Rovers And Maccs Look To Continue Where They Left Off

Having beaten Northampton in midweek Bristol Rovers will be hoping to kick into form starting with a win away at Macclesfield Town this weekend.

The delivery of three points on Tuesday will have put the confidence among Paul Buckle's squad back to where it was prior to the defeat last Saturday against Torquay where a poor first half performance, particularly from the back four, lead to two early Gulls goals, too much of a mountain for Rovers to climb come the start of the second half.

In beating Northampton the Gas showed why they are one of the favourites to secure promotion back to League 1 come May 2012, Jo Kuffour turned on a sixpence to shoot home a well deserved goal for the home side. Another goal, eventually scored by Matt Harrold, was required thanks to one of the luckiest goals Adebayo Akinfenwa will score in his career, on loan Rovers defender Cian Bolger hitting a clearance against the forward's shins, the ball swiftly rebounding into Scott Bevan's net.

Add into the equation an opening day win at AFC Wimbledon and Rovers have six points, currently leaving them in seventh place, it is still early days though.

Macclesfield didn't start their campaign at a flying pace, falling to Dagenham before handing Crawley their inaugural win in the Football League, though there was a Carling Cup slaying of Championship Hull in the opening week. Their league form, however, was no indication of what was to come when the Silkmen travelled to Hereford on Tuesday.

After a goalless first half Frenchman Tony Diagne opened the scoring in the 53rd minute before the visitors turned on the style with ten minutes to go. Midfielder Ross Draper picked up the ball, moving to just within the Hereford half before delightfully lobbing Russell Hoult from 45 yards out, a goal that he admitted post-match he would never better. Two more goals followed, both of which came in stoppage time from substitute Ben Tomlinson, rounding off a miserable night for Bulls fans and sending the 47 travelling fans from the Cheshire club home happy and full of faith for this weekend's clash.

The prime reason Rovers are fancied by many this term is down to the depth of their attacking options and currently leading the line is lanky striker Matt Harrold. Despite being aged just 27 Rovers are the seventh Football League club that Harrold has represented, that alongside a smattering of non-league sides, and while the striker has never been seen as prolific at any of the clubs he has played it is his ability to hold up the ball and link the play that has given the forward a career in the professional game. That's not to say he can't score goals, there have been two in the three games he has played since joining the Pirates, but his all round abilities have seen him start the season in fine form.

Perennially given the tag of relegation battlers Macclesfield will have to keep their goals against column to a minimum this year and one man who will be key in the quest for survival is Tony Diagne. Signed from French Club CM Aubervilliers in January the 20 year old centre back has become a regular at the heart of the Maccs defence since making his first start against Hereford in February, opening the scoring in that game as well as this seasons tussle away at Hereford. Diagne has started in all of Macclesfield's matches so far this season and has helped them to two clean sheets in the four games they have played.

In total there have been fourteen meetings between the two clubs with Macclesfield firmly in control of the standings having won half of the games played compared to Rovers two. Of the seven games away at Moss Rose over the years five have finished 2-1 in favour of the home side, the only two games that didn't have such a scoreline have been Rovers wins, including the first victory either side picked up against each other, Jamie Cureton netting a hat-trick in May 1999 as Rovers came back to win 4-3 having trailed 3-1 since the 48th minute.

The last match finished in a 1-0 win for Rovers, that was in April 2007 as the season was drawing to a close, Sean Rigg's second half winner proving vital in his sides quest for a play-off place, the Gas eventually winning promotion at Wembley that season.

In charge of the players on the pitch will be Andrew Madley, embarking on his first season as a national group referee. The Yorkshireman, whose older brother is also a Football League match official, has been on the national group assistant list prior to his promotion this season. Madley's first game in charge came on the opening day, three yellow cards being handed out in a 1-0 win for Barnet over Morecambe. A week later came a London derby, Wimbledon coming out on top against Dagenham, Luke Moore scoring a penalty, awarded for handball, in the process as the Wombles also received two yellow cards from Madley.

Macclesfield are likely to be without captain Paul Morgan who is still returning to fitness after suffering a broken arm while Waide Fairhurst will also be given the once over before the match. Vinny Mukendi and Colin Daniel will miss out on the game with injuries of their own.

Joe Anyinsah could miss out for Rovers after being substituted during the first half of Rovers win over Northampton after a recurrence of the hamstring injury that he suffered during pre-season. Player-coach Stuart Campbell is also sidelined with a hamstring problem while Gary Sawyer is recovering from a hernia operation. Youth team graduate Ollie Clarke is also out after having a knee operation.