Joey Barton wants his Bristol Rovers players to deliver a performance to make fans "proud" as the Gas travel to Ipswich Town on Tuesday.
Rovers face the Tractor Boys at Portman Road tomorrow, taking on a team that tops the League One table after an unbeaten start to the season. The Gas, meanwhile, occupy 16th place after a weekend off for all EFL clubs following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday.
Barton knows a stiff challenge awaits the Gas in Suffolk, with Kieran McKenna's Ipswich in fine form and a crowd in the region of 25,000 expected, but he believes his players can stand up to the challenge and upset the odds.
“Every away game at this level is a test for us and we wouldn’t expect anything other than a tricky game at Portman Road," Barton said. “However, we’ve had a good week’s training plus an extra break on Saturday and I am confident we will put up a good account of ourselves on Tuesday.
“With no game at the weekend, we took the opportunity to have an extra training session and hopefully that will pay off.
“There were positives from our last game against Morecambe and things to work on. Players that have been out are nearing a return, as well as those who have just joined but are still gearing up to speed in terms of match fitness, and it’s nice to have a headache in terms of team selection.
"It’ll be another packed house at Ipswich and a partisan crowd and we’ll have to be on our mettle. There will be plenty of Gasheads there in full voice and we want to replay their faith with a performance to make them proud.”
Rovers are set to be without Lewis Gibson due to a minor calf tear that means he is touch-and-go for Saturday's visit of Lincoln City to the Mem. Jordan Rossiter will also be absent as he fulfils the second game of a three-match ban.
Barton will also be without the duo of defenders James Connolly (back) and James Gibbons (foot) plus loan forward Josh Coburn (knee), who are all weeks away from being available due to their respective injuries.
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