottom of the basement Division the following season. It was only a single year sojourn in the Conference; a further promotion in 1997/98 was followed by immediate relegation the following season. After several traumatic years of failure in 2001/02 former Manager Keith Alexander returned to Sincil Bank as assistant to Alan Buckley. A year later, the club parted company with Manager Alan Buckley. On the same day that the club's petition to go into administration was successful Keith Alexander was appointed manager. In his four seasons as in charge Alexander took the Imps to the Play-Offs four times without success. The re-appointment of Buckley during the summer was an attempt to find that final push. City were relegated from League Two on the last day of the end of the 2010–2011 season. They needed a win in their final game against Aldershot Town to survive, but lost 3–0. The first match between the clubs took place on 19th September 1953 and the Imps stunned a 24,650 Eastville crowd by inflicting Rovers with their second home defeat of the season, 1-0. In the return match at Sincil Bank Rovers gained their revenge with a 2-1 victory with Paddy Hale and Vic Lambden scoring for Rovers. Lincoln were relegated from the Second Division in 1960-61 season, one year before Rovers suffered the same fate. During those seasons the Gas won four more times in Lincoln and suffered just one more defeat in Bristol. One of those defeats was a 4-1 thrashing on 20th September 1958 when Geoff Bradford scored Rovers consolation goal. At Eastville Rovers scored pretty freely against the Imps and five times put three goals past the Lincoln keeper. Alfie Biggs twice scored doubles in these games. After their relegation from Division Two, Lincoln dropped straight through to Division Four the following season and in fact had to apply for re-election in 1962/63, again in 1966/67 and 1970/71. Rovers’ home record against Lincoln is not the best. When Rovers dropped back down into the old Division 3 in 1981/82 season Lincoln imposed Rovers first home defeat of the season with a 2-0 victory and 12 months later virtually repeated the dose with a 2-1 win. Overall at home Rovers have won 9, drawn 7 and lost 5 times. City assistant manager Grant Brown has identified defensive frailties as something that needs to be addressed by his team. The Imps defence has struggled on the road in recent weeks with 11 goals conceded in their last three away games. "We have conceded a few goals on the road recently," admitted Brown, "However, those games have seen situations where players have been sent off and such. We do need to look at how we are playing and the win over Dover showed that we can grind out results.” "If we want to get promotion then we need to show we can play a different style. It is good that we can play attacking football and have scored some goals, but you need that other side of your game as well." Read more at http://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/article/focus-on-lincoln-city-2251168.aspx#VTVhZjsij6yGJkfw.99
Gas Line Up: Mildenhall, Leadbitter, McChrystal (C), Parkes, Brown, Dawson, Lockyer, Mansell, Monkhouse, Taylor, Blissett. Substitutes: Puddy, Gosling, Wakefield, Balanta, Harrison. Easter will return to action in about 3 weeks
Text Commentary From The First Half (for anyone interested ) The Gas 2 - 0 Lincoln City 45:00 Half Time 41:53 Foul by Arnaud Mendy (Lincoln City). 41:53 Daniel Leadbitter (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick. 41:03 Foul by Lee Mansell (Bristol Rovers). 41:03 Jon Nolan (Lincoln City) wins a free kick. 39:06 Goal scored Goal! Goal! Bristol Rovers 2, Lincoln City 0. Nathan Blissett (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Matty Taylor. 35:52 Goal scored Goal! Goal! Bristol Rovers 1, Lincoln City 0. Lee Brown (Bristol Rovers) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner. 35:11 Foul by Arnaud Mendy (Lincoln City). 35:11 Tom Parkes (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick. 34:43 Attempt saved. Nathan Blissett (Bristol Rovers) header from the centre of the box is saved. Assisted by Adam Dawson. 34:19 Corner, Bristol Rovers. 34:02 Attempt saved. Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved. 33:01 Offside, Lincoln City. Ben Tomlinson tries a through ball, but Ben Tomlinson is caught offside. 29:30 Foul by Delano Sam-Yorke (Lincoln City). 29:30 Tom Parkes (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick. 28:55 Attempt saved. Jon Nolan (Lincoln City) header from the centre of the box is saved. Assisted by Marcus Marshall with a cross. 28:31 Foul by Nathan Blissett (Bristol Rovers). 28:31 Charlee Adams (Lincoln City) wins a free kick. 27:17 Attempt missed. Ben Tomlinson (Lincoln City) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jake Caprice with a cross. 26:28 Attempt saved. Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved. 23:15 Booking Booking Lee Mansell (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 22:51 Foul by Lee Mansell (Bristol Rovers). 22:51 Delano Sam-Yorke (Lincoln City) wins a free kick. 21:39 Corner, Bristol Rovers. 18:44 Attempt missed. Lee Brown (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. 16:33 Foul by Delano Sam-Yorke (Lincoln City). 16:33 Mark McChrystal (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick. 16:01 Hand ball by Lee Brown (Bristol Rovers). 13:27 Foul by Ben Tomlinson (Lincoln City). 13:27 Adam Dawson (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick. 12:53 Attempt saved. Nathan Blissett (Bristol Rovers) header from the right side of the box is saved. 