Rochdale v Bristol Rovers preview

Team news ahead of Saturday's League Two clash between Rochdale and Bristol Rovers at Spotland.

Last Updated: 16/11/12 at 13:25   

Grant: Back from ban

Grant: Back from ban

Dale boss John Coleman will be boosted by the return of Bobby Grant and Terry Gornell.

Grant missed Tuesday night's FA Cup first-round replay defeat to Morecambe due to a one-match ban for collecting five bookings this season.

Fellow forward Gornell, who made his debut for the club when Grant snatched a last-gasp winner at Wycombe last weekend, was unavailable under the terms of his loan from Shrewsbury.

Dele Adebola and George Donnelly could make way up front after the duo drew a blank in the disappointing 1-0 loss to the Shrimps.

Phil Edwards returned to the heart of defence following suspension in midweek and is set to continue, while Reece Gray (broken leg) and goalkeeper Matt Edwards (wrist) remain long-term absentees.

Pirates manager Mark McGhee looks set to recall Michael Smith at right-back with current first choice Matthew Lund ruled out.

The Stoke loanee picked up his fifth yellow card of the campaign in the win over Chesterfield, opening the door for Smith, who was a regular in that position earlier this term.

Fellow right-back Danny Woodards is back in training having not featured since May with a broken leg, but McGhee would like to field the former MK Dons defender in a reserve match before putting him back in the side.

Two other injury absentees are moving closer to fitness with Leicester defender Cian Bolger set to return to Bristol next week after his knee injury, while captain Matt Gill is closing in on a return to full training.

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League Two Fixtures

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npower League 2

Position Team P GD PTS
1 Gillingham 46 27 83
2 Rotherham 46 15 79
3 Port Vale 46 35 78
4 Burton Alb 46 6 76
5 Cheltenham 46 7 75
6 Northamptn 46 9 73
7 Bradford 46 11 69
8 Chesterfld 46 15 67
9 Oxford Utd 46 -1 65
10 Exeter 46 1 64
11 Southend 46 6 61
12 Rochdale 46 -2 61
13 Fleetwood 46 -2 60
14 Bristol R 46 -9 60
15 Wycombe 46 -10 60
16 Morecambe 46 -6 58
17 York City 46 -10 55
18 Accrington 46 -17 54
19 Torquay 46 -7 53
20 AFC W'don 46 -22 53
21 Plymouth 46 -9 52
22 Dag + Red 46 -7 51
23 Barnet 46 -12 51
24 Aldershot 46 -18 48

Updated Sat, 27 Apr 2013

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