FGR are in action at The Fully Charged New Lawn once again this weekend, taking on Bristol Rovers in League Two action.

Here we take a look at the Gas, who we face for the first time since 2015.

MEET THE MANAGER: JOEY BARTON

Joey Barton is a well-known character in recent English football making over 100 appearances for Manchester City as well as playing for the likes of Newcastle United and QPR.

The 39 year old England international was known for his hard tackling and physical approach to the game which can be seen in the way he likes his teams to play.

After a year on loan with Marseille and spells with Burnley and Rangers, Barton decided to hang up his boots and head into the world of management.

He took his first job at League One outfit Fleetwood Town in April 2018 and had success during his time at Highbury, reaching the play-offs in the 2019/20 season.

After leaving the Lancashire outfit back in January, he became the new Bristol Rovers manager and remained the Gas boss after their relegation earlier in the year.

KEY PLAYER: ANTONY EVANS

Former Everton youngster Antony Evans signed a one year deal at the Memorial Stadium back in August this year.

After 10 years at the Toffees and loan spells with Morecambe and Blackpool, Evans made a move across the North Sea to Germany, signing for Paderborn.

After only making a handful of appearances for the former Bundesliga side, the 23 year old spent the second half of last season at Dave Artell’s Crewe Alexandra.

Evans, who has represented England at under-19 level, joined the Gas as a free agent on Deadline Day and has been a mainstay in Joey Barton’s side.

The attacking midfielder has been in fine form this season, playing in every league game since his arrival, scoring two goals and registering five assists.

FORM

23/10/21 – Bristol Rovers 1-3 Newport County

30/10/21 – Harrogate Town 0-1 Bristol Rovers

13/11/21 – Bristol Rovers 2-1 Northampton Town

20/11/21 – Bristol Rovers 2-2 Tranmere Rovers

23/11/21 – Salford City 1-1 Bristol Rovers

PLAYED FOR BOTH SIDES

Aaron Collins:

Aaron Collins played in every league game for FGR last season and scored 15 league goals in his two year stint in GL6.

The 24 year old traded Nailsworth for Bristol in the summer but is yet to score in the league for the Gas this season.

Rovers head coach Rob Edwards and Collins are familiar faces as the pair were at Wolves together when Edwards was part of the first team coaching staff and Collins was in the under-21’s.

David Pipe:

The Welshman and former Rovers skipper had an eventful two years with Forest Green playing in both play-off campaign failures prior to our eventual promotion in 2017.

Pipe made almost 100 appearances for the Gas between 2007 and 2010, going on loan to Rovers’ rivals Cheltenham Town during that three year period.

The 38 year old retired from professional football in 2019, as he finished his career with Newport County, who he had played for eight years before.

LAST TIME OUT

An added time equaliser from Brandon Thomas-Asante meant the points were shared between nine-man Salford City and Bristol Rovers at the Peninsula Stadium.

The Gas came into the game on some decent form and found the lead after just 15 minutes, as Sam Nicholson raced through on goal to finish well past Connor Ripley.

The first of the Ammies red cards came courtesy of Matthew Willock, as the attacking midfielder lunged in dangerously on Sam Finley not long before the break.

Rovers really should have put the game out of sight as they missed a host chances as well as coming up against an in form Ripley who made six saves.

When Ashley Hunter saw red just before the 90, you have thought it was all over, but in the 95th minute Thomas-Asante made it 1-1 to snatch a point at the death.

The draw means Salford now sit 16th whilst Joey Barton’s side sit in 14th place, four games unbeaten in the league.

LAST TIME WE MET

Bristol Rovers ran out 2-0 winners over Forest Green Rovers at the Memorial Stadium to win 3-0 on aggregate in the National League play-off semi-final.

Chris Lines opened the scoring for the Pirates as Matty Taylor burst into the box before setting up the now Stevenage midfielder.

Not long after the break and FGR were almost level but Will Puddy did well to keep out Aarran Racine’s downward header.

The hosts had the two goal cushion on aggregate and sealed their ticket to Wembley late on as Taylor tapped in from close range from Lee Brown’s cross.

The Gas were promoted back to the Football League a few weeks later, whilst got FGR their play-off redemption winning the final just two years later.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Just over 20 miles sperate the two sides, but they’ve only ever met four times, all of those games coming in the 2014/15 National League season.

The away side just edge the head-to-head winning two of the games in comparison to the one for FGR.

Rovers were unbeaten in both league games that year but lost both legs of their play-off semi-final as Bristol Rovers went on to be promoted.