Bristol Rovers predicted team vs Northampton Town as Andy Mangan takes interim charge
Bristol Rovers start life without Joey Barton as they host Northampton Town under the interim management of Andy Mangan
Bristol Rovers begin life post-Joey Barton this afternoon as the Gas host Northampton Town just two days after the club announced that the former Rovers manager had been sacked.
The news came as a major shock to many but the fact of the matter is that, being sat in 16th place, the Gas are nowhere near where they would like to be after one win in their last five. Moreover, performances over the last week against Burton Albion and Stevenage have been a major concern and must be improved on today.
Jon Brady’s Northampton side sit 19th with this their first season back in League One after a two-year hiatus but will arrive at the Mem keen to end a three-game winless run, as will Rovers. Interestingly, the Cobblers will no doubt withhold memories of both being relegated from League One alongside the Gas as well as being beaten to the third automatic promotion spot on the final day of the 2021/22 League Two campaign thanks to the miraculous 7-0 win over Stevenage. Northampton subsequently missed out on promotion via the play-offs and had to wait another season.
Andy Mangan will be taking interim charge of Rovers for this game at the very least with a week between games as the Gas host Whitby Town in the FA Cup first round next Saturday. Will this provide the 37-year-old with the opportunity to make wholesale changes or will he keep things relatively straightforward? You would imagine the latter.
Here is our predicted Rovers line up for this afternoon’s game.
Goalkeeper and defence
Matt Cox was once again subject to criticism after Stevenage on Tuesday night which was justified to an extent after his involvement in Boro’s goal but the young goalkeeper also made some crucial stops. Granted, the 20-year-old hasn’t looked confident when coming for crosses but his general play shouldn’t be doubted with it no coincidence that negativity towards the Brentford loanee has arisen when the whole team have played poorly.
