Bristol Rovers (H) Match Preview

United are back in Abbey Action tomorrow after a busy and difficult festive period. Injuries mounting, and no sign of any new additions to the squad (yet literally as we were writing this we announced experienced defender Ryan Bennett, but whether he'll play straight away or not remains to be seen...) mean that it's likely to be another threadbare U's side that takes the field against The Gas.

The U's have played three games since Xmas, a much-needed Boxing Day win over Shrewsbury preceded two tough away trips to Derby and Sheffield Wednesday which saw us concede six times, and scoring none. The performance at Derby was decent enough, but Wednesday tore us a new one, as they did last season.

Bonner doesn't have many names to choose from, although Williams and Worman are possibly back in contention for Saturday. Almost everyone else you can think of is out injured, so who'll start, and in what position is anybody's guess...

Expected U's Line-Up: Mannion, Bennett, Taylor, Okedina, Brophy, Digby, Worman, Knibbs, Lankester, Smith, Ironside

Who's Their Player To Watch? The main goal threat looks to be Josh Coburn, on loan from Middlesbrough who has scored 8 times in 14 appearances this season. They've also got Scott Sinclair, who has a tonne of Premier League experience with the likes of Chelsea, Swansea and Man City and who also represented Great Britain in the 2012 Olympics.

Who's In The Dugout? Joey Barton. A nasty piece of work, the less said about him the better really.

What's Their Recent Form Like? Won 3, Lost 2, 11th in the Table.

Any Ex-United Players? Nope

Last Time Out: Bristol Rovers 2-1 U's, 8 October 2022

Big Joseph scored a penalty in a narrow defeat down in Bristol

From The Archive: U's 1-3 Bristol Rovers, May 1994

U's legend John Taylor nets twice for Rovers at the Abbey back in 1994, Dean Barrick replies for United with a stunning free kick.