Last Saturday, just before 5PM loyal Gasheads were slowly trudging away from the Memorial Stadium having booed their team off of the field after a 2-0 defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge, dropping them a place down to 23rd, five points from safety and only one off of the bottom.
But since then there has been upheaval as manager Dave Penney was relieved of his duties, as was first team coach Martin Foyle. Rovers captain Stuart Campbell taking control of the first team until the end of the season, assisted by central defenders Danny Coles and Byron Anthony. Campbell became the fourth Rovers manager of the season, Paul Trollope and Darren Patterson being the others aside from Penney, and he was quickly thrown into the action, taking his new charges to Merseyside to face Tranmere the next day.
With injuries affecting a large number of the Rovers squad Campbell played himself on Tuesday night, one of the holding midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 formation, lone striker Will Hoskins taking the armband from his new gaffer. It was to be a successful start to the Campbell reign, Chris Lines scoring the only goal in the 19th minute, controlling and striking the ball into the bottom corner, Will Hoskins also went on to hit the post. So it's played one, won one for Stuart Campbell but this weekends opponents will be a different challenge altogether.
Huddersfield are unbeaten in the league in 2011, losing only two cup games to Arsenal and Carlisle. The 4-0 defeat to Carlisle in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy was followed by a 3-0 win in the second leg, nearly fulfilling a miraculous recovery. They have gone slightly off the boil, however, drawing five of their last seven games. The Yorkshire club have the second best record on the road in League 1 this season, and haven't lost in seven away fixtures.
The Terriers have three goalscorers into double figures so far this season, in midfielder Gary Roberts, with 11, winger Anthony Pilkington, 14, and forward Jordan Rhodes, 17, though Pilkington will be out of this weekends clash with a dislocated ankle and a broken fibula. One member of the Huddersfield squad sure to get a hot reception is centre back Jamie McCombe who made 132 appearances in four years at Bristol City and received a red card in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
In charge of the players will be Wiltshire referee Brendan Malone who is in his first season as a referee in the Football League. The official has dished out 60 yellow and 4 red cards in the games that he has refereed this season, mainly in League's 1 and 2, though he was promoted to officiate for a Championship game between Portsmouth and Crystal Palace three weeks ago where he handed out six yellow cards.
In complete contrast to the away sides form Rovers have been dreadful of late, resulting in the dismissal of Dave Penney. Under the former Doncaster boss Rovers won two, drew two and lost nine of their games, a sequence that included five losses on the bounce. Two wins in their last four have helped the Gas to keep up with the pack as has the ten point deduction handed to Plymouth Argyle, but a string of wins is required for any hope of survival this term. Interestingly Rovers last draw came eleven games ago thanks to a 0-0 stalemate with Hartlepool.
The record between Rovers and Huddersfield is tight with the Gas just edging it with 13 wins to the Terriers 12 with 12 draws. The home side go in unbeaten in their last three with Huddersfield, a 1-0 win came earlier this season, Will Hoskins curling in a late belter while Jeff Hughes scored the winner in a tumultuous game at the Mem last season with the game at the Galpharm finished 0-0. Josh Klein-Davies poached for the opening goal on his Rovers debut in 2008 and Chris Lines put Rovers ahead again in the same fixture, only to see Huddersfield run out 3-2 winners in Bristol and the Yorkshiremen came from behind again in the following season, meaning Jo Kuffour's acrobatic effort was eventually in vein.
The most memorable of the matches these sides have played out came at Wembley in the 1995 Division 2 play-off final, Andy Booth heading Huddersfield in front before Marcus Stewart drew the Pirates level to see the teams go in level at half time. Chris Billy stooped to nod the ball past Brian Parkin for the winner which sent Huddersfield up to the first division and deny a spirited Rovers side.
Rovers will have to do without the services of both Danny Coles and Byron Anthony, the pair being sidelined with ankle injuries.
Jerel Ifil will return from suspension while JP Kalala returns from injury. Harry Pell was an injury scare but will be fit to take a place in the squad.
For Huddersfield Anthony Pilkington will be missing for the rest of the season with a dislocated ankle and leg break. Antony Kay won't be fit for the game with ankle ligament damage and fellow centre half Lee Peltier is suspended. Gary Naysmith will not be fit in time to face the Gas.
Jordan Rhodes will be available for the game as will midfielder Joey Gudjonsson who will return to the squad.
New player-manager Stuart Campbell knows how hard it will be for Rovers, not only against Huddersfield, but also in order to keep the club in League 1. He told BBC Radio Bristol:
"We're under no illusions on the size of the task and the job in hand to get out of the trouble we're in, but we're going to give it our utmost.
"They are one of the best teams going forward, but the lads will be up for it and more importantly so will the fans who I'm sure will come out in their numbers."
The Huddersfield manager Lee Clarke is unfazed by his teams recent record against Rovers and has the belief that his side can come away with the points, telling htafc.com:
"We have struggled against Bristol Rovers recently, but in the home game earlier this season we were unlucky. We dominated them all over the pitch and it was one of those days when nothing went for us. If we play in the same manner tomorrow then we have got the players who are inform in front of goal who will finish those chances off.
"It will be a tough test; they are battling for their lives and picked up a good victory on Tuesday night. Despite that, we are on a good run ourselves and are in very buoyant mood."
A brilliant thought-out and written article.
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