The edited highlights of City’s 0-0 draw on Saturday included a cross that was caught by the Cambridge goalkeeper, something that spoke volumes about the attacking ambitions of both sides. While it’s now four unbeaten at home, City now being the joint lowest scorers in the EFL amplified the calls for attacking reinforcements, with Gary Caldwell promising that this would be addressed by the end of the January window. Perhaps the biggest frustration for the supporters (with the disquiet audible to those listening at home) was that City forced a number of corners yet might as well have not bothered sending the likes of Cheick Diabate or Zak Jules forward as every corner was short and wasted. On the plus side, Caldwell was able to select a full squad with players left out, and he may be able to rotate on Tuesday night as City say hello to a familiar face. Reece Cole was perhaps a surprising omission from the starting XI against Cambridge and should be in line for a return, perhaps for Tom Carroll who has often struggled this season to play both Saturday and midweek.
Dispensing of the services of Joey Barton to enable him to dedicate himself full time to idiocy, Bristol Rovers provided an immediate return to management for Matt Taylor following his dismissal by Rotherham. After an initial boost things haven’t been going too well for the former City player and manager with no wins so far in 2024, although in fairness he has had a relatively tough run of fixtures since the turn of the year including two FA Cup ties against Norwich. Their key man in recent games has been veteran frontman Chris Martin, the 35 year old has scored six goals since Christmas. There are a couple of familiar faces in Taylor’s squad – he has been reunited with Jevani Brown, who joined Rovers following the culmination of the court action that ruled him out for most of the second half of last season for City. One player unlikely to feature is George Friend, who hasn’t played since late November following his summer move from Birmingham.
Bristol Rovers are one of two sides City have yet to face so far this season after the match was originally postponed due to international call-ups. This match last season was the very definition of a rollercoaster as City edged a 4-3 thriller. City led at half time through Nombe and Collins only for Rovers to go 3-2 up through their Collins plus Coburn and a Sinclair penalty. However, City rallied and Dieng equalised before a late Nombe winner. The reverse fixture was Taylor’s last in charge of City and finished 2-2 with all the goals in the second half – Marquis gave the visitors the lead, City went ahead through a Brown penalty and Nombe before one-time City loanee Ryan Loft netted a late equaliser. City’s win at the Memorial Stadium meant a slight lead in league head to heads, 27-26, with 29 draws.
The match officials for this game will be:-
Referee: Jacob Miles
Assistant Referees: Kevin Morris and Thomas Staten
Fourth Official : James Vallance
This will be the first time Jacob Miles has taken charge of an Exeter City game.
