City returned to winning ways on Saturday with a come from behind 2-1 victory at Burton, but that victory came at a price as City continue their festive fixtures potentially denuded of their entire first choice back line. Pierce Sweeney missed the match and has been ruled out for several weeks, while Tristan Crama was withdrawn early, joining the already injured Johnly Yfeko on the treatment table. Jack Fitzwater and Ben Purrington are likely to come in, but depending on the ETA of Crama and Yfeko Gary Caldwell may need to recall one or both of Ed James and Cheick Diabate. Elsewhere Jack Aitchison was also withdrawn at half time but this may have been tactical – there was good news however as Demetri Mitchell made his first start in over a year.
It’s fair to say the season hasn’t gone according to plan for Bristol Rovers. Having hoped to push on from a disappointing campaign last time, instead the Gas find themselves competing at the wrong end of the table and currently without a manager, having parted company with former City boss Matt Taylor prior to Christmas. Their first match under the interim management of David Horseman and Lee Cattermole was an encouraging 1-1 draw with moneybags Wrexham, meaning there will be a degree of optimism going into Boxing Day’s match. Like with City, goals have been a problem for Rovers, Promise Omochere’s third goal of the season on Saturday placing him as top scorer. Scott Sinclair adds a bit of top flight creativity and will be one to watch having returned to the side on Saturday after nearly three weeks out.
The sides have met already this season, City winning 3-2 in Bristol in the EFL Trophy, while last season’s matches yielded 1-0 wins to the away side on both occasions, with the matches taking place less than two weeks apart. City won the first fixture at the Memorial Stadium thanks to Sonny Cox, but Rovers got their revenge through Brandon Aguilera. City have the slight edge in league head to heads, 28-27, with 29 matches finishing level.
The match officials for this game will be:-
Referee: Tom Reeves
Assistant Referee: Ravel Cheosiaua and Steven Plane
Fourth Official : Thomas Staten
Tom Reeves is quite often the fourth official at St James Park, but he has taken charge of a few games as well. The last being the 2-1 win in February over Peterborough.
Interview with Gary Caldwell
Interview with Josh Magennis
