Bristol Rovers predicted team vs Crawley as Matt Taylor looks to overcome right-back shortage

Bristol Rovers are set to have to overcome a major shortage of options at right-back for their home game against Crawley Town in League One this afternoon with Lino Sousa picking up a hamstring injury and Taylor Moore serving a suspension for picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.

Neither are natural options but both have played there recently while other injuries in the camp mean that Matt Taylor will be having to fit square pegs into round holes in regards to that position.

Elsewhere, there are other positions which are light, particularly up top with Ruel Sotiriou away on international duty with Cyprus while Rovers are waiting to make a final call on Promise Omochere who has still been recovering from an ankle problem.

They should still be able to comfortably field a team that's incredibly competitive and capable of winning convincingly, something Taylor noted in his pre-match press conference.

Naturally, there's debate as to how significantly the lack of right-backs will affect the Gas but, in terms of personnel, it should largely be a similar team to the one that started last weekend's 1-1 draw with Lincoln City.

Here's how we think Rovers might set up...

Goalkeeper and defence

The easiest shout of the piece is, of course, Josh Griffiths in goal who had some important moments late on in last weekend's draw. Ahead of him, some fans have debated whether Matt Taylor might resort back to a back-three and have wing-backs but, in truth, there are obvious options that could play at right-back.

It sounds as though Joel Senior is still a few weeks away from his return while Jack Hunt is also still out, hence the need for an out of position alternative.

Bryant Bilongo is probably the stand out. Lino Sousa, being a left-back, has been switched out to the opposite flank before and Taylor may have to do the same with Bilongo this afternoon.

Alternatively, there might be an opportunity for Michael Forbes to be given his first league start, although the West Ham United loanee is another left-footer.

Another suggestion has been playing a back-three and having Luke Thomas come in as a right wing-back. Although that is certainly plausible, his precise level of fitness isn't known exactly after missing last weekend and, when asked about the winger on Thursday, it sounded as though if he was deemed fit enough to be involved, it would be for a role off the bench.

Therefore, and again this is all guesswork, our bet is that Bilongo comes in, either to play at right-back or slotting in at left-back and having Clinton Mola swap sides.

The 23-year-old defender will no doubt start while James Wilson and Connor Taylor were both outstanding last weekend with the latter in particular certainly enjoying an improved vein of form.

Midfield

When Grant Ward is fit but not starting then you know you're doing something right and that's exactly the case for Kamil Conteh and Jamie Lindsay at this moment in time. We're starting to see the initial signs of a partnership blossoming although it will still take time with the latter only deemed fully fit a month or two into the season.

We're well aware of the potential Conteh boasts and having an experienced head like Lindsay must certainly help. The Scotsman is also evidently using his leadership qualities all over the pitch too and can be constantly seen mid-game communicating with his teammates and barking orders.

Slightly further up the pitch, Shaq Forde and Isaac Hutchinson are no-brainers in terms of deserving starts once again with the former scoring a lovely goal last weekend and the latter enjoying his best run of performances in blue-and-white quarters after a tricky start to life at the club.

Alongside them, although a surprise starter, Luke McCormick played with bundles of energy and probably deserves to keep his shirt with Scott Sinclair not even getting on the pitch having been dropped. No doubt the captain will get on later with such shortages in the final third.

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Striker

With no definitive answer on Promise Omochere's status yet, Rovers' only real option in regards to leading the line is, of course, Chris Martin. However, even if Omochere is fit enough to be involved today, a starting role seems extremely unlikely.

What will be interesting is how the two strikers compete for the place when the Irishman is back fully fit. He's been a strong performer for the Gas but ultimately the main area of his game that will be judged is goals and so far he's lacking in that department with two, both of which came against Cambridge United in August.

Martin was much-improved against Lincoln after two quiet and pretty underwhelming displays against Exeter City and Weston-super-Mare and got a lot closer to that guilt-edged chance he needs to get off the mark for the season.

Had the 36-year-old managed to get the right control on the ball when fed through to him in the second half of last weekend's match, every one in the stadium would have been backing him to score a goal which would have made the contest 2-0 and more comfortable.

This one certainly feels like a particularly good opportunity for the striker to get his first goal of the campaign after a delayed start due to injury.

Bristol Rovers XI (4-2-3-1): Josh Griffiths; Bryant Bilongo, Connor Taylor, James Wilson, Clinton Mola; Kamil Conteh, Jamie Lindsay; Shaq Forde, Luke McCormick, Isaac Hutchinson; Chris Martin