Following impressive 3-0 and 2-0 wins over Newport County and Walsall respectively, Bristol Rovers have let their position slip from 19th to 21st.
This weekend the Gas were defeated 3-1 by Cambridge United in a loss where Steve Evans said “the whole back five were poor,” as Rovers again succumbed to a number of sloppy goals.
Additionally, plenty of teams in and around the drop zone picked up points – that includes Barrow and Shrewsbury Town who have leapfrogged the Gas.
One positive Evans can take is that his side continue to score; despite conceding six in the last two matches, Rovers have still managed three goals themselves.
But how Rovers set up their attack this midweek against Oldham Athletic is up for debate as players return and depart with injury…
This winter window, Rovers shelled out a supposed six figure sum for Latics striker Joe Quigley, who this weekend opened his account in blue and white when he coolly converted the penalty he won in Cambridge.
Quigley represents the physical presence needed at the top end of the pitch as Promise Omochere and Ellis Harrison struggled for fitness.
Despite losing to 3-2 Chesterfield, Evans was pleased with the 29-year-old who towered over his man to set up Shaq Forde with a knock-down to put Rovers 2-1 up: “We get in front, brilliant header from Joe Quigley – that’s what big Joe does.”
Having come into the team for Harrison, Quigley played 80 minutes in his first start after that aforementioned substitute appearance against the Spireites – he now has one goal and one assist in 115 minutes.
Welshman Harrison spent most of December sidelined but came back into the fold on New Year’s Day and was crucial as Evans’s side recorded six points in three successive home games last week.
The 32-year-old played 79, 89, and 55 minutes in those fixtures, making way for Quigley in the latter before coming out of the team for him in Cambridge, subsequently coming on at the break.
Another attacker who came on at Cledara Abbey Stadium was Omochere, with the Irishman playing his first minutes since October 25 – which in itself was a failed returned after a month out injured.
Omochere replaced Quigley for the final 10 minutes and was booked in the final moments for a bad foul.
He adds further depth to the attacking ranks, and offers an important option on the left – where Rovers may need him if they drop the back three following Jack Sparkes’ suspension.
One of the key obstacles Evans will have to work around this Tuesday evening is that key suspension of Sparkes – could it trigger the return to a back four?
Potentially, though the Gas aren’t exactly blessed for left wing options: Luke Thomas hasn’t made the last few matchday squads, while Omochere likely isn’t fit enough to start a game just yet.
He was set to return last weekend but was omitted with Rovers’ Deadline Day additions making the cut instead, but as mentioned came off the bench against Cambridge.
Fabrizio Cavegn would be an obvious suggestion to play there – but it was the Swiss man who was withdrawn at the break for Harrison most recently with a knock, following illness last week.
His availability will have to be assessed for Oldham; Cavegn has struggled of late but still has five goals in 2026 to take his tally to 14 in all competitions this campaign.
Shaq Forde also suffered a blow to continuing his top form of 2026, ruled out of Cambridge with a supposed concussion. His availability is unknown for midweek, but it would be a real shame to lose him for any longer given the slight drop off from Yusuf Akhamrich since his debut.
Meanwhile, Mees Rijks, signed from Norweigan side Vålerenga, has continued to struggle for minutes this season – scoring just once in 125 minutes across five matches and left on the bench on five occasions, while on loan at De Graafschap’s in his native Netherlands.
Since joining the Gas, Rijks has made four substitute appearances totalling 54 minutes, and was most recently an unused sub, with Evans preferring his more physical and experienced strikers.
Going forwards it’s a relatively nice problem for Rovers to have. If everyone pulls through in the coming days, they could again take Quigley, Harrison, Omochere, Cavegn, and Rijks to Oldham.
Noted earlier, goal scoring has not necessarily been a major issue for the Gas of late, so if they can remain solid at the back against a Latics side who’ve scored just 29, they have a chance at grabbing another pivotal three points- albeit Micky Mellon’s team have equally conceded just 30.
