The Official Bristol Rovers Match Thread (Sponsored by the Return of the Gaz "for all your morale boosting needs")

Following our early exit from the FA Cup at Newport last weekend, Gills return west today to take on Bristol Rovers, looking to reignite our league campaign after a disappointing few weeks.

Reason for positivity came this week with the news that Gareth Ainsworth is back on duty, our charismatic leader having been sorely missed. He might not yet be able to strut along the touchline with his zipper scar on display, but just having him at the club and at matches will no doubt be a huge boost to the team. In addition, we appear to have some of our injured back in contention, both McCleary and Jonny Smith being declared available and boosting our creative options, even if they start on the bench. Despite registering no wins in our last six, it would appear our strikers have started to get their act together, having notched five of our last six goals between them.

Today's opponents, Bristol Rovers, have not had the start to the season they and many others would have expected. After relegation from League One after a three year stay, the Gas will have hoped for a swift return, especially given their financial clout. However, three successive defeats to open the campaign punctured their pre-season optimism. Although they then won five of the next seven to lift themselves into the playoffs, another run of defeats has seen them slide down to 16th. Defensively they've been poor with 25 goals conceded already this season and the four goals shipped in each of their last three league fixtures will be a worrying trend for manager Darrell Clarke.

The head to head leans in Rovers favour with 61 wins from 145 matches between the two sides. Gills have won 56 with a miserly 28 draws since the first meeting in 1899, a fixture even the gimmeriest of gimmers won't remember. Our recent record at the Mem is decent, three wins and just a solitary defeat from our last seven visits.

For the (brief) highlights we rewind to 1986/87 and a late goal from Tony Cascarino to give Gills a 0-1 win at Twerton Park in front of a crowd of just 3186.

Gills go into today with yet another incredible away following, well over 1000 Gills fans making the trip, a staggering number given that we've not won since September. Kudos to all making the trip, I'd had this one in the diary since the day the fixtures were published only to discover I'd double booked myself with a gig in London. Weirdly, I'd have preferred to have been at the game even knowing that the chances for misery come 5pm are high. The pull of the Gills, eh?

Safe travels to all those going, roar the lads on and bring us home three points.

Enjoy the game, and...

COYG!!!