It may be January still but this could be one of the biggest games of the season for Bristol Rovers. A chance for a vociferous atmosphere against a local rival if Dave Penney can get things right the fans will get behind him and his team, breeding confidence among the players while putting fear into opposition hearts. The atmosphere at the Memorial Stadium has been subdued over recent months, poor form and disturbingly bad football giving them nothing to shout about but things are steadily progressing.
A first clean sheet in 17 games came in midweek against Hartlepool, with loan signing David McCracken making a big impact on the home fans with a commanding performance at the heart of the Rovers defence. McCracken joined on the day of the game from Brentford, initially on a months loan deal, who seem to be looking to let the defender go having put a clause in the deal that allows them to recall the Scot if another club makes a permanent offer for him. The loanee is confident that his new team can gain confidence from the clean sheet at Hartlepool and start to force the results they so desperately need, he told thisisbristol.co.uk:
"I want to do well for the club during my time here and my first impressions are that there is a hard-working bunch of boys here desperate to get out of trouble.
"You can see that there are obviously a few players lacking in confidence, but that happens in a team that has been struggling.
"I saw enough in the Hartlepool game to suggest that the lads are prepared to pull together and grind results out.
"We need to start picking up points and I don't think it matters how we go about it. The game against Hartlepool may not have been the prettiest to watch, but we got a clean sheet and a point and now we have something to build on. If we have to do things the ugly way to get us up the table, then so be it."
Dave Penney has been busy in the transfer market as Monday saw the arrival of a central defender in the shape of Cian Bolger, again on loan. A Leicester City academy graduate the Irishman only took up a place on the bench against Hartlepool but will hope to break into the first team reckoning during the month he is with the club.
There is still work to be done, however, and Penney is keeping an eye out for potential signings, especially in terms of his frontline, a targetman remaining a priority, although there are rumours coming out of Hillsborough that Paul Heffernan, whom Rovers took on loan from Doncaster towards the end of last season, could be in line for a return to the Memorial Stadium where he would play under a manager in Dave Penney who signed him for Doncaster in the summer of 2005. Any release of Hefferan from Wednesday, however, will depend on whether the club can follow through with their interest in Notts County hitman Lee Hughes. Penney is also thought to be in the market for a midfielder.
One player who could be on his way out of the club is Dominic Blizzard who has been placed on the transfer list after failing to make a big impact at the club since he joined at the start of last season. The Wycombe born midfielder will be available on either a loan or a permanent move away from the club.
It's not just on the pitch that there have been arrivals, though, as Friday saw the announcement of Martin Foyle joining the club as first team coach. Foyle was at one point linked with the managerial vacancy with the Gas before the appointment of Dave Penney but will still be able to bring his wealth of experience to the staff at the club. Foyle and Penney have previous with each other, having played together at Oxford United in the late 1980's.
Swindon have been in the transfer market news recently as well. The Wiltshire side have sold one of their star defenders in Sean Morrison to Reading in the week for a £250,000 fee. A youthful member has also been added to the squad with the capture of Aden Flint from Alfreton Town, though the youngster may end up back on loan at the Conference North club if he finds himself unable to break into the matchday squad at the County Ground. A talent search run by sponsors Samsung also saw Swindon sign the winner, Jordan Pavett, on a twelve month-deal.
But the big news surrounds Charlie Austin and the potential transfer saga that could surround him. On Tuesday BBC Wiltshire reported that the forward had put in a transfer request at the club who gave him his break in the professional game, having signed him from Poole Town in October 2009. Austin has scored 17 goals thus far this season, having netted 20 times in his first season with the Robins and it is thought that enquiries from a number of Championship clubs have been met with a 'not for sale' message. Town manager Danny Wilson has come out and commented on the situation, claiming that Austin's actions are down to his 'immaturity in footballing terms'.
