Final Chance In The Cup - Wycombe Preview

Bristol Rovers manager Paul Trollope goes into Tuesday nights match with Wycombe Wanderers under a wave of pressure following his sides 2-1 FA Cup loss to Darlington at the weekend.

It could be that the Gas are dumped out of all three cup competitions by sides from a lower division, having already lost humiliatingly by six goals to one at Oxford at the start of the season, meaning that a great deal of potential prize money, ticket money and pride have been lost. The loss in the north-east has angered fans, many of whom have vented their frustrations in public arenas. Other factors have also gone against Paul Trollope in the eyes of the fans, the situation created with Dominic Blizzard for example.

Blizzard joined Rovers on a three year contract at the beginning of last season and, when played, spent most of his time out on the wing, despite the fact that his preferred position is in central midfield, and this was shown in many of his performances. This season he has started four games, yet to appear as a substitute since, and has been left out of the squad for the last three Gas games. Following Saturday's game Paul Trollope confirmed that he was looking to loan the 27 year old out, saying:

"Dominic has become quite frustrated with the lack of opportunities and, from the start of the season, I've picked a team that warrant playing every week.

"In order to get him going again, and to give him games, we are going to listen to offers to send him out on loan. The situation will be monitored over the next couple of weeks."

This would leave with only three central midfielders with first team experience in and out of form Chris Lines, Wayne Brown and an aging Stuart Campbell. With Lines and Brown both preferring to attack rather than defend a lot of pressure has been left on Campbell, who missed the Darlington game through injury. Charlie Reece has been known to play centrally on occasions but has never played a first team game in such a role while Harry Pell is yet to make a competitive appearance for the club. The only other member of the squad who has made a competitive appearance is Charlie Clough, coming on as a late substitute against Brighton three seasons ago.

Wycombe come into the game unbeaten in four, ever since losing to then second placed Chesterfield in the league. All 3 wins have come away from home however, one of which was in the weekends FA Cup first round when they played Conference side Hayes & Yeading. The only home game in that sequence was a 2-2 draw with Lincoln, a result the play off chasing side would not have been particularly proud of.

Rovers on the other hand have been performing poorly of late. The Gas have already lost two games in a week, going down 3-1 at Plymouth before travelling to the other end of the country to lose to Darlington. Prior to that came two draws that could have so easily been losses, a late fightback from 2-0 down earning a point at Hartlepool while Mikkel Andersen's late penalty saving heroics kept out Gary Madine and denying Carlisle an unlikely victory at the Memorial Stadium.

There will be a former Gasman in action for Wanderers will be Andy Sandell. The winger come left back has scored five goals in the league thus far, from both open play and dead ball situations. The Wiltshireman was poached from local rivals Aldershot Town in the close season and, due to his age and the fact that his contract had expired, no fee was paid. He is proving to be one of the signings of the season as his defensive performances have seen Wycombe as the joint third best defence in the league.

Wycombe finished 22nd in League 1 last season, being relegated as a result but that didn't stop them earning two wins over Rovers. The two sides first squared up in August, just when Rovers were starting to get into form and goals from Matt Phillips and Jon-Paul Pittman saw Wanderers come from behind to win, having gone a goal down to Chris Lines after 26 minutes. Lines was to score two more goals against Wycombe later that season, but Rovers still lost as two penalties and a Stuart Beavon header sent Rovers to defeat. The last time the two teams met in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, however, things were very different. Goals from an on loan Jamal Easter and a late Sammy Igoe strike saw Rovers come out 2-0 winners at Adams Park. That season Rovers went on to make the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final and, eventually, gain promotion via the play-offs. A good omen perhaps?

Perhaps the biggest blow to come out of Saturdays game was not the defeat to non-league opposition but the fact that start striker Will Hoskins was taken off on a stretcher. Though nothing has yet been definitely confirmed Paul Trollope has hinted at ankle ligament damage that will keep the Pirates top scorer out for 'a few weeks at the very least'. Skipper Stuart Campbell is likely to return and has been working with physio Phil Kite this morning in an effort to prepare him. Paul Trollope may have to toss up the importance that has been thrust upon this cup tie with Danny Coles' fitness. The centre back has suffered from knee complaints over the past two seasons and if played the JPT tie would be his third game in eight days.

For the chairboys Dave Winfield will be suspended having picked up his fifth booking of the season against Hayes & Yeading. Fellow defender Chris Westwood is also expected to be rested as are wingers Gareth Ainsworth and Kevin Betsy, this despite former Bristol City player Betsy being the clubs joint top scorer.

Paul Trollope has spoken about how important the team are taking the JPT and what his side must do if they are to win, telling bristolrovers.co.uk:

"The next game is a JPT game, we have already stated that we are taking the competition very seriously, and that will definitely be the case tomorrow.

"If we have as much of the game tomorrow night as we did on Saturday we will be pleased, but it is what we do with the ball when we have the territory.

"Making sure we have a little bit more movement, more thought and better decisions in the final third to be able to create.

"If we can do that, then we are confident of going there and winning. The last three games we have had possession, but we have not hurt teams enough, it is something for us to work on."

It should prove to be a tough game for an inconsistent Rovers side and Wycombe will prove to be a tough challenge but Rovers have scored in each of their last eight games, but the injury to Will Hoskins may affect that statistic.

HJBSports prediction: Wycombe Wanderers 1-1 Bristol Rovers - Rovers to win on penalties