In my preview for the Walsall game I talked about how the 3-1 win over Swindon had swiftly changed attitudes right across Bristol Rovers, well, that changed just as sharply after defeat at the Bescot.
It was truly an awful defensive performance from Rovers to go down 6-1, the third time this season alone that the Gas have conceded six goals in a game, all the goals aside from Julian Gray's volley on the stroke of half time being easily preventable with some better marking and a lot more will and effort.
Since then the transfer window has closed and, initially at least, it looked as though there were to be no new faces until a last minute deal saw Rovers capture the signature of JP Kalala from Yeovil Town. The Congolese international midfielder will be with Rovers until the end of June and manager Dave Penney hopes he will add extra bite to the Rovers squad, saying:
"We have been looking for a combative midfielder with a bit of experience, and JP fits that bill.
"We need a bit more of a competitive edge and a bit more bite, and I think JP can provide that for us.
"He will complement what we already have here, and I welcome him to the squad."
Kalala wasn't the only addition, though, as Tuesday saw the arrival of former Bristol City and West Ham midfielder Gavin Williams. Much of the Welshman's career has been spent in the West Country being a key part of the Yeovil side that won promotion to the Football League in 2003. After spells with West Ham and Ipswich Williams joined Bristol City under his former manager Gary Johnson. Most recently Williams has spent two loan spells back at Yeovil, scoring five goals in eight appearances at the end of the 2009/10 season. There was a further period with Yeovil at the beginning of this season before having his contract at Ashton Gate cancelled by mutual consent on Monday, signing for the Gas on the following day. The former Wales international is confident that he can help his new team survive, saying:
"I would not have come here if I did not think there was enough talent here to get the club out of trouble, and I hope I can help get the team moving in the right direction.
"I am an attacking midfielder, so I hope I can set up a few goals for the strikers. It is also nice to get your name on the score sheet, so I hope I can chip in with a few as well."
Other transfer news saw David McCracken's loan from Brentford extended until the end of the season, while Harry Pell has joined League 2 Hereford United on a months loan deal.
MK Dons have seen first team regular Aaron Wilbraham leave at the start of the month, transferring to Norwich. Another notable exit from the club is Jermaine Easter, who once came close to signing for Rovers. Easter left MK Dons during November, joining Swansea City on loan and scored on his first start for the club against Barnsley. His stint in south Wales was ended early by the Swans who sent him back to the Dons, only to see him play against them two days later after the striker joined Crystal Palace. Most Recently Mark Carrington has had his Dons contract cancelled, thus allowing him to join SPL side Hamilton Academical.
Three players have made their way into the Buckinghamshire club during the transfer window in the shape of striker David Amoo, joining for a month from Liverpool, and QPR forward Rowan Vine. The latest signing who may feature against Rovers is Fulham youngster Keanu Marsh-Brown, another month long loan signing.
After all the good work done against Swindon, their first win in 13 attempts, the Gas went and messed it up with an appauling team display against Walsall. Rovers have a middle of the road record at home this season, winning, drawing and losing four games apiece at the Memorial Stadium, scoring just 14 goals in the process. Only one of those wins, that Swindon result, have come since October 16th, the previous home win over Rochdale.
Since the home game against Rovers on New Years Day the Dons have played six times, winning only twice as they have hit a sticky patch. Four of those games have been away from home starting with two failures to win in the west country, losing at Yeovil and drawing with Exeter. A home win against Tranmere was followed by a defeat to Plymouth and then two more away games, this time in the capital, winning against relegation threatened Dagenham & Redbridge, their first away win at the fifth attempt, before a draw at Leyton Orient.
It has been the Dons home form that has kept them in the chase for the play offs, winning nine of their thirteen games at Stadium:MK, their form on the road, however, has been in stark contrast. They have won just three times away from home this season, two of those victories coming against teams currently in the relegation zone. Overall they have lost nine of their away games, conceding 27 goals in the process, a figure that is much more in line with teams in the bottom half of the table.
Since becoming MK Dons Rovers have beaten tonights visitors just once, that coming in April last season, Jo Kuffour the man on target for Rovers, Kuffour, in fact, is the only Rovers player to score more than one goal in Rovers-Dons fixtures, Peter Leven holds the same honour for MK. Only two of the results between the sides have finished with a two goal winning margin and there has never been more than three goals scored in this fixture, no side ever scoring more than two in a single game.
The Pirates have four former MK Dons players on their books, namely Carl Regan and David McCracken, who had permanent spells at Stadium:MK, as well as Dominic Blizzard and James Tunnicliffe who spent time on loan in Milton Keynes. There are no former Rovers players in the MK Dons squad but Rovers fans may recognise Jabo Ibehre, often a goalscoring thorn in Rovers side in past seasons.
Both Danny Coles and Chris Lines will serve the final games of their respective suspensions tonight.
New Rovers signings JP Kalala and Gavin Williams may make their debuts for the Gas while Rene Howe and Scott Davies could make their first starts for the club.
James Tunnicliffe is likely to miss out on a place in the squad once again as Rovers can only name five of their six loan signings in their matchday 18 at any one time.
Keanu Marsh-Brown could make his first ever appearance in professional football for the Dons.
Gas gaffer Penney has instilled the importance of each of his sides remaining 20 games, stating that every one is a cup final. He told bristolrovers.co.uk:
"Every game is a cup final now. We treated Swindon as a cup final and we got the result.
"It is now up to myself, the coaching staff and the players to make sure that come tomorrow night we are ready for a real battle and we are ready to scrap for every point we can get.
"The more we can get the mindset in them [the Rovers squad] that we need to be tough and resilient, and hopefully these additions can help us do that.
"We have to be stronger physically and mentally. I hope that the influence of these new players will help us get the nastiness and competitiveness that I feel is missing from us."
Karl Robinson, the MK Dons manager, is aware of Rovers threats and knows that it won't be an easy game for his play off chasing side, despite Rovers weekend result, saying:
"We had people at Walsall on Saturday and it wasn't a 6-1 game. Chris Lines wasn't playing for them and neither was James Tunnicliffe, so they had some big players missing.
"After a drubbing like that, it's amazing how you respond in the next game. They're at home, they will feel they have a point to prove and it'll be a right good challenge for us. If we're not on our A-game, we're not going to win."
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