Game 47 - The Pirates (H)
Team - Bristol Rovers
Date - 02/05/2026 14:00
Where - Meadow Lane

What would your starting line-up be? What will be the key areas for the Magpies to get a victory? What do you think the final score will be?

Have your say below, join in with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion.

I’ll be making a rare transfer to the Sirrel Stand for this game it’ll be strange viewing from a different perspective. It’s going to be a massive crowd, hopefully Notts put on a good show,

8 minutes ago, Fan of Big Tone said:

I’ll be making a rare transfer to the Sirrel Stand for this game it’ll be strange viewing from a different perspective. It’s going to be a massive crowd, hopefully Notts put on a good show,

Oh my, that would take me back - I was up in that corner for the top flight in the early 80s and the years before and after that too

What would your starting line-up be? What will be the key areas for the Magpies to get a victory? What do you think the final score will be?

It'll be a similar team to the one at Colchester. Ness will come in of course.

Many players need at least 65mins to build up their form and match sharpness - Ness, McDonald, Palmer, Jones, Tsaroulla, Luker, Jatta.

Scoreline could be anything - it's a weird end-of-season scenario. I think i just want to see players in form and us play good stuff. 6%, or whatever it is, is too much of a long shot to pin any hopes on.

My Starting XI (if available) would be:

Belshaw, Ness, McDonald, Bedeau, Jones, Tsaroulla, Palmer, Robertson, Iorpenda, Luker and Jatta.

Their game plan relies on the chaos caused by long balls into Cavegn/Harrison. Dominating the knockdown is essential. They are also a threat from set pieces, scoring 18 this season from dead ball situations. our defenders are really going to have to be on their toes; the height of Ness, McDonald and Bedeau will be essential. another factor is how we deal with the second ball.

Their full-backs often push high to support the attack, leaving space behind for quick transitions. Notts will need Iorpenda and Luker to capitalise on space out wide on quick counters, dragging the width in the back 3 wide and leaving space for Jatta through the middle.

Another key to victory could be to deliver high-quality balls into the "corridor of uncertainty" (in-swinging crosses 6-9 inches either side of the far post); Rovers' defensive line has proven susceptible to losing their discipline under sustained aerial pressure. (Conceded 20 from set plays)

2 hours ago, NCFCGuy said:

My Starting XI (if available) would be:

Belshaw, Ness, McDonald, Bedeau, Jones, Tsaroulla, Palmer, Robertson, Iorpenda, Luker and Jatta.

I like that team. I forgot to include Robertson in my list of players that need game time. It seems awkward timing for him, trying to hit top form 90mins away from a play-off campaign. We have many players that usually take a while to hit their stride.

Luker and Iorpenda though, behind Jatta, is at last a reasonable solution to the season-long No.10 problem. Not necessarily goals and assists, but a physical and athletic challenge for the opposition.

My team would be

Belshaw

Ness, McDonald, Bedeau

Tsaroulla, Palmer, Robertson, Jones.

Luker, Iorpenda Jatta.

Subs, Griffiths, Browne, Dennis, Ndlovu, Grant Hall, Bennetts

I've been saying for awhile that our fate would come down to the last gam of the season, whilst I thought that playoffs would have been secured sooner. I am in no doubt proud of the squad for having acheived this.

It's going to be tense, I am sure what we feel in the stands will be multipled for the players themselves.

Let's get behind them from the moment they come out of the tunnel and lineup, when Andy announces the squad. Let's make each player feel our support, let them know we are behind the club and encourage them to be our warriros. Anything we can do to take off their pressure, would naturally ease them into the game. I hear, "but they are professionals", but this doesn't mean that important games are not measured differently.

I am sure each player wants to perform well, to give their all and we must remember that no matter how the game goes down. I suspect the club will be putting in measures to prevent a pitch invasion just as much as handling any unpleasentaries about the outcome if confirmed about the playoffs. It won't be productive to give any sort of critism, even if we play like a group of school boys or allow the occasion to get on top of us.

We are the 12th player, our difference can be felt and I don't care about Bristol Rovers or their form. We have to win our final league game, even if we don't make automatics. That is very, very unlikely at this stage but football is a strange and exciting sport.

Control the game in midfield, be alert at the back and just focus on making Rovers' life extreamly difficult by creating chances.

Even if we don't perform well, I will clap the squad. Not because I am 'happy clapper' but because I acknowledge this season has been a huge rollercoaster, with some fantastic memories and at the end of the day it's why we support the team. They have done well, more than they haven't.

I agree with @NCFCGuy and his starting 11.

Belshaw, Ness, McDonald, Bedeau, Jones, Tsaroulla, Palmer, Robertson, Iorpenda, Luker and Jatta.

Personally my thoughts are with every single player, Martin and his backroom staff. They have all done us proud and whatever happens tomorrow we should bring the house down, giving every single one of them our gratitude and thanks for another entertaining and enjoyable season. We are so fortunate supporting the oldest professional football club in the world, show that tomorrow LOUD and PROUD. COYP 👏 📢 🤠

Just a few Bristol R stats to ponder before the match today.

Bristol R come to Notts as the form team of League 2. They have won all of their last 5 games, in fact they have won 8 on the bounce. In their last 10 games they have won 9 & lost 1. They have earned 27 points out of a possible 30. They have scored 20 & conceded just 6. So it is going to be one of the toughest games of the season for Notts to win this one.

24 minutes ago, Robbie said:

Just a few Bristol R stats to ponder before the match today.

Bristol R come to Notts as the form team of League 2. They have won all of their last 5 games, in fact they have won 8 on the bounce. In their last 10 games they have won 9 & lost 1. They have earned 27 points out of a possible 30. They have scored 20 & conceded just 6. So it is going to be one of the toughest games of the season for Notts to win this one.

Whilst I agree about this being one of the toughest games, and without downplaying their form too much, all of their recent wins have come against teams in the bottom half (with the exception of Crewe) and all of their recent away matches were won by a one goal margin.

Despite our shaky form as of late, I still have full belief that the lads can go out and get the job done today. COYP! (and Crawley/Crewe😉)

The reality, as I see it, is that us winning today is the least likely option of the 3 games that have to go our way. I can see Cambs losing and Salford doing no better than a draw - but us beating Brizzle Rovers, (who I still “hate”, even more now Evans is in charge), is an enormous challenge with a somewhat hybrid team/formation.

I’d be surprised if the starting XI doesn’t include Grant and I’m not certain about the injury list. Is Palmer fit, for example? I’d expect last week’s team to start again if they are all available, why would you change that?

Whatever the line up, it is going to be a tough old battle this pm. Let’s hope we do the business and go up without the “play off pantomime”. The nerves were shredded last time!

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by YoopEyes

Whatever happens today we need to applaud the team when they come out to thank us for our support at full time, it’s been another incredible season so let’s show them our support even if (as seems likely) we have to endure the playoffs.