Tuesday evening sees Bristol Rovers take on Stockport County in what will be the 24th league meeting between the sides, with Rovers having won 10, drawn four and lost nine of the previous 23 encounters. Rovers have scored 26 goals in those games, while Stockport have scored 27.
The most recent league game between the sides, and the first since the 2009/10 season, was at Edgeley Park on 24th August last year and saw Stockport run out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Louie Barry and Kyle Wootton.
The last time that the sides met at The Memorial Stadium was on 2nd March 2010 when, thanks to a Jeff Hughes goal, Rovers were 1-0 winners.
Stockport’s current First Team Coach Clint Hill and Assistant Coach Andy Mangan were both part of Joe Barton’s management team at The Mem and Mangan had a brief spell as interim manager following Barton’s departure.
Other managerial connections include; Andrew Wilson and Brian Doyle. Wilson had spells in charge of both clubs prior to the Second World War, while former Rovers defender Doyle was manager of Stockport from March 1972 – May 1974. In addition, former Rovers boss Darrell Clarke played one game for Stockport, when on loan from Hartlepool United, in 2004/05.
Players who have turned out for both clubs include; Dominic Blizzard, Les Bradd, Jermaine Easter, Ali Gibb, Matt Glennon, Paul Hendrie, Lee Jones, Phil Kite, Rickie Lambert, Aaron Lescott, Bob Newton, Richie Partridge, Anthony Pulis, Graham Ricketts, Neil Ross, Hugh Ryden, Norman Sykes, James Tunnicliffe and Kenan Dunnwald-Turan.
Lambert is also one of four players to make his Rovers league debut against Stockport, one of his former clubs. The other three players to have made their debuts against Stockport are Steve Parmenter, Jamie Clapham and Jake Garrett
Stockport, last season’s League Two Champions, are well placed to secure a second successive promotion. Last Saturday they recorded a fifth successive league win, beating Barnsley 2-1 at Edgeley Park thanks to goals from Isaac Olaofe and Will Collar saw them end the day in fourth place with 43 points from their 30 games.
Rovers, without a game since their 3-1 win against Peterborough United on 2nd February, are down in 19th place with 31 points from their 28 games.
A week without a game has allowed Head Coach Inigo Calderon time with his players on the training ground and given his new signings time to acquaint themselves with their new club and team mates. His team selection for this match will be an interesting one, particularly his choice of shot stopper.
Having seen Josh Griffiths recalled from his loan spell by West Bromwich Albion, Calderon recalled Jed Ward from his loan spell at Forest Green Rovers but also signed another goalkeeper on loan, in Myles Roberts, from Watford. Two more players, defender Sil Swinkels and striker Michael Reindorf, signed on loan from Aston Villa and Cardiff City respectively, could well make their Rovers league debuts.
In the first of two home games this week, Rovers have an opportunity to add to their points tally and pull further away from the bottom four. Tuesday night’s game under the lights at The Mem will be a stern test but is definitely a game to look forward to. Evening games always seem, to me, to generate a very special atmosphere so here’s hoping for three points!
