Bristol R v Fleetwood preview
Last Updated: September 21, 2012 10:57am
Etheridge: Could debut for Pirates
Team news ahead of Saturday's League Two clash between Bristol Rovers and Fleetwood Town at Memorial Stadium.
Bristol Rovers boss Mark McGhee has a number of selection issues.
The Gas signed goalkeeper Neil Etheridge from Fulham on loan on Thursday and could hand him his debut as they go in search of their first league win of the season.
Striker Matt Harrold is out for the rest of the campaign after suffering a serious knee injury against Gillingham last weekend but it is not yet known who will replace him.
McGhee told the club's official website: "With Matt Harrold's injury there is no question that I should be playing Eliot Richards, but he leaves us with questions all the time; he is brilliant and then he is disappointing, so we don't know what's coming.
"So the decision I have got to make is do I risk Eliot's inconsistency or do I go with five midfield players."
Fleetwood manager Micky Mellon is expected to recall Youl Mawene to his defence.
Former Derby and Preston centre-back Mawene was an ever present in a Town side that conceded two goals in six league outings before Tuesday's match with Port Vale.
Mellon elected to rest the 33-year-old, handing a league debut to Blackpool loanee Ashley Eastham as the Cod Army slumped to a 5-2 defeat, although the Highbury Stadium boss has no regrets over shuffling his pack.
"We can't keep flogging people," he told the Blackpool Gazette. "We've got a squad here who we believe are all first-team players and we'll continue to use them.
"People have been brought here to play and I've no regrets about anything we've done or any choices we've made."
Fleetwood have no new injury problems. Anthony Berry (knee) remains a long-term absentee.
Matches
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npower League 2
Table
npower League 2
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gillingham | 46 | 83 |
| 2 | Rotherham United | 46 | 79 |
| 3 | Port Vale | 46 | 78 |
| 4 | Burton Albion | 46 | 76 |
| 5 | Cheltenham Town | 46 | 75 |
| 6 | Northampton Town | 46 | 73 |
| 7 | Bradford City | 46 | 69 |
| 8 | Chesterfield | 46 | 67 |
| 9 | Oxford United | 46 | 65 |
| 10 | Exeter City | 46 | 64 |
| 11 | Southend United | 46 | 61 |
| 12 | Rochdale | 46 | 61 |
| 13 | Fleetwood Town | 46 | 60 |
| 14 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 60 |
| 15 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 60 |
| 16 | Morecambe | 46 | 58 |
| 17 | York City | 46 | 55 |
| 18 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 54 |
| 19 | Torquay United | 46 | 53 |
| 20 | AFC Wimbledon | 46 | 53 |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 52 |
| 22 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 46 | 51 |
| 23 | Barnet | 46 | 51 |
| 24 | Aldershot Town | 46 | 48 |
