Daniel Wales and Charles Hague-Jones preview Bristol Rovers’ home fixture against Bolton Wanderers.
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00:00Dan, upcoming for Bristol Rovers, hosting Bolton in the Ligue 1, how important is it
00:08that they go into this game and they start to build a bit of momentum? Results haven't
00:13been as great as of late. They've started this period going in and it's such an important
00:20period, especially ahead of the festive fixtures that are to come in Ligue 1. But they need
00:25to certainly gain a bit of momentum. It looks like they're going to clear the drop, but
00:30it is so close down at the bottom of Ligue 1 this season so far. How do you view this
00:34game and what's the feeling going into this game from Bristol Rovers' perspective?
00:43Well, as you say, they are only three points away from the relegation zone at present,
00:47which is not a lot, and they're nine points from the play-off. So they're in that lower
00:54middle part of the table where they could get sucked in, probably not as likely to go
00:58a bit further high unless they suddenly find a big run of form, which means that this game
01:01against Bolton, as you say, is important. Now, it won't be easy because, of course,
01:05Bolton are sat on 30 points, seventh in the table and actually joint level with Reading
01:12and Stockport, both of whom are within the play-off places in fifth and sixth. So it'll
01:17be no easy feat for them. And they are coming off the back of, well, not a great run of
01:22form, to be honest. They've had losses against Leyton Orient recently, 3-0 loss there. Black
01:27Pool as well, 2-0 loss. They did get a win away at Mansfield, a 1-0 win, and also they
01:34went through on penalties against Barnsley in the FA Cup to reach the third round. But
01:40because of who's to come, this game against Bolton is, as you say, it is big and I know
01:47you're going to touch on who's to come next for them.
01:50Yeah, of course. Obviously, it's Birmingham away from home and an amazing outfit they
01:54have with a huge transfer window, breaking all kinds of League One records, bringing
01:59in the likes of Jay Stansfield for £15 million in League One. It's never really been seen
02:04before. And then, of course, they host Wrexham. So this is two of the best sides in the league,
02:09really. They avoid top dogs Wickham until around early February, but they have, of course,
02:15a huge FA Cup tie with Ipswich as well in the new year. So how do you sort of, does
02:21it sort of increase the importance of this Bolton game when you have, you know, you have
02:27to go to St Andrews and try and get something there? And then you host Wrexham in an early
02:32kick-off, which all eyes will be on that game as well.
02:35Yeah, it does put a lot of importance and pressure on the Bolton game because you think,
02:39well, the way their form has been, you struggle to see them getting much out of the Birmingham
02:44and the Wrexham games, although you perhaps have more chance at home to Wrexham, given
02:47the fact that you are at home. But certainly the Birmingham game will be tough going to St
02:51Andrews and trying to get anything the way that both teams are playing, to be honest. Birmingham,
02:56of course, doing really well this season.