Preview: Bristol Rovers vs. Derby County - prediction, team news, lineups
Bristol Rovers will attempt to claim a third consecutive win when they play host to promotion-chasing Derby County in Saturday's League One encounter.
· Sports MoleThe Rams, meanwhile, will have the chance to record a second straight victory after they returned to winning ways in Tuesday's meeting with Port Vale.
Match preview
Bristol Rovers are sitting in the comfort of 11th position after picking up 49 points from their 35 league matches this season.
While their League One status is all but secured for another season, the Gas will be keen to consolidate their top-half position in the league table, which would be an improvement on last term's 17th-placed finish.
Matt Taylor's side are currently enjoying a positive run of form, having won three of their last four matches, including their previous two outings against Carlisle United and Leyton Orient.
In their most recent outing, Chris Martin's 15th goal of the season proved enough to condemn Leyton Orient to a narrow 1-0 defeat and ensure that Bristol Rovers have now scored in each of their last 13 away league games.
The Gas will now return to the Memorial Stadium, where they have experienced an underwhelming spell of results, having lost four of their last six home matches.
Derby responded to consecutive defeats to get their promotion bid back on track with a commanding 3-0 home win over relegation-threatened Port Vale.
The Rams took the lead with a Kacper Lopata own goal, before Dwight Gayle and Louie Sibley grabbed a goal apiece to round off a fourth victory in six home matches.
Although that win temporarily kept Derby in second spot, they were placed in the automatic promotion places by Bolton Wanderers in midweek after the Trotters fought back from two goals down to take a point from their game in hand against Barnsley.
The Rams will face Ian Evatt's side in a crucial promotion clash next weekend, but first, they must negotiate an away clash with Bristol Rovers and a home meeting with Reading.
Paul Warne's charges will be looking to find consistency on their travels, having won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five away matches.
Bristol Rovers League One form:
Derby County League One form:
Team News
Bristol Rovers are unable to call upon the services of Grant Ward, Luke McCormick, Jordan Rossiter and Brandon Aguilera.
Defender Jack Hunt is a doubt after he was forced off inside the opening five minutes against Leyton Orient due to a leg injury.
James Wilson was sent off in the closing stages of last Saturday's contest, and the centre-back will now serve the first game of a three-match suspension.
Derby, meanwhile, are still having to cope without Jake Rooney, Craig Forsyth, Ryan Nyambe, Tyreece John-Jules and Conor Washington.
Goalkeeper Josh Vickers and defender Callum Elder are both doubts due to thigh and ankle injuries respectively.
After seeing his side sweep past Port Vale, Warne could be tempted to select an unchanged starting lineup for Saturday's contest.
Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:
Ward; Grant, Taylor, Baggott, Gordon; Thomas, Thomas, Conteh, Evans, Sinclair; Brown, Martin
Derby County possible starting lineup:
Wildsmith; Nelson, Bradley, Cashin; Ward, Bird, Adams, Sibley; Mendez-Laing, Barkhuizen, Gayle
We say: Bristol Rovers 1-2 Derby County
Derby would have taken confidence from their midweek win over Port Vale, and we think that the rejuvenated Rams will continue their promotion push by claiming a second straight victory in Saturday's away meeting with Bristol Rovers.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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