Conrad Logan, Rovers Saviour?

These last few weeks of the season are going to drag, every game will feel like it lasts 180 minutes, the tension at the Memorial Stadium is going to be at an unbelievable level. Every point that Rovers pick up between now and May 7th is a step in the right direction as they fight for their lives to survive in League 1 for another season and on Saturday the players took all three points from Meadow Lane to beat Notts County by one goal to nil.

After the performance against Huddersfield last weekend there was an air of confidence among Rovers fans that the team could go to Nottingham and get a result and that was proved to be well placed as Rovers put in a solid performance, though they did ride their luck at times, Conrad Logan making numerous saves which included a penalty, his second denial of a spot kick in eight days. The penalty decision itself was rather soft, former Manchester United youngster Febien Brandy getting ahead of Jeff Hughes before tumbling over under little pressure from the Northern Ireland international but Logan's save from Alan Gow's penalty was excellent, flinging himself to his right.

I'll admit, when I first heard we had signed Logan on loan I was sceptical, having seen him play once before at the Mem for Stockport and catching little excerpts of him on Football League highlights I wasn't at all convinced but that was two seasons ago. Until joining Rovers he hadn't gone out on loan since finishing his spell at Stockport in May 2009 and has spent his time playing a season in Leicester's reserve team and made seven appearances at the start of this season, conceding twenty goals during those games.

Despite that spell he is clearly confident in his own abilities which is just what was needed at the Mem when he came in. Luke Daniels was having a tough time in goal and was struggling with the defence in front of him. Logan is much more talkative than Daniels and appears to be much more of a character which no doubt helped in the dressing room as well.

He made his debut against Oldham Athletic at the Mem, keeping a clean sheet in the process and the signs have been good ever since. There was one mistake against Colchester, a poor drop kick rebounding off of Jerel Ifil, eventually falling for Kayode Odejayi to slot home, but that aside he has been solid and of the other four goals he has conceded one came from the penalty spot after a contentious decision, one was a blasted free kick from Danny Green and a free header for Romain Vincelot was followed up by a well struck volley against Huddersfield.

It could have gotten worse against Huddersfield, had he not saved his first penalty when up against Jordan Rhodes. The penalty stop against County at the weekend, one of many other saves that he made during the game will have Rovers fans thinking that they have someone in goal who is worthy of the goalkeepers jersey, not only becayse of his shot stopping and reflex saves but also his kicking abilities, much improved over Luke Daniels during his period in the side.

There have been a couple of heart in mouth moments, mostly due to his willingness to attack the ball from corners, but these have proved few and far between and Gasheads will be pleased to have a keeper who has great command of his area.

Monday came the news that Logan has extended his loan spell at Rovers until the end of the season which was met with due pleasure by Rovers fans.

When Mikkel Andersen went back to Reading there were big shoes to fill, Luke Daniels failed to live up to the hype that surrounded him following his spells at Shrewsbury and Tranmere. Conrad Logan, however, has stood up and made himself counted and looks to have the number one spot tied down for the rest of the season. He has proved himself to be an excellent capture for Rovers and he will be key to their survival chances and I'm quite happy to admit I was wrong on this front.

The weekend win over County kept Rovers in the hunt for survival but there is still a long way to go until the end of the season which leaves a lot of room for the shape of the bottom four to change. With a defence that finally looks solid and a goalkeeper brimming with confidence Rovers look as though they have turned a corner.

Do Or Die Time For Bristol Rovers

Since the appointment of Stuart Campbell to the managers post at Bristol Rovers there has been an upturn in the football on display, a win over Tranmere just a day after he took the reins was followed by a game against promotion chasing Huddersfield Town which saw Rovers unfortunate not to collect at least a point, having had two goals disallowed and a penalty shout getting turned down by the referee, all in the space of the last ten minutes.

But now is not the time for good performances alone, without the end results going their way Rovers, who currently have the weight of 23 teams above them on their shoulders, will almost certainly go down.

One possible glimmer of hope for their survival means a horrific end for one of their west country rivals as Plymouth Argyle threaten to implode. Rovers have lost a possible six points to Plymouth this season and if, heaven forbid, they do go under Rovers would become level on points with both Tranmere and Walsall and sit just one off of Yeovil, but that's not a scenario the club could look back on with any pride if it did mean survival at seasons end.

Under Dave Penney the players seemed to lack any motivation and some looked as though they didn't care but under Campbell there is a new air of confidence, a man they all know and trust and who is regarded as a legend by many fans having given seven years service to the blue and white shirt, and in midweek another fans favourite returned to the club in the shape of former centre back Craig Hinton.

'Hints' spent five years at Rovers putting in innumerous solid displays across the backline but is most fondly remembered for his five goals during the 2007/08 season which earned him the nickname 'Goal Machine'. Three of those goals came in Rovers epic run to the quarter finals of the FA Cup, his header at Craven Cottage making Rovers trip to Premier League Fulham a day that many fans will never forget. Aside from his 100% effort games on the pitch Hinton was also a lively character in the dressing room, something which Campbell no doubt wishes to capture.

