Match Preview | Bristol Rovers (H)

27 January 2023

Morecambe will be looking to make it four straight home wins on Saturday 28 January when they take on Bristol Rovers at the Mazuma Stadium in Sky Bet League One.

The Shrimps were beaten 4-0 by Ipswich Town away from home in midweek, which was Morecambe's first game in 18 days following two successive postponements. Derek Adams’ men will look to take confidence from their recent home form, having won their last three at the Mazuma Stadium.

Bristol Rovers have also taken an unexpected break and were last in action on January 14 when they were beaten 2-0 by Accrington Stanley at the Wham Stadium.

The Opposition

The Gas currently sit 11th in League One with ten wins, seven draws and ten defeats after 27 games.

Rovers were promoted to the third tier on the final day of last season following a 7-0 win over Scunthorpe United. They currently sit the highest in the table out of the newly promoted sides with Exeter in 13th, Port Vale in 14th and Forest Green in 24th respectively.

The Pirates are managed by Joey Barton who spent his career playing as a midfielder for Manchester City, Newcastle, QPR, Burnley and Rangers. Barton began his managerial career in 2018 when he took charge of Fleetwood Town. The 40-year-old left Lancashire in January 2021 and took the job in Bristol a month later. Barton’s side were relegated out of League One in his first season, but were promoted back into the division at the first time of asking in May 2022.

Key Players

Striker Aaron Collins is currently League One’s top scorer with 13 goals this season. The Gas frontman has also contributed ten assists to his sides’ campaign. The Welshman’s last goal contribution came on New Year’s Day when he scored the first and set up the second in Rovers’ 2-1 win over Cheltenham. Collins is a familiar name to Morecambe supporters, having spent the last four months of the 2018/19 season with the Shrimps. In that time, he scored eight goals and provided four assists in 15 League Two appearances.

Collins has developed a good relationship with his strike partner Josh Coburn, who has tallied nine goals so far this campaign. The 20-year-old is still learning his trade and is on loan in the West Country from Middlesborough. Coburn has made 23 appearances for Boro so far and scored five goals before he was loaned to the Memorial Stadium at the start of the season.

The Gas have a very experienced EFL striker in the ranks in the name of John Marquis. The frontman has three goals and four assists so far this season and brings a wealth of experience to Barton’s side. The 30-year-old scored 61 goals in 134 appearances for Doncaster Rovers before scoring 28 in 98 for Portsmouth. Marquis spent the end of last season at Lincoln before moving to Bristol in the summer.

Derek Adams’ Thoughts

Shrimps boss Derek Adams said he wants his side to continue their impressive home form on Saturday.

“They were very good wins for us,” he said.

“We scored a lot of goals, we created chances and we put ourselves in a much better position.”

Team News

Max Melbourne, Jake Taylor and Courtney Duffus all remain sidelined with injury.

Meet The Officials

Will Finnie will referee Saturday’s game and will be assisted by Danny Gratton and Kevin Mulraine with Paul Marsden acting as fourth official.

Finnie has taken charge of 20 games so far this season, eight in League One, seven in League Two, three in the FA Cup and one in each of the Carabao Cup and Papa Johns Trophy.

Finnie last refereed a Shrimps game in September 2021, a 1-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers.

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Match Reports

Report | Morecambe 5 Bristol Rovers 1

28 January 2023

Morecambe made it four straight home wins at the Mazuma Stadium with a 5-1 win over Bristol Rovers.

Daniel Crowley found the net on his home debut before goals from Donald Love, Cole Stockton and Adam Mayor and a James Connolly own goal helped secure a fantastic win for the Shrimps.

Morecambe made a bright start to the game when the ball was worked out to Michael Mellon on the right who saw his goal bound shot was deflected over. From the resulting corner, Dynel Simeu flicked the ball onto Mellon, his shot blocked at close range.

The Shrimps came close to the opener on 15 minutes when Jensen Weir picked out Stockton from the right, his effort was put behind for a corner by Rovers goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe.

Derek Adams’ side found the breakthrough on 20 minutes when Crowley’s effort from range was too powerful for Balcombe to keep out.

Rovers first effort on goal came on 26 minutes when Antony Evans fired a free-kick narrowly wide of Connor Ripley’s right-hand post.

Ripley pulled off a superb save five minutes before the break to palm away Evans’ curling effort from outside the area.

The Shrimps came close to doubling their lead moments before the break when Crowley’s pinpoint cross from the left was met by Mellon who rattled the post.

The Gas hit the woodwork themselves when Ripley pulled off another excellent save to tip Aaron Collins’ shot onto the bar.

Half-time: Morecambe 1 Bristol Rovers 0

Morecambe began the second half excellently and were 2-0 up within two minutes of the restart when Weir picked out Mellon unmarked at the far post who found the bottom right corner to score his first goal for the Shrimps on his home debut.

Derek Adams’ side made it three moments later when a short corner was worked to Love who rifled a side-footed effort home from a tight angle.

The visitors had a good chance to get back into the game with half an hour to go when Ryan Loft picked out Harry Anderson from the left who mistimed his jump and couldn’t head home from close range.

The Shrimps punished Anderson and the Gas for not taking their chance moments earlier when Stockton raced in on goal and slotted the ball home past Balcombe.

Referee Will Finnie pointed to the spot to award Rovers a penalty moments after Morecambe's fourth, though Sinclair's spot kick was superbly saved by Ripley to keep the visitors out.

The goalkeeper was called into action ten minutes from time when he comfortably parried away Scott Sinclair’s powerful effort from range.

An excellent afternoon for Morecambe was rounded off three minutes from time when substitute Adam Mayor’s shot across goal found the bottom right corner of Balcombe’s net.

Rovers got one back just before time when Aaron Collins beat Ripley from outside the area.

Full-time: Morecambe 5 Bristol Rovers 1

Morecambe: Ripley, Love, Gibson (Cooney, 88’), Rawson (Delaney, 65’), Crowley (Hunter, 73’), Stockton, Mellon (Mayor, 73’), Weir, Bedeau, Shaw, Simeu.

Subs not used: Smith, Gnahoua, Obika.

Goals: Crowley (20’), Mellon (47’), Love (49’), Stockton (61’), Mayor (87’).

Bookings: Gibson, Mayor.

Red cards: None.

Bristol Rovers: Balcombe, Connolly, Quansah, Finley (McCormick, 68’), Sinclair, Collins, Coutts (Ward, 57’), Evans (Loft,57’), Gibbons, Hoole (Anderson, 57’), Coburn (Marquis, 68’).

Subs not used: Belshaw, Whelan.

Goals: Collins (89’).

Bookings: Connolly.

Red cards: None.

Attendance: 4,259.