Birmingham City will be aiming to continue their charge towards the League One title when they travel to Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night.
The visitors are top of the League One table, nine points clear of second-placed Wrexham with two games in hand, while Bristol Rovers sit 20th, six points above 21st-placed Burton Albion in the battle to remain in the division.
Match preview
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Bristol Rovers boast a record of 12 wins, six draws and 21 defeats from their 39 matches, with a total of 42 points leaving them in 20th spot in the League One table, just six points ahead of 21st-placed Burton.
Inigo Calderon‘s side will enter this match off the back of three straight league defeats, with their last of those coming at home to Mansfield Town on Saturday afternoon, losing 2-1 to Nigel Clough‘s team.
The Pirates have been strong in front of their own fans this season, though, picking up 31 points from 19 matches, which is absolutely crucial considering that they have the second-worst away record in the division.
Bristol Rovers have only beaten Birmingham on two previous occasions, with their last of those victories coming back in January 1980, and it was 2-0 to the Blues when the two teams locked horns for the reverse match earlier this season.
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Birmingham were relegated from the Championship last season in 22nd position, but the Blues look almost certain when it comes to securing promotion back to the second tier for the 2025-26 campaign.
Chris Davies‘ side are top of the table, nine points clear of second-placed Wrexham, with two games in hand, while they sit 12 points ahead of third-placed Wycombe Wanderers, who have played one match more.
Only an incredible collapse at this late stage would prevent promotion, with Birmingham winning 26, drawing eight and losing just three of their 37 league matches during a terrific campaign.
The Blues are the second-highest goalscorers in the third tier, finding the back of the net on 63 occasions, while they have the best defensive record with just 25 conceded, so it is not difficult to understand why it has been a strong season.
The visitors will enter this match off the back of three straight league wins, including a 4-1 success over Shrewsbury Town on Saturday, but they were beaten 3-1 at Bolton Wanderers at the start of the month.
Team News
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Bristol Rovers head coach Calderon is expected to recall Scott Sinclair on Tuesday evening, with the number seven dropping down to the bench for the clash with Mansfield on Saturday afternoon.
Isaac Hutchinson, who is the team’s leading goalscorer this season with six, was another to drop out last time out, but the 24-year-old is also set to be back in the XI for this contest.
Ruel Sotiriou has five goals to his name this term, and the forward will keep hold of his starting role for this clash.
As for Birmingham, two of their four goals against Shrewsbury on Saturday came from the bench, with Alfie May netting a brace, and there might now be a spot in the final third of the field for the 31-year-old.
The Blues have not reported any fitness concerns from their last match, but head coach Davies may also decide to freshen it up in a wide area, with Emil Hansson potentially being introduced.
Jay Stansfield is enjoying a terrific season, scoring 20 times in 34 appearances, and his presence at centre-forward could mean that May is asked to operate in a slightly deeper role on Tuesday night.
Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:
Ward; Senior, Wilson, Taylor, Swinkels; Shaw, Sawyers, Hutchinson; Sinclair, O’Donkor, Sotiriou
Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Alssop; Laird, Klarer, Davies, Cochrane; Iwata, Leonard; Dowell, May, Hansson; Stansfield
We say: Bristol Rovers 0-2 Birmingham City
Bristol Rovers are seeking a first win over Birmingham since January 1980, but we are finding it so difficult to back against the Blues here; it should be a relatively routine success for a side destined for a quick return to the Championship.
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