Our final game of 2022 awaits!
Rovers are back at The Mem tomorrow evening as we prepare to face Gary Caldwell's Exeter City under the lights. The Gas will be looking to bounce back from our Boxing Day defeat at the hands of Wycombe Wanderers and close the gap on those sides in the play-off places. In our last meeting with tomorrow's opponents, a 2-2 draw back in October, Ryan Loft was the hero as his late goal secured a point for Rovers.
Manager Preview
Joey Barton has said that he expects a tough test from Gary Caldwell's side tomorrow evening and has expressed the importance of bouncing back from our Boxing Day defeat to Wycombe Wanderers.
"Gary Caldwell's gone in there and kept the group together. I think the team is embedded, he's tried to add a little bit more possession to them and we know from our skirmishes with them over the last couple of years that they are a very good side.
We want to bounce back and close the gap on the teams in the playoff picture. The upcoming home game against Exeter is the perfect opportunity to do that, but if we're not absolutely on it for ninety-plus minutes, like we saw at Wycombe, players can take the game away from you at this level."
Previous Encounter
Opposition View
Exeter defender, Pierce Sweeney has said that the Grecians will be targeting the three points against Rovers tomorrow evening.
"It's a game we will be looking to win and have to go there with confidence again.
It's a bit of a derby and is local, just an hour up the road so I'm sure we will take over 1000 fans and they will have a full house so it's a game we will be looking to win.
We've got to go there with confidence again. One thing we have been lacking this season is consistency with our performances so quite good that we have three games in a week to put three back-to-back good performances in and try and get some good results."
Form Guide
Exeter are currently in 13th place in the League One standings with a 28-point return from their 23 league games so far this season. Across their last five league outings, Exeter have picked up points against Morecambe, Sheffield Wednesday and Portsmouth whilst losing to Ipswich Town and Bolton Wanderers.
Jevani Brown is the danger man for the Grecians. The Jamaican has scored nine goals in League One so far this season whilst also setting up eight goals for his teammates. Sam Nombe is in close second with eight league goals for Exeter. Jake Caprice scored Exeter's last goal in the league in the Grecians' 1-1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday at St. James Park.
Kit
Rovers are in our third strip for tomorrow's fixture, with our visitors, Exeter City, sporting their third kit to support Shelter's #NoHomeKit campaign. To find out more about Shelter, please click HERE.
We encourage Rovers supporters to wear either our away kit or third kit tomorrow evening in support of the #NoHomeKit campaign.
How to Watch
Haven't been able to secure a ticket for tomorrow's SOLD OUT clash at The Mem?
Don't worry as iFollow has got you covered! Match passes cost £10 with the majority of the revenue generated coming back to the club.
To find out more about iFollow, please click HERE.
Ref Watch
Simon Mather is the referee for tomorrow evening's clash in BS7. Mather has taken charge of six League One games so far this season. Across those six games, Mather has produced an average of 4.00 yellow cards per game whilst his average for fouls given per game stands at 20.67.
Referee Mather's last match in League One was Port Vale's 1-0 win over Morecambe on Boxing Day. In that game, Mather handed out a total of five yellow cards (2x Port Vale, 3x Morecambe) and also showed a red card to Morecambe defender Donald Love for a second bookable offence.
