[BFC SITE] Team News | Rovers vs Reds

The Reds take on their first away game of 2025 at Bristol Rovers this weekend, here are how the two sides lineup at the Memorial Stadium.



Rovers: Griffiths (GK), Sousa, Moore, Wilson, Sinclair (c), Ward, Thomas, Sawyers, Taylor, Hutchinson, O'Donkor.

Subs: Hall (GK), Senior, Mola, Sotiriou, Morton, Forde, Lindsay.



Reds: Killip (GK), Russell, Roberts, de Gevigney, O'Keeffe, Phillips, Gent, Earl, Watters, Keillor-Dunn, Connell (c)

Subs: Pines, Cosgrove, Lofthouse, McCarrthy, Farrugia, Humphrys, Nwakali.

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No keeper on the bench, new role for Pines if needed?

 

Nwakali not starting is always a disappointment. He’s a joy to watch on the ball.

No keeper on the bench too.

Does look quite a strong squad though.

McCarthy’s pirate brother playing? On the picture on Twitter it has O’Keeffe’s Mexican brother in the team too (O’Keffee).

 

What was Cotters injury against Wrexham, proving longterm?

 

I’m a Little surprised with Robert’s starting, thought he looked well off the pace when he came on in our last match. Thought he might come on after an hour or so.No sub keeper either, hope we don’t regret that

 

Hope to see Farrugia at some point.

Bench looking stronger now.

 

Not much of a gamble in 50 odd years of watching football I can't think of more that a handful of times I've seen a keeper need subbing, having opened my big gob I apologise if it happens today.

 

He's had another couple of weeks training his form pre injury for me means he has to start.

 

They get sent off more often - though since they brought in not having double jeopardy for penalties that’s less often too.

It’s a risk but a calculated one. We may have taken a keeper down who isn’t fit, injured in the warm up, you never know. I think I’d name one in seven subs myself but it’s only a bad decision if it costs us.

 

Would have thought one of Lofthouse or Cotter might be allowed to go out on loan

 

Pointless risk. I am struggling to think of a set of circumstances why Lofthouse needs to be on the bench instead of a keeper.

 

I can see Cotter being one of those players we move on who then go on to bigger things elsewhere.

 

Why have they written McCarthy's name in a Bristol accent?

 

Cotter was limping round Town centre this morning.

 

Heinz Muller

 

Nwakali is better than Connell. Connell has no forward ball.

 

According to @gooderzone, there’s a 0.5% chance of needing a sub keeper. We’ve needed a sub keeper 20 times since the first time in 1896. The man’s statistics are crazy.

 

With respect, he cant know that, its an absolute nonsense statistic. How on Earth can he state that in any given game in 1901 where substitutes were not permitted that we didnt need a substitute goalkeeper? Players would have carried on with a leg off.

 

That’s a good point. He’s usually bang on with his stats though.

Didn’t a goalie once play a cup final with a broken neck?

 

Bert Trautmann, for Man City against Brum. Carried on, won the game.