Bristol Rovers predicted team vs Barnsley: Gas look to fill Kamil Conteh-shaped midfield hole
This time last week we were still not sure whether or not we'd be writing this piece amid uncertainties surrounding whether or not Bristol Rovers' trip to Barnsley would be postponed or not due to international call-ups. However, the show is set to go on, giving two teams with seven points from their opening four League One matches of the season to make up extra ground ahead of those nearby in the league table.
Rovers have been by no means stellar but the way in which they've begun the campaign has certainly been impressive, especially considering how new this team is. It is still very much in its infancy but there have been numerous signs that this group of players could develop into something really exciting if nurtured in the right way.
Last weekend's 2-0 victory over Cambridge United ticked off a number of boxes but one of the most positive takeaways was seeing Promise Omochere get off the mark. There will always be pressure on strikers to score and the club-record transfer fee stamped alongside the 23-year-old's name doesn't ease that in any way so to fire home a brace will do him a world of good.
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Admittedly, six of the Gas' seven points have come at home with their opening schedule on the road particularly tough. A goalless draw at Rotherham United is still seen as a solid result while Rovers had spells in their 2-0 defeat at Stockport County, starting the stronger of the two sides in the opening half hour. However, they once again ahead to a side with realistic promotion ambitions in Barnsley with Matt Taylor admitting in his pre-match press conference that his team need to be able to find the balance of being able to pick up results away from home as well as in their own patch.
Now managed by Gas favourite Darrell Clarke, the Tykes have picked up form following a shock 2-1 home defeat to newly-promoted Mansfield Town on the opening day, beating Lincoln City and Crawley Town on the road while securing a 2-2 draw at home to Northampton Town. Clarke's men also have an exciting trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the Carabao Cup third round to look forward to later this month.
However, Barnsley are now without a home win in the league since beating Derby County 2-1 in February, a run of eight matches (nine if you include a 3-1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers in the play-offs). They'll undoubtedly be up for it but Rovers have no reason not to head up to Oakwell without confidence.
Regarding team news, the major line is that the Gas will be without a player who has played 100 per cent of League One minutes so far in Kamil Conteh who is currently on international duty with Sierra Leone. Defender Michael Forbes is also away with Northern Ireland Under-21s but hasn't featured in a league squad since coming off the bench on the opening day.
There will also be question marks around when Gasheads might get to see deadline day arrival Shaq Forde make his Rovers debut with Taylor evidently keen to have him in his squad but made the point when previewing the game that last weekend's winning team deserve to keep their shirts.
Changes are expected to be limited but at least one alteration is guaranteed due to Conteh's commitments elsewhere, leaving a hole for Taylor to fill in arguably the most exposed area of the pitch. Here is how we think Rovers will line up this afternoon at Oakwell...
Goalkeeper and defence
Do we really need to keep mentioning who we're going with in goal? Josh Griffiths has been outstanding thus far in a Gas shirt and leads the golden glove race early on alongside Wrexham's Arthur Okonkwo, Charlton Athletic's Will Mannion and Stockport County's Corey Addai.
Admittedly, the young goalkeeper, who turned 23 on Thursday, wasn't forced into too much action to earn that third clean sheet against Cambridge last weekend, making one good save to deny Shayne Lavery at 0-0.
Ahead of him, it remains a no-brainer to stick with the trio that has been working excellently in Taylor Moore, James Wilson and Clinton Mola. We're still learning about the central defenders' games but that's especially the case for Moore and Mola who arrived in the summer.
On that, we also learned that the former has a pinpoint volley in his locker with his pre-assist for Omochere's second effort last weekend playing a key role in a goal that did the rounds on social media for a couple of days in the aftermath of the match.
With respect to the U's, with Barnsley a stronger side and boasting home comforts, this will be a tougher test for this backline but if they can remain resolute throughout the 90 minutes at Oakwell then we really will be starting to talk about one of the most eye-catching defences in the league.
Midfield
This is of course where the major selection decision falls. Out wide, Bryant Bilongo and Luke Thomas will undoubtedly be the wing-backs with both recording assists last weekend. Thomas in particular was a delight to watch but also could have come away with more than just the one assist, emphasising how electric he was at times. Hopefully there will be more of that later today against his former side.
In the middle, Jake Garrett and Grant Ward are also in the 'no-brainer' category with the former enjoying a terrific first league start for Rovers while the latter looked a lot more like his usual self after an under par display at Stockport the weekend prior. Admittedly, the balance with Conteh slightly deeper than Garrett and Ward seemed to work perfectly with Taylor making the point that the former is a receiver while the latter is a runner. More often than not, Ward was the most advanced midfielder, constantly driving up the pitch with the protection and support of Conteh and Garrett behind.
Isaac Hutchinson was the player to lose his place last weekend and there is argument for the summer arrival to slot back in in Conteh's absence. The more attack-minded midfielder enjoyed an outstanding pre-season but is yet to really come to life in the league. He was impressive against Tottenham Under-21s in the EFL Trophy as he scored his first goal for the Gas but that level of opponent isn't the benchmark for what Rovers will face in League One.
He's only going to settle if he gets minutes in order to continue building partnerships with the players in front of him, especially with Omochere confident on the back of scoring his first two goals.
However, there is also a case for bringing in Luke McCormick. The 25-year-old has come on as a substitute in three of the four league games so far and has always provided an injection of energy.
Like Hutchinson, McCormick enjoyed a number of strong pre-season displays and is entitled to be within the conversation as to who comes in for this game.
It is a shame that Jamie Lindsay remains sidelined as his sort of profile as a midfielder comfortable in the eight role would be perfect to balance out Ward and Garrett but the 28-year-old will no doubt be knocking on the door upon his return which doesn't sound far away.
Having given Hutchinson an opportunity with three starts in the league at the beginning of the campaign, Taylor may well think it's now time to hand McCormick a chance to show what he can do for an increased period of time.
Attack
Had new signing Shaq Forde been deemed fit to start, there could have possibly been argument to drop Ruel Sotiriou into a 10 role and put the deadline day arrival up top alongside Omochere. However, it does sound as though that if the 20-year-old does make his Rovers debut this afternoon, it will be from the bench having had a disjointed pre-season and only just starting training with his new club this week.
The partnership of Sotiriou and Omochere was a delight to watch at times last weekend while there were also instances that emphasised how raw it actually is. While the latter got a brace, the former came close to opening his account for the Gas and seems to be knocking on the door for that first goal. He did score away at Barnsley for Leyton Orient last term...a good omen perhaps?
Taylor has admitted that neither are truly fit enough to produce a full 90 minute display which means the added depth of Forde and Gatlin O'Donkor certainly helps. The latter came on from the bench against Cambridge and is evidently another physical presence up top as he battled for the ball with a clear eagerness to impress his new fans immediately.
At 19 while being on loan from Oxford United, O'Donkor won't be near perfect yet but there are clear elements there of a player who can go on to do well in this team as the season goes on. Meanwhile, having the option of Forde, who scored nine times in League One last season on loan at Orient, will be extremely welcome if deemed fit enough to make the bench.
Bristol Rovers XI (3-4-1-2): Josh Griffiths; Taylor Moore, James Wilson, Clinton Mola; Luke Thomas, Jake Garrett, Grant Ward, Bryant Bilongo; Luke McCormick; Ruel Sotiriou, Promise Omochere
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