Bristol Rovers and MK Dons teams confirmed for League One clash as two changes made

Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton has made two changes to his side for this afternoon’s game against MK Dons.
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Antony Evans and James Belshaw drop out of Bristol Rovers’ 18-man squad completely, as he is replaced by Grant Ward, and Anssi Jaakkola comes in on the bench for Belshaw.

Ellery Balcombe plays for the second consecutive match after an agreement with Brentford, meant that he would play the first three games of his spell. Balcombe will have Finnish goalkeeper Jaakola as back-up today with Belshaw not involved at all. It is the Brentford goalkeeper’s first game in front of his home supporters and the message from Andy Mangan earlier this week was to support him.

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It’s a flat back four for Rovers, similar to last week with James Gibbons moved to the right after playing left-back last week and Lewis Gordon returns to the side. It’s a centre-back partnership of James Connolly and Liverpool loanee Jarell Quansah once more. Quansah is playing just his second senior game in professional football, and like Balcombe makes his first appearance at the Memorial Stadium.

In the centre of midfield, there is a midfield three of captain Paul Coutts, Sam Finley and Grant Ward. Ward signed on a free transfer from Blackpool last week, and came on as a substitute. He hadn’t played in 11 weeks but gave a good account of himself against Morecambe and was on the pitch when Aaron Collins netted a consolation goal.

It makes for an attacking thee with Scott Sinclair in recent weeks playing as a left-sided wing-back, he is now being tried as a right-sided winger with Aaron Collins tried on the other flank. Middlesbrough loanee Josh Coburn leads the line as the central striker.

Amongst the substitutes is Lamare Bogarde, who joined on loan from Aston Villa. Bogarde is a central midfielder but can also fill in at centre-back. Other substitutes include John Marquis, Ryan Loft, Harry Anderson, Luca Hoole and Luke McCormick. Belshaw and Evans’ absence has been put down to injuries, joining midfielder Jordan Rossiter and on-loan Everton defender Lewis Gibson on the sidelines.

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Bristol Rovers (4-3-3): Ellery Balcombe; James Gibbons, Jarell Quansah, James Connolly, Lewis Gordon; Sam Finley, Paul Coutts, Grant Ward; Scott Sinclair, Josh Coburn, Aaron Collins.

MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Cumming, Watson, Tucker, Jules, Harvie, McEachran, Maghoma, Leko, Devoy, Kaikai, Eisa

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