Rovers return to the Eco-Power Stadium this weekend to take on Northampton Town in Sky Bet League Two.
Danny Schofield’s side go into the game on the back of drawing 1-1 at Crawley Town on Tuesday night.
The last meeting:
Rovers beat Northampton 1-0 when the two sides last met at Sixfields in August.
George Miller’s 69th minute penalty was the difference between the two sides, after Lee Tomlin was fouled by Shaun McWilliams inside the penalty area.
Northampton’s recent form:
The Cobblers are unbeaten in their previous six league outings, stretching back to a 1-0 win at Colchester United on February 25.
They rounded the month off with a 1-1 draw at Harrogate Town, before starting March with another 1-0 victory over Crawley Town. Jon Brady’s side then scored late to pick up another point on the road at relegation threatened Hartlepool United.
Northampton have won both of their past two games by one goal to nil, having overcome Mansfield Town and Crewe Alexandra on home soil.
Key men:
An experienced winger, Mitch Pinnock got his move to the EFL with AFC Wimbledon in the summer of 2018 after impressing with Dover Athletic in Non League. His direct style made him a firm fans favourite with the Dons, and he spent two seasons in the capital before a move to Kilmarnock came about in 2020.
The 27-year-old played 30 times in the SPL but would return south of the border to join Northampton in the summer of 2021. He scored nine goals in his first season at the club and was key to their success, as part of his best ever season in front of goal. Pinnock has backed that up with four goals this term, three of which have come away from home.
Winger Sam Hoskins is currently enjoying his best ever season in front of goal, having found the net 19 times in 33 appearances so far this campaign.
Having been with Northampton since arriving from Yeovil Town in 2015, he enjoyed plenty of success in the 2020/21 campaign, when his 12 goals, including one in the Sky Bet League Two play-off final win against Exeter City, helped the Cobblers on their way to promotion to the third tier.
He scored eight goals the following season but couldn’t prevent the side from relegation, before scoring 13 times last term as Northampton missed out on automatic promotion on the final day.
Having scored seven goals in his first five league games this time around, he has continued to be one of the best players in League Two, and found the back of the net in recent games against Mansfield and Hartlepool.
Scottish striker Louis Appere signed for Northampton in January 2022 from SPL side Dundee United.
Appere made 78 appearances for the Tangerines after making his debut in 2017, scoring eight goals in the process.
He scored his first goal for Northampton away at Walsall last season, and added two more to his tally before the end of the campaign. The 23-year-old has been key to Jon Brady’s side enjoying success this season and one again pushing for a place in the top three. He has scored six times in 36 appearances to supplement the work done by Hoskins in attack.
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