DIV 1 EXETER CITY - BRISTOL ROVERS
This will be a very passionate West Country derby and we can expect both teams to go looking for the three points. Rovers are the stronger side, but often struggle on the road, where they have lost ten times and conceded more goals than any other team in the top half of the table. Eleven points off the playoffs and with games running out, they look to be out of options, but will have no choice but to look for the win.
City are entering a defining stage of their season, with the next four days likely to give a clear indication about their ability to survive at this level. They are four points from safety and follow this with a six pointer at fellow strugglers Wycombe on saturday. Despite their predicament, they have only lost four home games this season, only Brentford in the bottom half have proved harder to beat (hardly surprising) and City have already beaten Leeds here in 2010, so, on a going day are a match for anyone in tier three. Failure to turn draws into wins on home soil have cost them dear and they arrive on the back of another two stalemates, but there was much to take from both of those games and they have steadied the ship and given them a platform from which to launch a survival bid. With boss Paul Tisdale confident his young midfield are fast improving and playing as well as at anytime this season, he is going to stick with this line up now, injuries permitting and it is time for his loyalty and trust to be rewarded. But then his bravery was never in question, anybody prepared to wear a cravat in Division One has courage in abundance !
Hosts will have a very big, noisy and loyal home crowd behind them tonight and will take heart from the reverse fixture, where despite losing 1-0, they had the better goalscoring chances and dominated much of the game. Their need is greater and I take them to record what what be a famous victory over local rivals.
This will be a very passionate West Country derby and we can expect both teams to go looking for the three points. Rovers are the stronger side, but often struggle on the road, where they have lost ten times and conceded more goals than any other team in the top half of the table. Eleven points off the playoffs and with games running out, they look to be out of options, but will have no choice but to look for the win.
City are entering a defining stage of their season, with the next four days likely to give a clear indication about their ability to survive at this level. They are four points from safety and follow this with a six pointer at fellow strugglers Wycombe on saturday. Despite their predicament, they have only lost four home games this season, only Brentford in the bottom half have proved harder to beat (hardly surprising) and City have already beaten Leeds here in 2010, so, on a going day are a match for anyone in tier three. Failure to turn draws into wins on home soil have cost them dear and they arrive on the back of another two stalemates, but there was much to take from both of those games and they have steadied the ship and given them a platform from which to launch a survival bid. With boss Paul Tisdale confident his young midfield are fast improving and playing as well as at anytime this season, he is going to stick with this line up now, injuries permitting and it is time for his loyalty and trust to be rewarded. But then his bravery was never in question, anybody prepared to wear a cravat in Division One has courage in abundance !
Hosts will have a very big, noisy and loyal home crowd behind them tonight and will take heart from the reverse fixture, where despite losing 1-0, they had the better goalscoring chances and dominated much of the game. Their need is greater and I take them to record what what be a famous victory over local rivals.
Exeter City -0.25 2.16 IBC.
Good Luck.
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