Progressive Pirates value to silence Den

Millwall v Bristol Rovers
It understandably took Bristol Rovers time to adjust to Sky Bet League One after consecutive promotions but they are now fully in the groove and could land a surprise win at Millwall.

Rovers won only one of their opening seven league fixtures – and that was against Oxford who came up from League Two with the Gas – but the Bristol boys have since triumphed in six of their nine outings.

Only once have Rovers failed to score in 16 league matches and that was away to Sheffield United, where Darrell Clarke’s men were reduced to ten men with 24 minutes remaining.

Matty Taylor has notched 11 times in the third tier already to help Rovers move up to fifth and Clarke’s side have lost only three of their last 15 in all competitions.

One of those came with the ten men at Bramall Lane, another was a last-minute loss at Peterborough (who totally mugged the Pirates)and the last of those came at Portsmouth on Tuesday.

Clarke showed his contempt for the EFL Trophy in midweek with the third-minute substitution of goalkeeper Kelle Roos to get around the competition rules and Rovers should be more tuned up for a difficult trip to the Den.

Millwall have won six of their last seven in all competitions but the Lions have also lost five of their last eight league encounters.

Influential forward Steve Morison is a major doubt for the hosts and Shane Ferguson is away with Northern Ireland so 5-2 about Rovers taking maximum points is worth a small punt.

Recommendation
Bristol Rovers
1pt 5-2 Coral

Newport v Carlisle 1pm
All good things must come to an end eventually but Carlisle’s
eight-match winning sequence can be extended at Newport today.

Newport’s performances have improved since Graham Westley became manager but it is still a slight shock to see Carlisle available at odds-against given the damage they have done in Sky Bet League Two this season.

The unbeaten Cumbrians are rampant and the goals are flying in from all angles.

Skipper Danny Grainger has notched in each of his last six matches and Keith Curle’s men are already 20 points better off than rock-bottom County.

Newport beat AFC Wimbledon 2-0 in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday but are extremely lucky to still be in the FA Cup after being outplayed by non-leaguers Alfreton in a 1-1 draw last week.

County’s squad has been hit by injury and suspension and this look an ideal opportunity for Carlisle to triumph again.

Recommendation
Carlisle
1pt 11-10 BoyleSports