Relegation-battling Bristol Rovers face promotion-chasing Bromley in a huge Boxing Day encounter in League Two.
Victory would lift Bristol Rovers as high as 20th if Shrewsbury and Crawley fail to match their result, whilst Bromley can go top with a win if Walsall and Swindon both slip up elsewhere.
Team News
Callum Morton is a doubt for Bristol Rovers after he suffered a hamstring injury during their 1-1 draw at Crewe Alexandra.
Tom Lockyer (knock) faces a late fitness check but Promise Omochere (ankle) and Ellis Harrison (hamstring) remain absent.
Bromley could again be without defender, Omar Sowunmi after he missed their win at home to Grimsby due to an unspecified injury.
Carl Jenkinson is unlikely to feature as he continues to build up his match fitness after five months out with a hip injury.
When is Kick-Off?
Bristol Rovers host Bromley at the Memorial Stadium on Boxing Day at 3pm GMT, live on Sky Sports+ in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Bristol Rovers’ first EFL meeting against Bromley.
- Bromley drew 1-1 in their only previous visit to Bristol Rovers in the first round of 2019-20 FA Cup in November 2019.
- Bristol Rovers are yet to lose to Bromley in all competitions (W2, D1), which included a controversial 2-1 away win in the first round of this season’s FA Cup.
- Bristol Rovers have scored one goal and conceded 13 goals in their last five home matches (L5).
- Only twice this season has Andy Woodman’s Bromley fielded the same formation style in consecutive matches (3-4-1-2 x 2, 3-4-3 x 3).
Prediction
With the second-worst defensive record in the league and having spent just three days training under their new boss, Steve Evans, Bristol Rovers did well to grind out a draw at Crewe with an immediate response to falling behind but arguably could of won if had been more clinical after the hosts went a man down.
Bromley meanwhile produced another resilient defensive masterclass to dispatch Grimsby in a clinical display, yet their first-half felt flat so I want to see them bring more consistency from start to finish, but the injustice of their FA Cup exit will surely motivate them here.
Bristol Rovers however have the bounce of this being their first home match under Evans and festive spirit in full swing so I expect them to be up for this, but it might suit Bromley if they can again soak up the pressure and clinically execute their counter-attacks.
Prediction: Bristol Rovers 1-2 Bromley
Result: Bristol Rovers 2-3 Bromley