One game has already been cancelled this week, the Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie with Exeter City, which has subsequently been moved to Tuesday the 7th. At the time of writing Rovers believe there is 'a reasonable chance' of the game being on. With temperatures not expected to fall below zero on Friday and to reach 5°C on Saturday that may not be too far away from what will occur. The club are looking for volunteers to help remove covers from the pitch pre-match, with helpers being paid with a bacon sandwich and a cup of coffee.
Update: Referee Graham Sainsbury has confirmed that the match has been postponed.
But onto the game itself, Rovers will go in on the back of two decent results, earning draws away to the top two teams in the league, leading at some point in both matches. Prior to that was the last home game where the Gas went down 3-0 to Leyton Orient in an abysmal performance that saw them play most of the game with ten men after Carl Regan's red card for a rash challenge on O's captain Stephen Dawson. In all competitions you have to go back to the game before Orient for Rovers last win, their 6-3 thrashing of Wycombe in the JPT, but in terms of pure league form Rovers haven't won in six, the last victory coming against Rochdale in mid-October.
Rovers haven't played since the November 23rd and so should be quite fresh but the same can be said of Bournemouth who had their FA Cup tie against Notts County postponed due to the weather conditions in Nottingham. The Cherries went through November unbeaten, winning three and drawing two of their matches, the most notable result being the 5-3 FA Cup win over Tranmere Rovers where they let a three goal lead slip away before eventually going on to win. They also relieved a two goal lead against Leyton Orient in a league game, though they were unable to find a winner on that occasion. Away from home Bournemouth's form has not been up to the impeccable levels they have set themselves this season, winning just one of their journeys in the league and that was against Tranmere back in August. They have, however, drawn their last four games on the road, and have shown they are not easy to break down. One of the Cherries eyes may be on Tuesday nights game, the rescheduled FA Cup tie with Notts County with a potential game away to Premiership Sunderland the reward for the victors.
Since their last game, a 2-0 home win over Yeovil, Bournemouth have lost the services of top scorer Josh McQuoid who has moved on loan to Championship Millwall with a view to a permanent move in January. McQuoid had been in excellent form since early in the season, making up for the loss of the previous seasons top scorer Brett Pitman, who moved to Bristol City in August. But twelve goals, including hat-tricks in consecutive games in November, meant that the Northern Ireland international became hot property and, despite the best efforts of Cherries manager Eddie Howe, the striker wanted to move away.
There is only one player in either squad who has played for both teams, namely Rovers striker Jo Kuffour. The former Arsenal trainee is tied with Jeff Hughes as second top scorer for the Pirates this season, behind only Will Hoskins, and will be hoping to recapture a performance akin to his JPT hat-trick at Wycombe when his former side visit the Mem.
With the loss of McQuoid a lot rests on Bournemouth's summer signing Michael Symes, captured on a free from Accrington Stanley. His current tally for the season stands at four but much of the mantle is now on his shoulders but another particular danger will be Marc Pugh. The right winger has scored nine goals for Bournemouth, eight of them in the league, and set up numerous others.
Rovers have a poor recent record against Bournemouth, losing the last five times the teams have played including being knocked out of both the FA Cup and Johnstone's Paint Trophy in 2008/09 when the Cherries were a division below the Gas. Ironically the last time that Rovers beat Bournemouth they were the side in a lower division, back in 2006 where Richard Walker scored the only goal of an FA Cup replay at Dean Court. In the overall records Bournemouth are far superior, winning 52 of the 115 encounters between the two sides, losing 42 with 21 draws.
The home side will be without Carl Regan, still awaiting to serve the third game of his three match suspension. Byron Anthony, returning from a suspension of his own, will likely deputise at right back for him. Will Hoskins will continue his return to full fitness while Charlie Reece has had a full weeks training, both players are likely to take a place on the bench.
Three players will be missing for Bournemouth, namely defenders Ryan Garry and Shaun Cooper as well as goalkeeper Shwan Jalal who suffered a fractures eye socket in the draw with Leyton Orient. Winger Marc Pugh is likely to return for the Cherries.
Paul Trollope used various unusual measures to prepare his team for this weekends fixture, he told bristolrovers.co.uk:
"We have done a lot of different types of sessions, as we have not been able to get on the grass in recent days.
"We have done a few sessions on the astro-turf and we have done a spin class and a boxing class up at David Lloyd, so we have had a varied few days.
"We gave them the day off yesterday, but everyone is ok. There are a few who cannot complete all the sessions on the astro-turf to prevent any little niggles, but we are pleased with the work we have put in.
"It is never an easy time, you cannot do exactly what you would like, but you try and get as much done as you can."
Two solid results under their belts against top of the table sides Rovers will go into this with a great deal of confidence and with Bournemouth not having won away since August they could certainly steal a result here. That is, of course, if the Memorial Stadium ground staff can beat the weather.
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