Team in Focus: Bristol Rovers - strengths, weaknesses and prospects

Every week a Racing Post Sport football expert focuses on a different team and assesses their strengths, weaknesses, tactics and prospects for the season. This week Mark Langdon looks at Bristol Rovers in League One.

Sky Bet League One

AFC Wimbledon 1 Bristol Rovers 3
Forss 20 Ogogo 27
Clarke-Harris 75, Craig 87

AFC Wimbledon v Bristol Rovers match report

This was a fortunate victory for Bristol Rovers, who had been on the back foot before the game turned with a red card for AFC Wimbledon's Marcus Forss.

His first caution was for celebrating with his fans after opening the scoring with a delightful curled finish before Abu Ogogo equalised nine minutes later.

The first 20 minutes of the second half belonged to Wimbledon with Michael Folivi shooting wide and visiting keeper Anssi Jaakkola making two crucial stops, one of which was simply outstanding.

Then Forss saw red, and after 75 minutes Wimbledon keeper Nathan Trott dropped a soft bouncing Jonson Clarke-Harris header over the line. Tony Craig made the points safe from a late set-piece.

Bristol Rovers tactics

Graham Coughlan stuck with his preferred 3-5-2 formation despite the absence of skipper Ollie Clarke through injury, although they switched to a back four when Wimbledon went down to ten men.

The Pirates were keen to play balls over the top for the speedy Tom Nichols and had a robustness to them – Wimbledon gaffer Wally Downes said some of his players were bullied in the first half.

Bristol Rovers strengths

Playmaker Ed Upson was the best player on the pitch by miles and sprayed passes around like he knew there was nobody else even close to his technical ability on either side.

Ogogo's athleticism around Upson made for a nice combination and star striker Clarke-Harris came to life in the final half-hour. Before that he cut a frustrated figure and early in the second half he gave Luke Leahy a volley of abuse which seemed to spark him into action.

However, Finnish international Jaakkola played the most influential role in securing maximum points.

Bristol Rovers weaknesses

The Gas are a solid enough outfit but they were susceptible to quick forwards and they have conceded 11 shots on target in their last two league matches against limited opponents (Gillingham and Wimbledon) which should be of some concern.

Bristol Rovers goalscorer bets

Don't ignore the obvious – once Clarke-Harris got in the mood he became difficult to nullify. He has already scored six league goals in nine appearances and was just as rampant last season.

View from Graham Coughlan

"The performance was okay away from home. We knew what we were getting involved in and we knew exactly what it was going to be like. I thought the character of the team was different class. The keeper made a couple of great saves but we've won another game, so lots of positives."

Bristol Rovers prospects

The win moved Rovers up to eighth, which looks like a false position – expect them to drop down to mid-table. Aim to oppose them whenever Clarke-Harris or Upson are out as they are clearly the key to any improvement on last season's 15th-placed finish.

How did AFC Wimbledon play?

Only Bolton are below winless Wimbledon, who are making a habit of losing from winning positions, and it's clearly going to be a struggle for them to stay up given the budget limitations at Kingsmeadow.

The fact Downes has been suspended from first-team duties by the club after being charged by the FA for misconduct in respect of allegedly betting on football matches only brings more problems.

However, they have already been away to four of the current top five and are competitive most weeks. They should start to pick up points at a faster rate once Forss returns from suspension.

AFC Wimbledon v Bristol Rovers teams

AFC Wimbledon 3-5-2: Trott; Nightingale, Thomas (Pigott 62), Delaney; O'Neill, Hartigan (Wordsworth 61), Wagstaff, Reilly, Guinness-Walker; Forss, Folivi (Roscrow 75).

Bristol Rovers 3-5-2: Jaakkola; Davies, Craig, Kilgour (Smith 71); Rodman (Menayese, Ogogo, Upson, Sercombe, Leahy; Nichols (Kelly 73), Clarke-Harris.

Next three league fixtures

AFC Wimbledon: Peterborough (a), Rochdale (h), Southend (a).

Bristol Rovers:Rotherham (h), MK Dons (h), Doncaster (a).

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