With the 15 point Football League penalty accepted, wiped out, and promptly removed in a bright yellow skip, Leeds United make their first ever visit to The Memorial Stadium.
Managers Have Their Say
Knowing full well that a win at Bristol would see Leeds move up to 20th position (albeit temporarily with Saturday’s games to come), Dennis Wise is confident and hopes that his team can over come the first of many hurdles remaining this season.
Speaking to leedsunited.com: ‘It was nice to get the points off and get on zero last week, but it’ll be even better on Friday if we can get off the bottom,’ he said.
‘We can go fifth from bottom for the night, and that would be a massive boost for everyone if we could achieve that.
‘There’s 23 targets now, and we’ll look at it team by team. When we catch the first one it’ll be fantastic. This is our next hurdle now.’
Rovers manager Paul Trollope insists that his team are not afraid of a resurgent Leeds United who have taken everything that has been thrown at them this season into their stride:
‘It’s a good game for us, and one of the ones you look for when the fixture list comes out,’ Paul told bristolrovers.co.uk, ‘It’s a home game, it’s a Friday night, it’s under the lights, and it’s really one to look forward to.’
They’ve won five out of five, but they’re not superhuman and they can be beaten. We’ll give them respect, but we’ll go into the game looking to start well and to impose our game on them from the off.’
Bristol Rovers Team News:
Bristol midfielder David Pipe is the major concern for Trollope tonight as he has not returned to training due to a stomach bug.
Aaron Lescott will sit the game out with a knee injury.
Joe Jacobson has returned from international duty and will be looking for a place in the team.
Player to watch: #12: Gasheads
Listed as a squad member in the 02/03 season, the Bristol Rovers supporters are considered an integral part of the club.
Their enthusiasm and pride for all things Bristol Rovers appears to rival that of the Leeds United faithful, and their collective voice will have to be fought against for Leeds to gain maximum points this evening.
Leeds United Team News:
Players galore have returned to the Leeds United squad with Dennis Wise having the luxury of captain Alan Thompson recovering from his injury.
Added to Thommo is Tore-Andre Flo and Curtis Weston, with Jonathan Douglas available again after his international exploits.
New signing David Lucas is expected to be on the bench as the backup keeper.
Player to watch: Rui Marques
Dennis Wise named him as one of the players who was ‘owed a beer’ by other members of the team, can he keep up the impressive performances?
Useless Facts
Nobody has yet commented on the useless facts and whether they want them to stay!?
Ref Watch:
The referee for tonight’s match is Mr Keith Stroud, from Hampshire.
Mr Stroud has amassed an astonishing 14 yellows and 2 reds in his 4 games so far this season. Obviously another fan of Christmas coming early.
The last Leeds match Mr Stroud officiated, he sent off Kevin Nicholls (boo!) during Leeds’ 1-0 defeat at Ipswich.
Match Prediction:
A tough away match on a Friday evening with just 1,200 of the Leeds faithful.
That said, we’re on fire, the points penalty is in the skip and we’re going to put Bristol Rovers out with the rubbish as well.
A hard fought 1-0 win is the prediction this week, with Kandol being the man with the plan (to score!)
Next Fixtures:
When we beat Bristol, Leeds return to Elland Road for a tough match against Swansea City on the 22nd of September.