Two changes in confirmed Bristol Rovers team to face Sheffield Wednesday in League One clash

Joey Barton makes two changes for tonight’s match in front of the Sky Sports cameras
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Joey Barton has made two changes to his Bristol Rovers starting XI for the League One clash with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

Josh Coburn, who scored against Plymouth Argyle in the 2-2 draw after coming on as a substitute replaces Luca Hoole. Right-back James Gibbons comes in for Harry Anderson.

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The Gas will line up in a 4-3-3 formation against Wednesday who last played a 3-4-1-2 formation in their last match against Lincoln City.

First-choice goalkeeper James Belshaw continues to take his place in between the sticks and he has a four-man defence in front of him.

Gibbons replaces Hoole as a right-sided centre-half and Lewis Gordon is played on the left-hand side. The centre-back partnership consists of loan pair Bobby Thomas and Lewis Gibson who are on loan from Burnley and Everton respectively. Gibson was on-loan with Wednesday last season but made less than 10 appearances after enduring an injury-barren spell.

Sam Finley - donning the captain’s armband in Paul Coutts’ absence - is in the middle of a midfield three and is supported by Antony Evans and Jordan Rossiter.

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Up front, the in-form Ryan Loft is in the centre of an attacking three and has top scorer and assister Aaron Collins to support him. Coburn, on loan from Middlesbrough, is the other side of him. The formation is open to change and could see Collins play a supporting role in a front-two strike partnership.

James Connolly is amongst the substitutes after missing out from a place in the 18-man match-day squad after a cautious take on his stress fracture injury. Other names included are Anssi Jaakkola, Luke McCormick, Scott Sinclair, Hoole, Trevor Clarke, and Harry Anderson.

Coutts is absent from the squad after sustaining a training ground injury. The 34-year-old could be out for several weeks with a full diagnosis to come.

Darren Moore has made two changes to his Wednesday team with Jaden Brown and George Byers coming in to the team. Brown replaces Ben Heneghan who misses out completely in the centre of defence.

Bristol Rovers (4-3-3): James Belshaw; James Gibbons, Bobby Thomas, Lewis Gibson, Lewis Gordon; Antony Evans, Sam Finley, Jordan Rossiter; Aaron Collins, Josh Coburn, and Ryan Loft.

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