Bristol Rovers predicted team vs Huddersfield Town as Promise Omochere pushes for start

As difficult as it may feel, Bristol Rovers supporters have to maintain faith that their team will finish the season above the dreaded dotted line as the Gas enter the final dozen of matches in their League One schedule.

What will also be tricky is getting points from the next two home games as Rovers welcome Huddersfield Town and Bolton Wanderers within the space of four days, both of whom are fighting themselves but at the top end of the table.

First up is Huddersfield this afternoon who, despite sitting higher in the table by one place, look to be the side more likely to give up a result to Rovers after indifferent form of late.

Prior to last weekend's defeat to Rotherham United, home form had been solid of late and had the Gas beaten the Millers, or at least held on for a point, it would have made Tuesday night's goalless draw at Shrewsbury Town seem a more pleasing result.

Results elsewhere were positive for Rovers earlier this week on a night where two sides visibly struggling played out a forgetable stalemate. However, they are still only three points clear of Burton Albion who, coincidentally, host Bolton this afternoon.

As always, there's plenty to ponder for Inigo Calderon who opted to start with a back-three on Tuesday night. It seems as though the plan is to be flexible but you would expect the Spaniard to maintain the same shape. Who starts, however, is yet to be seen.

Here is how we think the Gas might set up this afternoon...

Goalkeeper and defence

Jed Ward had a better night on Tuesday, making some decent saves and earning a first clean sheet since returning to Bristol Rovers. However, there will naturally be concern towards how much the goalkeeper is still having to work, even against, with all due respect, a poor side who sit bottom of the league.

It is a problem that Rovers have had all season and that Josh Griffiths was often able to stand up to. Being two years junior to the West Brom goalkeeper, Ward is unlikely to have as high a save percentage rate.

Ahead of the 21-year-old, the combination of central defenders worked on Tuesday night considering that they were able to keep out Shrewsbury via some decent defending, goalkeeping and luck.

James Wilson and Connor Taylor are certainly up there with the Gas' most consistent performers of late, arguably all season, and were guaranteed to start, assuming that the latter was deemed fit enough after missing the Rotherham defeat.

In came Sil Swinkels and, again, it was to no surprise. The Aston Villa loanee did well on his first start three days prior and already has two goals to his name. It may be tough on Taylor Moore but the Dutchman is clearly a talent and did enough on Tuesday night to keep his place in the starting 11.

Midfield

Starting with the wing-backs, it was pleasing to see Jack Hunt manage 81 minutes considering he wasn't even in the squad the last time Bristol Rovers had a Saturday, Tuesday schedule. The 34-year-old is obviously the Gas' best choice on the right-flank and needs to start every game where he can.

On the left, Clinton Mola came in for his first appearance since January 28 and, despite not being near his his performance levels at the start of the season, he did fine and probably enough to keep hold of his place ahead of Lino Sousa who has been guilty of poor moments leading to goals.

In the middle is where it slightly gets tricker. Matt Butcher is a no-brainer to start while, even though he was taken off at half-time on Tuesday night, Grant Ward is still one of the best options in his position. The hope is that he starts to look more like his usual self swiftly.

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Then, with two strikers up top, there's space for one more midfielder who is likely to be more attack-minded. Isaac Hutchinson created more chances than any of his teammates against Shrewsbury while Ruel Sotiriou, in a more advanced role, looked lively again and, of course, got his goal against the Millers.

The Cyprus international is playing his best football in a Rovers shirt at the moment but, with the return of another striker (to be discussed next), Calderon may make the decision to have Sotiriou come on as an impact player, as harsh as that may be.

It's a tough decision but with Kamil Conteh and Romaine Sawyers still injured and Jamie Lindsay seemingly nowhere near the team while Kofi Shaw is being protected, it seems to be a straight shootout between the two.

Strikers

Now is the time to bring Promise Omochere back into the starting line up. Based on the fact that he got 30 minutes last Saturday and 45 against Shrewsbury, the Irishman should be ready to play at least an hour.

It was immediately evident in both of the last two games how much Omochere's introduction improved the Gas. Against Rotherham, they suddenly found themselves 10 to 20 yards further up the pitch, albeit chasing the game, while against Shrewsbury they looked far more of a threat in attack with the striker himself seeing a header cleared off the line.

How many goals the 24-year-old might have scored had he not picked up an injury that would keep him out for two months just as he looked to be picking up form will forever remain a mystery. However, he has a good chance to ensure that he adds more goals to his current tally of four which, potential or not, is a pretty underwhelming amount when considering his price tag.

Alongside him, there is limited reason to drop Chris Martin with supporters calling for the two strikers to start alongside each other effectively all season but it's been rare for the duo to be fit at the same time.

With Omochere running the channels, Martin should have more licence to get himself in the penalty area, knowing he hasn't quite had the pace or tenacity to effectively lead the line on his own alongside limited service.

If it doesn't work, so be it, but now is the time to give the pair a run out alongside each other from the start. It may just save the season.

Elsewhere from an attacking perspective, having the likes of Luke Thomas, Michael Reindorf, Scott Sinclair and Kofi Shaw to all potentially bring on is all positive and it's unlikely that all four will make the squad. However, an attack-minded bench may just help Rovers get over the line this afternoon.

Bristol Rovers XI: Jed Ward; James Wilson, Connor Taylor, Sil Swinkels; Jack Hunt, Matt Butcher, Grant Ward, Isaac Hutchinson, Clinton Mola; Promise Omochere, Chris Martin