Richie Smallwood captains Bristol Rovers for their Sky Bet League Two match against Crawley Town today. Manager Steve Evans has made one change to the side that won a thrilling Severnside derby last weekend, as confirmed by the club's official website.
Bristol Rovers currently sit 10th in the League Two table with three points from two games, having scored seven goals but conceded six. They are three points behind early leaders Barnet. The team's next challenge is an away trip to face Fleetwood Town on October 31st.
Who starts for Bristol Rovers against Crawley?
Steve Evans has handed the captain's armband to midfielder Richie Smallwood for this fixture. Smallwood replaces the injured Keenan Gough in the starting eleven. The rest of the lineup shows consistency, particularly in attack.
The same front four that featured in the 5-3 victory over Newport County last weekend starts again. Tommy Leigh, Shaq Forde, Bobby Kamwa, and Fabrizio Cavegn will lead the line. They are supported by a defensive unit of Jed Ward in goal, with Harvey James, Tristan Crama, Calum Mola, and Jack Purrington across the back. Jordan Rossiter completes the midfield alongside Smallwood.
What options are available on the bench?
The substitutes' bench offers Evans several tactical choices. Youngster Philip Sanyaolu, who made his debut in a midweek game against Cobham Next Gen, is included. Jack Aitchison, who provided an assist in that same match, is also among the replacements.
Reiss Russell-Denny is present to add skill in midfield if required. For attacking reinforcements, Evans can call upon the experience of Ellis Harrison and Joe Quigley. The full list of substitutes is James Binns, Connor Taylor, Reiss Russell-Denny, Philip Sanyaolu, Jack Aitchison, Ellis Harrison, and Joe Quigley. You can view the complete squad details on our squad page.
How did Bristol Rovers perform in their last match?
The Pirates come into this game on a high after an entertaining 5-3 win at The Memorial Stadium last weekend. That victory against Newport County in the Severnside derby provided the team's first three points of the campaign. It demonstrated the attacking threat Evans's side possesses, though the three goals conceded will be a concern.
That result contributes to their current league position and goal difference of +1. Maintaining that offensive output while tightening up defensively will be key to climbing the standings. The team's recent form reads as a win and a loss from their opening two fixtures.
What is the challenge posed by Crawley Town?
Today's opponents, Crawley Town, have named their starting lineup. It includes players like Michalski in goal, with Barker, Farquharson, Watson, and Aderoju in defense. Their midfield and attack feature Russell, Kamara, Arthurs, Adeyemo, Odimayo, and Krasniqi.
Crawley's substitutes are Izquierdo, Orsi, Richards, Di Biase, Morgan, Tinsdale, and Ewens-Findlay. This presents a fresh challenge for a Bristol Rovers side looking to build momentum. A positive result would set them up well before their next match, which you can see on our fixtures list.
With Richie Smallwood leading the team out, Bristol Rovers aim to secure back-to-back league victories. Building on their potent attack from the Newport game will be the objective, while managing the game from midfield will fall to the new captain. The focus now shifts to executing the plan on the pitch.
