All you need to know about tomorrow's opponents! Bristol Rovers play their second game at the Mem within the space of five days as they host Welling United in Vanarama Conference Premier action. Opposition: Saturday's opponents Welling United currently sit in 18th position in the Vanarama Conference Premier table with 25 points from their 22 games. The Wings have however had some positive recent results drawing with Macclesfield before gathering three points against both Halifax and Braintree. Welling have actually scored one more goal that Rovers this season but sit just above the relegation places showing how difficult a league this is. United are now also without former midfielder and top goalscorer Harry Beautyman, who's 11 goals in 21 appearances earned him a move to League One Peterborough United. Dangerman - Charlie Penny: Penny joined Welling in the summer from Championship side Millwall and has had an indifferent start to life at Park View Road but has recently found the back of the net in the recent victories over Halifax and Braintree so he is a man in form. Penny with have the increased burden of trying to fill the goalscoring void left by Beautyman's departure and will be looking to do what the leagues top goal scorer John Akinde failed to do on Tuesday night and score past the Gas at the Mem. Team News: The only noticeable absentee is goalkeeper Will Puddy who injured his arm in the GFA Cup Quarter-Final at the Mem last week and new signing Alex Wall will be available for selection. Last Meeting: These sides have only met once before in competitive football as Rovers came out dominant in an FA Cup tie at the Memorial Stadium back in January 1998 where Jason Roberts scored a second half hat-trick to secure Rovers passage into the next round. Listen Live: Unable to make the trip to the Memorial Stadium tomorrow? Then you can follow all the action from 3:00pm as Bristol Rovers take on Welling United LIVE on Gas Player or on BBC Radio Bristol 94.9/DAB/15.48 Frequency's.
Having seen his side pick up six points from two games this week the Rovers boss was pleased with how his team dealt with another difficult game. “It was a very tough game, Welling were very disciplined for a large portion of the game and kept 9 men behind the ball most of the time. “We had to change it at half time to get more going in the final third and it was good for Blissett to come off the bench and get his goal. Darrell made two changes to the team that defeated table topping Barnet on Tuesday bringing in Jake Gosling and new loan signing Alex Wall but said the first half lacked an overall pace. “I wanted to freshen things up after Tuesday’s game and I thought Alex [Wall] had some good touches but is lacking match fitness and Jake [Gosling] wasn’t as strong on the ball today as I know he can be. “The tempo just wasn’t there in the first half but at that point it was also important that we didn’t concede on the counter. Matty Taylor put the game beyond doubt with a 73rd minute penalty and Darrell is pleased that Taylor is now adding goals to his game. “Matty [Taylor] is a fantastic player and the work he does for us is brilliant. “His positional sense and the work rate he brings to every game is amazing and I’m pleased that he is now adding goals to his all round game. Today’s game marks the half-way point in the season and Rovers currently sit in third place in the table with Darrell making sure his, and his squads feet stay firmly on the ground. “It is half-way through the season and yes we are in third but for today the most pleasing thing for me is another three points. “We have a great set-up here now with the players that we have but we don’t want to get carried away. “It will be consistency that gets you up the table and I think that at the moment we are very consistent.
1st half was poor. we didnt do enough to break down a side determind to frustrate us who had 10 men behind the ball all the time. they wasnt interested in getting forward but just wanted to stop us. they were organised and did the job to stop us although we never got out of 1st gear in this half. 2nd half was much better. once we scored then welling never had an answer to get anything. they then got frustrated and showed why they are a part time team with their dirty play. their red card made things very easy for is. we never once looked like losing. it was just a matter of breaking them down andd getting the goal needed to win.
I wish I could predict the attendance as well as I did the score and even one of the scorers! Never mind - dominant performance and really quite excited by Blissett UTG!