Despite having won only three League games since October this Rovers team are playing with a new air of confidence under Campbell who has taken to employing a 4-2-3-1 formation, sitting Gavin Williams in the hole just behind Will Hoskins. It is Hoskins, however, who has looked out of form in recent games, admitting that his fitness has been questionable during a sequence that hasn't seen him score in the seven games since defeat at Rochdale.

This weekend Rovers face a Notts county team who, despite currently having only 42 points, are a good bet to stay up this season with either three or four games in hand over those who currently fill the bottom four.

Since October last year County have been under the leadership of former Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince who returned to management after an unproductive second stint in charge of MK Dons. Though, their league form looks set to leave them in a lower mid-table position fans of the Magpies will look back on a season that has seen them beat League 1 high flyers Bournemouth and Premier League Sunderland in the FA Cup before taking Manchester City to a replay, having briefly lead against the multi-millionaires at Meadow Lane in the original tie.

Notts have played six games since that cup defeat, winning two, drawing one and losing three, though for the last five games of that run in they have been without talismanic striker Lee Hughes who looks set to return this coming weekend, although, none of Hughes' 12 goals thus far this season have come in the last four appearances he has been able to make for the club. The controversial Hughes is not likely to be the only County player to receive a few jeers from the travelling Gasheads as pacy wingman Ivan Sproule is currently on loan at the club from Bristol City.

Rovers have won the last three games they have played against County, beating them 2-1 at the Mem earlier this season, Notts' then manager Craig Short not having too many favourable things to say about Paul Trollope's Rovers side after the result. The other two wins came back in Rovers last season in League 2, 2006/07. Rovers overall record against County doesn't make for good reading, this weekends home side having beaten Rovers 31 times compared to the 24 results that have gone the other way. None of the last fifteen games between the two clubs have seen more than three goals scored, with no more than two for either side individually.

Rovers will be without midfielder Dominic Blizzard who has joined his former Stockport manager Jim Gannon at Port Vale while young centre back Cian Bolger returned to Leicester City on Wednesday.

Centre back Dave McCracken is in contention for a place in the squad having overcome injury but Byron Anthony's ankle is unlikely to recover in time for him to feature.

Notts County striker Lee Hughes is likely to return from injury having missed the clubs previous five games but Craig Westcarr is out with a knee injury.

County have a large number of other players who will be missing including Alan Judge (foot), Ben Burgess (hamstring), Krystian Pearce (head), Karl Hawley (thigh), Lewis Gobern (knee), John Thompson (hamstring), Ricky Ravenhill (ankle) and Kevin Smith (foot). Carl Regan will also be unavailable due to the fact that Rovers are his parent club.

Newly appointed Gas assistant Craig Hinton is pleased to have been given the chance at Rovers and believes the Pirates can beat the drop, he told thisisbristol.co.uk:

"It's a good opportunity for me and I want to do all I can to try and get the club out of the situation they are in.

"I've got full belief that we can do it and I think the players have got that as well. Everybody needs to work together and push in the right direction. The fans are brilliant here and I know if we are all pulling together they will be fully behind us."

His manager Stuart Campbell knows that his charges have a big task ahead of them, telling BBC Radio Bristol:

"Every game we look at, we think 'this is the kind of game that we've got to go and win' because of our situation and Saturday will be no different.

"They've got a big name manager, who's very experienced and he'll have them well prepared.

"They're a very strong side and it's going to be a difficult game for us."

Midweek League 1 Round Up - 25/01/2011

Six fixtures took place on Tuesday evening in League 1, the highlight being Brighton, top of the division, taking on Colchester at the Withdean but there were also important games taking place at Hillsborough and The County Ground in Swindon.

Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 Colchester United


With MK Dons being the only other member of the top six to be playing Brighton had the chance to extend their lead at the top of League 1 to six points and they didn't disappoint, remaining at the head of the table for the 18th consecutive game.

Albion threatened early and loan signing Chris Woods nodded a shot towards goal, only to see it come back off of the post, but it was just before half time that the home side took the lead, Inigo Calderon stroking home, the full backs fifth goal of the season.

With 75 minutes on the clock Brighton doubled their advantage thanks to Craig Noone's first goal for the club since joining from Plymouth at the start of the month, beating numerous before driving past Ben Williams from the edge of the area. Colchester will be without Pat Baldwin for their next game after the defender was shown red for a second bookable offence late on.

Leyton Orient 2-2 MK Dons


Despite a patchy run of form MK Dons find themselves sat in fifth place in League 1 following an exciting encounter at Brisbane Road. A win would have taken the Dons up to fourth but Orient are decent at home, having gone unbeaten in their previous eight fixtures at their own place including a thumping 4-0 weekend win over big guns Sheffield Wednesday. Orient were without manager Russel Slade for this game, the gaffer having to spend time in hospital following minor surgery, so assistant manager Kevin Nugent was to take charge, and it wasn't long before they found themselves behind in a pulsating first half.

It was Stephen Gleeson who gave the Dons the lead with a stunning volley from 25 yards out having controlled the ball on his chest. Two minutes was all the lasted, though, Scott McGleish taking advantage of Dean Lewington's slip to draw Orient onto level terms. That goal totally changed the game and the O's started to make real headway, Dean Cox rifling a shot back off the post before the winger turned provider, sending in a cross for experienced defender Terrell Forbes to head home and it remained that way until 56 minutes. Sean O'Hanlon heading in from close range from a Peter Leven delivery.

