Rovers v Derby -Matchday Thread

'Nothing bigger' - Matt Taylor relishing Bristol Rovers' test against 'monstrous' Derby County..by Daniel Hargraves.

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Matt Taylor has confessed that there's "nothing bigger" than playing the likes of Derby County at League One level as Bristol Rovers prepare to host one of English football's most historic clubs at the Mem on Saturday.

The Rams are firmly in the hunt for automatic promotion to the Championship at the second time of asking, sat in third just one point off of second-place Bolton Wanderers with 10 games to go and will no doubt make the trip down to BS7 hungry to win to keep themselves well in the mix.

Although sat in 11th and 11 points off of the top-six with 11 games to go, Taylor has repeatedly insisted that there is still plenty to be excited about this season and these sorts of games in particular are occasions that get the juices flowing.

"There’s nothing bigger at our level of football," the Pirates manager insisted. "We’ve mentioned Portsmouth and Bolton. I think Derby is as big if not bigger than those two put together. A monstrous club. All their history, the expectation, the pressure. A fantastic game of football.

"A full house on the back of a few good results. They had a thumping win against Port Vale last weekend so two teams in the right place and they’ll go at it. But you’ll see the individual quality on show from the opposition. We’ve got to more than match it and make sure our team spirit shines through.

"It will be a full house this week. I know they’ll come well-supported and we’ll be well-supported. I hope it’s a good game of football. I hope it’s a game where the players and the fans alike can really get their teeth into it because Derby at home should really be one to look forward to and this fanbase has said all along that we’ve been able to raise our game against the bigger teams so we’re certainly going to have to do that this weekend because, like I say, there’s some real strength in the opposition."

Although there have been 22 matches across all competitions since the two sides' previous meeting, that 2-1 defeat at Pride Park in November still looms large in the memory as Rovers did more than enough on the day to warrant at least a point and possibly all three.

In what proved to be former caretaker manager Andy Mangan's penultimate match in charge, the Gas more than matched their hosts in front of a crowd of over 26,600 in the East Midlands with the game seemingly set for a draw after former Rams favourite Chris Martin equalised in the 87th minute but the brilliance of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who created his side's first goal, ended up deciding the match in the closing stages.

Of course that predated Taylor's arrival but a common theme all season has been that the Gas have tended to reserve some of their best performances for games against the league's best teams and there is certainly encouragement to take from previous encounters against League One's cream of the crop going into this weekend.

"I watched the game at Derby all those months ago because it was a couple of games before I came into the football club," the Rovers boss admitted. "I think we performed pretty well that day and didn’t pick anything up from the game.

"Not only are they a good team, they’ve got such great individual quality. We’ve spoken about [Nathaniel] Mendez-Laing and his influence. Bursting through in a couple of moments to create the goals. That’s why they are where they are in the league table because even in tight games they’ve got the individuals who can make the difference. That shows time and time again their strength in squad.

"We respect their quality and admire it but we know that if we play to our capabilities this weekend it will be a proper game of football and there will be some serious quality on show.

"I just hope that the weather and the pitch, nothing curtails that and dampens it in anyway. If anything just to enhance it and allow it to be the game that it should be.

"They’re our direct competition and we know that if we play to our maximum and our best we can give these teams a really good game. We’ve shown that already so why not this weekend?"

Just in case anyone isn't aware, the match-day ticket office won't be open today, so you can't turn up and pay on the day.

However, you can still purchase tickets online right up to kick-off  (just a handful left in the South Stand, but plenty on the terraces):

www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/20242/march/key-supporter-information-ahead-of-derby-county-match/

It’s the only derby we get these days

City 1982 are doing their best to change that.

Lose against Swansea tomorrow and I would fully expect them to get dragged into a relegation fight, as I don't see them getting anything from West Brom or Leicester. 

Thomas hamstring.Sadly City unlikely to go down but Stoke right in the mire if they lose at Preston.The former Muff manager struggling there.
In other news, Neil Warnock has left Aberdeen.
Port Vale losing at home already.Potteries football struggling.

My best call 1-1 but that is in hope....

Derby certainly have the lions share of play so far. Second half will be how good our defence copes....At least we have a capable goalkeeper.

0-0 HT

Lucky to still be in this game. Derby have some skilful players and playing some nice football showing just how far we have to go if we are serious about competing in this league.

Hopefully MT can inspire an improved 2nd half.

Two down!!!!!!!!! Bit of a gulf between the teams to be honest.