Bristol Rovers predicted XI vs Salford City: Joey Barton to include influential duo

Bristol Rovers are in League Two action again as they take on Salford City at a sold out Memorial Stadium.

Avoiding defeat is a must if they want to hold on to at least a play-off spot whilst a loss coupled with results elsewhere would see them drop out of the top seven.

This is an Easter double header so the games are thick and fast whilst there may be some squad management needed to deal with the quick succession of the two games.

Here is how we believe Joey Barton will line up his Gas side against promotion rivals Salford this afternoon.

Goalkeeper

Anssi Jaakkola remains out with an injury, so the youthful Jed Ward is on the substitute and will act as cover for James Belshaw, who’s place in the side is 99.9% certain.

Defence

Josh Grant is back in contention and could take his place in the starting 11 this afternoon. He replaced Trevor Clarke for the last half hour against Tranmere. Not much was said about Nick Anderton’s availability for this match, so it may have been between Grant and Clarke.

Grant, who is a utility man and can play anywhere in the side, could fill in at left wing-back to offer something going forward.

As usual, the centre-back partnership will be the trusted duo of Connor Taylor and James Connolly. Taylor has more of a reason to deliver a good performance as he was nominated for the Young Player of the Year award and will want to persuade judges with another solid showing.

At right back is Luca Hoole again, who has really made that position his own since the start of the New Year.

Midfield

Protecting the defence whilst acting as support for the attack should be the ever reliable partnership of Paul Coutts and Sam Finley.

There is then a key decision on whether or where to include Antony Evans now he has returned. He is a talisman in this Rovers side but again Elliot Anderson has flourished in that central role behind the striker.

Anderson could likely push Evans out to the right hand side and the two could interchange as the game goes on with Harry Anderson playing on the opposite flank, that would knock out Sam Nicholson from the side.

Forward

Top scorer Aaron Collins has not scored for the last five matches and in his last outing was restricted to just one shot. Despite at times Rovers having all the possession and creating opportunities in the final third, it doesn’t seem like that will change.

Collins still makes an impact in getting the other attacking players involved in the game and Rovers tend to dominate games at home.

Bristol Rovers (4-2-3-1): James Belshaw; Luca Hoole, James Connolly, Connor Taylor, Josh Grant; Paul Coutts, Sam Finley; Antony Evans, Elliot Anderson, Harry Anderson; Aaron Collins.