It remained that way until the end pushing Orient a point further from the relegation zone and propelling the Dons into the play-off zone, although the away side would have preferred the victory they arguably deserved, having a negative goal difference and playing at least two games more than many of the teams on their tail.

Walsall 1-1 Oldham Athletic



Before this game Walsall were cut adrift at the bottom of the table, nine points behind 20th placed Swindon Town and after this draw nothing had changed. Oldham on the other hand knew that a win against the strugglers would see themselves jump Charlton, Peterborough and possibly the MK Dons and into the play-off places.

Much of the early pressure came from the hosts but on a number of ocassions striker Will Grigg, recently called up to the Northern Irish under-21 side, found himself unable to beat Oldham stopper Ben Amos and they were punished for their carelessness when Filipe Morais scored in his second successive game to give Latics the lead. Just past the hour mark Walsall levelled thanks to a fierce Darryl Westlake effort from just inside the penalty area.

It was a result that will do no side any great favours as they continue in their own personal battles at either end of the league table.

Sheffield Wednesday 2-2 Yeovil Town



Following an appauling mauling from Leyton Orient on Saturday Sheffield Wednesday looked to get their play-off challenge back on trakc against relegation threatened Yeovil, but there was to be no relief for under fire Owls boss Alan Irvine following a clash that had it all.

Dean Bowditch opened the scoring for Yeovil, running into the area and seeing his shot take a deflection off of a home defender to loop over the stranded Nicky Weaver and into the net. It was down to Wednesday's new signing Gary Madine to level it up for the home team, heading in from six yards out. Two melees took place on the pitch as the game really started to heat up and tensions boiled over.

The Somerset side took the lead again in the second half, Paul Huntington heading goalwards from an Andy Welsh corner before the context of the game changed due to a second yellow card for Yeovil full back Luke Ayling. Adam Virgo came on to shore up the Glovers defence, only to be sent off for fouling Madine in the area moments later. It was down to Giles Coke to level it up for Wednesday and if it weren't for Paul Heffernan encroaching into the area it would been, but as it stood the penalty had to be retaken and this time it didn't end well for the former Motherwell midfielder as he skied the ball well over the crossbar.

With four minutes left, however, Wednesday drew level. Despite a fine double save from Yeovil man of the match Stephen Henderson Reda Johnson knocked the ball over the line to deny Yeovil a battling win. The home side sit 10th, off of the pace and will hope for an up turn in fortunes between now and the end of the season. Yeovil remain in the relegation zone but their good form in recent games will give them the confidence that they need to stay up.

Hartlepool United 1-1 Notts County



Injury hit Notts County faced a trip to Hartlepool where a draw always looked the likely result. County were unbeaten in their last four games on the road, drawing three and winning one trip, while Pools had gone 419 minutes without scoring a goal.

It was Hartlepool who made the breakthrough in the 38th minute, Gary Liddle the scorer despite claims of offside from the Notts defence. The Magpies had to wait until the second half for their equaliser, Lee Hughes stepping off of the bench to secure a point for the visitors, knocking the ball over the line from a position he could hardly miss from. The striker is the subject of transfer interest from Sheffield Wednesday, who are looking to bolster an already strong frontline in their promotion challenge.

County moved a further point away from the relegation zone while Hartlepool have now failed to win in five games.

Swindon Town 0-0 Tranmere Rovers



Following Saturday's 3-1 defeat to local rivals Bristol Rovers Danny Wilson is starting to look down the barrel as his side slip deeper into relegation trouble. Tranmere have moved slightly away from trouble after they shocked Southampton 2-0 at the weekend.

The best chance of a dour game fell to Charlie Austin but the wantaway striker saw his penalty saved by former Fulham goalkeeper Tony Warner after Michael Timlin was fouled in the area by Joss Labadie. Tranmere's best chance fell to Lateef Elford-Alliyu who hit the post while Rovers also saw two penalty shouts turned down. In the second half Austin had another great chance but his drive from a tight angle hit the underside of the crossbar before bouncing to safetey for the Merseysiders.

A draw does neither of the sides any real favours as they both remain in trouble at the wrong end of the League 1 table.

Trollope To Newport?

Paul Trollope has been tipped by one media outlet to take over at Newport County after Dean Holdsworth left to become manager of Aldershot, the ex-Gas manager having thought to have been interviewed already.

The reliability of this is questionable though, as Trollope was also thought to have been offered the managerial post at Port Vale, currently 4th in League 2, when Mickey Adams quit to join Sheffield United.

Trollope is currently on 'gardening leave' and thus will still be paid by Rovers until the end of his contract or when he takes a job at another club. Fans and the hierachy at Rovers alike would be pleased to see Trollope take another job so they can give new manager Dave penney funds for both transfers and wages.

Newport are currently 5th place in the Conference National having only been promoted to the division after romping to the Conference South title by 28 points last season under the leadership of Holdsworth.