Abhorrent is the best way to describe Rovers recent form, the side having failed to win in their last 12 league games, that victory coming against Rochdale in October, while 28 goals have been conceded, a record of more than two per-game, and included conceding three on three separate occasions as well as four at Carlisle last weekend and six at Sheffield Wednesday in December. The two incoming defenders, the experienced McCracken especially, should help to stem that flow and a clean sheet has already been kept in Rovers last game, though it is always risky to make assumptions based on one game.
Having come so close to promotion last season Swindon will be massively disappointed with their showing this season. Town currently occupy 19th place having won only two away games this season. They have already lost one west country derby this month, losing to Yeovil in last time out and seeing Michael Rose receive a red card in the process. The Robins last six away games have seen three losses, two draws and a win for a struggling side who have won just two of their last eight league matches. A humiliating 3-2 extra time loss in the second round of the FA Cup to Crawley Town has seen the pressure mount on ex-Bristol City manager Danny Wilson, who is sure to come in receipt of a hot reception when 3 O'clock comes.
League Form
Bristol Rovers - LLLDLD - Home Form - WDLLDD
Swindon Town - WDLWLL - Away Form - LDDLWL
This is the fifth consecutive season that Rovers and Swindon have played in the same division and during that time it is Saturday's visitors who hold the advantage, having won five of the nine games played, including a 2-1 victory in the Sky televised game earlier this season, last season was much different, though. With Rovers sat behind Swindon by only goal difference in 7th place what looked like a tough encounter turned out to be a stroll in the park as the Gas came out winners by a 3-0 margin to move up a place, but since that game Rovers had slipped to ten points adrift of the play-offs while Swindon had gone unbeaten for two and a half months and no-one could have foreseen the match that was about to take place.
Swindon hit the post from a free kick early on and the travelling blue army could have started to worry until Jo Kuffour broke through and curled the ball over Swindon 'keeper Lucas. Paul Heffernan doubled that lead before an exquisite free kick on the stroke of half time from Chris Lines sent Rovers in 3-0 up at the break. A further goal from Jeff Hughes sent the away fans home in raptures singing 'seven nil on aggregate'. On a side note Jeff Hughes has scored in each of his last three appearances against Swindon, so could history repeat itself and see the Northern Ireland international score again?
Rovers will be without Danny Coles for the game as he serves the second of his four match suspension for picking up his second red card of the season at Carlisle last weekend. Jeff Hughes has recovered sufficiently to at least take a place on the bench against Swindon.
Michael Rose will be suspended for Swindon following his red card against Yeovil last Saturday and he will likely be replaced by Alan Sheehan who is just returning from a thigh injury. Andy Frampton will be available for selection having missed Town's last match with a groin strain. Goalkeeper David Lucas will be out with a knee injury. Despite the recent transfer furore surrounding him Charlie Austin will start up front for the Reds.
New signing Aden Flint is unlikely to be included in the squad while Samsung talent search winner Jordan Pavett will not be revealed to supporters until Swindon's home game against Exeter on January 29th.
Dave Penney is looking forward to the atmosphere at the Mem for the local derby and hopes his team can start looking up the table very soon, he told bristolrovers.co.uk:
"It is a local derby, it should be a cup tie atmosphere, and I am looking forward to it. We need three points, we need to start picking threes up.
"It was nice to get a clean sheet and a point on Tuesday, but we would have liked three and we need three on Saturday to close the two point gap.
"We can then push on and start climbing the table. I am not interested in dragging teams into a relegation fight, I just want to drag us out.
"We have got to play with our heads as well as our hearts in these games, but supporters want a fully committed performance in any game, but even more so in a derby game."
Swindon Town manager Danny Wilson knows the importance of the game in terms of both sides league positions, as well as the fact that it is a local derby, he told swindontownfc.co.uk:
"It's a massive game for both sides. Neither team wants to be looking over their shoulders, and with a win we can pull ourself away from the danger zone.
"With it being a derby it adds that little bit of extra spice, and motivation-wise these games take care of themselves so I'm expecting us to perform well."
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