It’s been a challenging start to life back in League One for Bristol Rovers and Joey Barton. After a bright opening, the Gas have dropped points at home and can’t seem to get things going on the road amid injuries and suspensions which have only added to the inconsistency.
With Barton’s side 21st in the table, this next batch of games feel crucial with regards to determining what sort of team Rovers are going to be in 2022/23 - a mid-table outfit with ambitions of higher, or forming a relegation battle.
Barton likes to group a season into blocks of matches and the Gas have eight in the league leading up to the World Cup in Qatar - with a further three in the EFL Trophy and FA Cup - which will see the Premier League and Championship break for a month.
Granted, the rest of the EFL will continue but it represents an ideal point in the season to review what’s gone and take stock.
Rovers’ schedule up to that point can be divided into two distinct parts: teams mainly around them in the table followed by some daunting fixtures against genuine promotion contenders with Plymouth Argyle, Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County to close out October, with Fleetwood Town then following the FA Cup first round tie on November 5.
You can use our predictor below to plot the fortunes of the Gas and their league rivals over the next eight matches to see what the table will look like at 5pm on November 12.
SIGN UP: To receive our free Rovers newsletter, bringing you the latest from the Mem
READ NEXT:
