That's the most basic scenario of the impossible equation that Bristol Rovers need if they are to avoid relegation but lets face it, it's not going to happen. So what is this game against Colchester about? Professional pride, giving the fans a modicum of pleasure and a chance for some of the players to say a final goodbye to the club.
If results go their way it could be that Rovers are only relegated by their horrific goal difference and that would at least be something. Chairman Nick Higgs told fans that there may be some news on a new manager 'in the next couple of weeks' and the sooner the better, with players needing to be tied down to new contracts, signings needing to be brought into the club and pre-season plans requiring arrangement.
Colchester will provide a good chance of Rovers of picking up a final win, the U's haven't won in their last four matches, drawing two of those. Three of the games in that run were on the road, though, and they haven't lost in four games at home, winning three in a row before a draw with table-topping Brighton. A Colchester goal is also likely to come at some point during the afternoon, they have scored in each of their last eight outings.
Rovers have gone five games without victory, the last coming in a 1-0 win at home to Bournemouth way back at the start of April and it is that poor run that has seen the club all but relegated. The performances in the last two haven't been those of a side set for the drop, Bournemouth getting revenge with an undeserved 2-1 win, coming back from a goal down with six minutes left on the clock and with both Walsall and Dagenham winning last weekend nothing less than a Rovers win would result in the club going down, they failed to do so, the game finishing 1-1.
After the game there wasn't a great outpouring of depressive emotions from the Gasheads inside the stadium. Way back after defeat at home to Dagenham fans had felt that it was done and dusted and that relegation was an inevitability but when Dave Penney was sacked and Stuart Campbell took over, winning three away games on the trot, there was a brief moment of hope but as their rivals kept plugging away and picking up points many remained pessimistic, and now it really is all over, a slight feeling of relief mixed with the sadness, no more sleepless nights over the will-we-won't-we situation and this one last hurrah against Colchester will hopefully see players and fans alike uninhibited, performing with a sense of freedom.
Saturday could be the last time that Rovers fans get to see start striker in a Gas shirt. The 25 year old has been far and away the Pirates best player this season, scoring a total of twenty goals in all competitions. He was superb up until mid-February, scoring 18 goals in just 32 games but in the 14 appearances since he has netted just twice, although he has spent time out with an ankle injury. He is likely to be sold in the summer with a Championship club seeming a likely destination with the potential transfer fee helping to bolster a new look squad to challenge for League 2 promotion.
No player has reached the ten goal mark in the league for Colchester thus far but two players have come close with nine. David Mooney, a Reading youngster on a seasons loan with the U's has scored 14 in all competitions including a goal last time out in the 4-2 defeat to Yeovil. A big, physical player Mooney was linked with a loan move to Rover last season though nothing ever came of it. The other player to hit the nine goal mark is former Bristol City striker Steven Gillespie, a scorer of goals against Rovers in previous encounters. There was only one appearance before the new year for the former Liverpool trainee but since he has played 18 games and scored those nine goals and he will no doubt be out to score against a club who always give him an ear full.
Rovers and Colchester have been in the same league for the last three seasons, playing each other five times with two wins apiece and a single draw, the most recent tie finishing 1-0 to Colchester on March 1st, Kayode Odejayi the man who scored the winner after a mistake from Rovers keeper Conrad Logan. One of the most exciting games between the clubs came in 2000, a Jason Roberts double and a Jamie Cureton strike had put Rovers 3-1 up at Layer Road before the U's came back to take a 4-3 lead. Nathan Ellington scored an 86th minute equaliser but with just a minute to go substitute Lomano Lua Lua netted to give the home side a dramatic 5-4 win.
Danny Coles looks set to miss out with the recurrence of an achilles injury that sidelined him against Bournemouth.
James Tunnicliffe and Jeff Hughes are longer term absentees with a foot injury and fractured wrist respectively while Stuart Campbell remains unavailable for self-selection with a dead calf.
Rumours also abound that forward Will Hoskins will not start the game as he is still looking slightly unfit with his ankle injury which Rovers will not want to aggravate if he is to be sold in the summer.
Former Rovers loanee Pat Baldwin (achilles) will be missing from the Colchester squad, as will Marcus Okuonghae (ankle).
Defender Matt Heath who signed a new contract during the week will be able to return after recovering from an illness as will Kemal Izzet who took a knock to his foot in defeat to Yeovil.
Gas assistant manager Craig Hinton wants his side to go out and earn one final victory for the loyal support the club has received from the fans over what has been a difficult season, he said:
"There is a lot of disappointment around at the moment, and it is about getting the lads in the mentality to go out and play the way we have done in the last so many games, and finish on a high in a season which has been full of lows.Colchester boss John Ward, a former Rovers manager, will put his feelings for Rovers to one side as he looks to finish his clubs season with a win, telling Sky Sports:
"We came in Tuesday and it was quite low, and it is still a bit low today, but we need to lift the lads to give our all for the supporters who are going to be there.
"They have been brilliant for us, lets go and show the right attitude and get a win for them.
"If we can go there and finish on a high it gives us high spirits for the start of next year. We will be going there all guns blazing to get three points."
"I feel sad and disappointed for Bristol [Rovers], a team with whom I enjoyed my time earlier in my managerial career.
"But I have got to beat them with my team on Saturday. I want to give the fans something to go away and enjoy their summer with.
"We've got a very good home record and that's something I'm very proud of, so we want to finish with a win to give everyone a boost before the end of the season."
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