Bristol Rovers are fighting to avoid relegation this season

Bristol Rovers will look to ease relegation fears when they travel to basement side Shrewsbury Town in a must-win game at the bottom of the League One table.

The Pirates, who have picked up more than 70 percent of their points in front of their own supporters, travel to Shropshire with a point to prove as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 3-2 home defeat to fellow strugglers Rotherham United. The defeat marked the team’s first defeat at the Memorial Stadium since New Years Day and ramps up the pressure for Rovers to quickly improve their dismal record on the road.

Meanwhile, Shrewsbury are winless in five league matches and a distant eight point from safety after a dreadful start to the campaign. They simply cannot afford to lose to Bristol Rovers if they are to have any hope of a great escape this season. The Shrews were beaten 3-1 by Peterborough last time out and will play at the New Meadow without striker John Marquis who was sent off ahead of the game against his former club.

Bristol Rovers’ trip to Shrewsbury is the first in a number of crucial match-ups in March, with games against the likes of Huddersfield Town, Bolton, Lincoln, Crawley Town and Mansfield Town all coming thick and fast in a demanding month of League One action.

Rovers will be determined to pick up all three points against Shrewsbury and will be keeping an eye out on results elsewhere involving Cambridge United and Burton Albion. But do Bristol Rovers have enough to beat the drop and secure survival? Here we take a look at the latest forecast from the data experts at OPTA.

The League One promotion race

Runaway leaders Birmingham City are expected to steamroll their way to the League One title with an emphatic 106 points. The experts at OPTA give the Blues a 99.94% chance of winning the league and a 100% chance of automatic promotion.

Wycombe, who beat Bristol Rovers 2-0 in February, remain on course for second place and are expected to finish the season with 86 points. They have been given a 69.68% chance of sealing automatic promotion with Wrexham providing the nearest competition.

Here is how the top half of the League One table is expected to look, according to OPTA.

Birmingham
Wycombe
Wrexham
Stockport
Huddersfield
Charlton
Bolton
Reading
Leyton Orient
Barnsley
Blackpool
Lincoln City

Can Bristol Rovers avoid relegation?

Bristol Rovers face a nervy battle to secure their place in the second tier after Burton Albion’s recent improvement under Gary Bowyer. However, the Gas are expected to beat the drop still and are forecast to secure a 20th finish and 48 points.

OPTA gives Rovers a 33.82% chance of falling into the drop zone at the end of May. Here is how the bottom half of the League One table is expected to look, according to OPTA: