Aldershot V Bristol Rovers at The EBB Stadium at the Recreation Ground : Match Preview

23 December 2012 14:31
Aldershot V Bristol Rovers - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Duo back for Shots

Aldershot welcome back Peter Vincenti and Troy Brown for their crunch Boxing Day clash at home to bottom club Bristol Rovers.

Midfielder Vincenti and defender Brown both missed Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Northampton due to one-match suspensions and will be welcome additions to manager Dean Holdsworth's squad.

However, Shots captain Ben Herd continues to miss out as he serves the second game of his three-match ban for the red card received against Rochdale.

Anthony Tonkin sustained an injury in training on Friday and missed out at Sixfields, with the defender facing a battle to be fit to face Rovers.

Long-term absentees Olly Lancashire (abdomen) and Craig Stanley (broken leg) continue to be unavailable.

Aldershot, 21st in npower League Two, go into the encounter just three points ahead of rock-bottom Rovers.

Bristol Rovers' new manager John Ward could welcome on-loan defender Cian Bolger back into the fold.

The Leicester loanee has returned to the club after recovering from the cruciate ligament injury he sustained back in September and could play some part on Boxing Day.

Captain Matt Gill (knee) was ruled out ahead of Saturday's match with Rotherham before it was called off due to a waterlogged pitch, and remains a major doubt for the clash.

Ward, back for a second spell with the Pirates, said he knows time is of the essence as he gets to know his new squad.

The trip to Aldershot is the second attempt at Ward's first game in charge following Saturday's postponement against Rotherham.

"I've got to trust my own eyes and rely on a number of other people, staff and maybe the players," he told Press Association Sport. "I'll be chatting to them and finding out what their mood is and what they feel. The players will have done their homework on me and I've got to do my homework on them and find out.

"The next two or three games are important for them and me and the next 24 are vital for all of us."

Source: PA