10:33 Offside, Bristol Rovers. Matty Taylor tries a through ball, but Matty Taylor is caught offside. 8:27 Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box. Assisted by Adam Dawson. 8:01 Corner, Bristol Rovers. 7:42 Foul by Hamza Bencherif (Lincoln City). 7:42 Nathan Blissett (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick. 6:20 Attempt missed. Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. 5:39 Tom Parkes (Bristol Rovers) hits the woodwork with a header from the left side of the six yard box. Assisted by Adam Dawson with a cross. 4:59 Foul by Ben Tomlinson (Lincoln City). 4:59 Adam Dawson (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick. 2:10 Attempt missed. Andy Monkhouse (Bristol Rovers) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Adam Dawson with a cross. 0:50 Offside, Bristol Rovers. Nathan Blissett tries a through ball, but Nathan Blissett is caught offside. 0:00 First Half begins. 0:00 Lineups are announced and players are warming
Text Commentary From The Second Half (for anyone interested ) +5:00 Full time Full Time Match ends, Bristol Rovers 2, Lincoln City 0. 90:00 +5:00 Full time Full Time Second Half ends, Bristol Rovers 2, Lincoln City 0. 90:00 +1:46 Attempt missed. Tom Parkes (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. 90:00 +1:04 Foul by Charlee Adams (Lincoln City). 90:00 +1:04 Jake Gosling (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick. 89:13 Substitution Substitution Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Angelo Balanta replaces Matty Taylor. 89:12 Substitution Substitution Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Jake Gosling replaces Adam Dawson. 88:04 Substitution Substitution Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Ellis Harrison replaces Nathan Blissett. 87:55 Attempt missed. Jordan Burrow (Lincoln City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Tyrell Waite with a cross. 87:30 Attempt blocked. Ben Tomlinson (Lincoln City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. 85:14 Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) hits the woodwork with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Adam Dawson with a cross. 79:46 Foul by Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers). 79:46 Jon Nolan (Lincoln City) wins a free kick. 73:37 Substitution Substitution Substitution, Lincoln City. Tyrell Waite replaces Marcus Marshall. 69:10 Foul by Tom Davies (Lincoln City). 69:10 Adam Dawson (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick. 68:53 Booking Booking Tom Davies (Lincoln City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 68:03 Foul by Lee Mansell (Bristol Rovers). 68:03 Marcus Marshall (Lincoln City) wins a free kick. 67:15 Booking Booking Arnaud Mendy (Lincoln City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 67:01 Foul by Jon Nolan (Lincoln City). 67:01 Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick. 66:03 Corner, Lincoln City. 63:48 Foul by Hamza Bencherif (Lincoln City). 63:48 Steve Mildenhall (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick. 63:10 Hand ball by Adam Dawson (Bristol Rovers). 62:15 Attempt missed. Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. 59:27 Attempt missed. Nathan Blissett (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. 58:16 Offside, Lincoln City. Ben Tomlinson tries a through ball, but Ben Tomlinson is caught offside. 56:26 Foul by Nathan Blissett (Bristol Rovers). 56:26 Charlee Adams (Lincoln City) wins a free kick. 54:07 Substitution Substitution Substitution, Lincoln City. Jordan Burrow replaces Delano Sam-Yorke. 52:16 Foul by Delano Sam-Yorke (Lincoln City). 52:16 Daniel Leadbitter (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick. 49:46 Attempt missed. Lee Mansell (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box. 49:01 Foul by Ben Tomlinson (Lincoln City). 49:01 Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick. 48:37 Corner, Bristol Rovers. 45:01 Substitution Substitution Substitution, Lincoln City. Tom Davies replaces Sean Newton because of an injury. 45:00 Second Half begins Bristol Rovers 2, Lincoln City 0.
Seamge We played well today in patches. Never looked like conceding and we should have scored 5, 6 or even 7 today. We hit the woodwork 3 times!!! Yes we won and 3 points is the important thing. But we are still not ruthless and clinical enough in front of goal. Clean sheet will give Mildenhall a confidence boost. Dawson was my man of the match and was awarded it. Imagine if you had him and Della-Verde on our wings! Taylor and Blissett look good together. But Taylor should have had 3 today minimum. He deserved a goal I thought as he never gave up and gave 100% which is what our players should be doing. Some will say he isnt good enough but I think he needs more time and a bit more luck to kick start a good scoring run. The ref was shocking by the way
Yes I think Taylor has done very well for us and has to be contender for player of the year along with Sinclair. It sounded to me that Lincoln just weren't interested after we went 2-0 up its a shame that some smaller teams don't do this when we play them away.
Best 90 minute performance I have seen this season from Rovers. The referee was very poor. I'm sure I've seen him do pre-season matches and 'reserve' games. I can understand refs missing the odd incident, but he clearly saw things going on for both sides and didn't act. Taylor and Brown are in today's Non-League paper Team of the Day.
