Rovers come into the game on the back of a 0-0 draw away at Macclesfield having missing a host of chances, hitting the target just the once throughout the ninety minutes. At the other end Scott Bevan was kept far busier, denying Scott Wedgebury during the first half in a one-on-one situation and scrambling saves on further occasions. Rovers sit in ninth position after the weekends round of games concluded with seven points out of a possible twelve and a first clean sheet of the season will encourage the defence and manager Paul Buckle as Rovers look to tighten up at the back.
New Watford boss Shaun Dyche has endured a testing start to the season, his side currently sitting in the bottom three of the Championship table with just a pair of points after the Hornets weekend game also ended in stalemate at Coventry. There have been just two goals for Watford fans to cheer this term, both coming away at Burnley on the opening day. Add in results from the tail end of last season and the Hertfordshire club have failed to win in seven away games.
If Rovers are to get past past Watford, a clash away to League 1 Leyton Orient the reward, they will have to bypass Horns' defender Adrian Mariappa. An academy graduate Mariappa has held down a regular place in the Watford team for the past two seasons, helping the side to 16th and 14th placed finishes, and will look to continue his run for the continuation of this. The 24 year old, scorer of three goals during his six years at Vicarage Road, has been offered the opportunity to play for the Fijian national team, only to turn down the chance offered to appear at the Pacific Games.
One of the key players who will be vying to get the better of Mariappa is ex-Arsenal trainee Jo Kuffour, currently one of Rovers in-form strikers. Though he has scored just a single goal so far the pacy forward has proved that the poor form shown last season is behind him, having started the previous two games and looking threatening with his turn of speed and tricky runs. Pre-season saw rumours of Kuffour's departure, the 29 year old turning down an offer from Yeovil Town before deciding to remain at the Memorial Stadium for Paul Buckle's tilt at League 2 promotion.
Pirates winger Joe Anyinsah will be fitness tested before the game as he looks to make a comeback from a niggling hamstring injury while Stuart Campbell is also unavailable with a longer term hamstring complaint.
Full back Gary Sawyer and young midfielders Ollie Clarke are definitely out having both undergone surgery for a hernia and knee injury respectively.
Watford will be without the services of recent signing Prince Buabe. The Ghanaian, yet to make his Hornets debut, has had a minor hamstring injury and is generally lacking in fitness after joining Shaun Dyche's squad two weeks after pre-season training had started.
Gavin Massey missed the weekend game with Coventry, suffering from a virus, but is likely to return to the squad that travels to Bristol. Imposing forward Chris Iwelumo, formerly of Bristol City, has only a slight chance of recovering in time to face Rovers, Dyche wanting the Scotland international 100% fit before throwing him into competitive action.
Ross Jenkins and Martin Taylor will face fitness tests to determine whether or not they can play after taking slight knocks from the Coventry game.
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