Bristol Rovers make the short trip to Newport County in League Two for the lunchtime kick-off this afternoon
Daniel Hargraves Bristol Rovers reporter
19:30, 05 Sep 2025
Dan Hargraves is the Bristol Rovers reporter for Bristol Live. He joined the title in July 2023 having previously worked for Reach PLC as a freelance football writer in April 2022 while a journalism student at the University of Derby.
He has also reported on a number of football matches across European competition, the Premier League and EFL and covered the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022. In his role as covering the Gas, he wants to leave no stone unturned and cover every angle of the football club for Gasheads’ enjoyment.
Brad Young is set to make his league debut for Bristol Rovers at Newport County(Image: Bristol Rovers FC)
Bristol Rovers have had their first clear week of the season and will benefit from a far less hectic fixture schedule during the month of September than they did to start off with in August.
The Gas have already played eight matches this season, all while numerous players have had to build up fitness levels and connections on the pitch have been in their early stages.
After a rocky first four games, the last four have been far more positive on the whole. Three clean sheets in a row in the league ended a three-and-a-half year drought while they returned seven points from a possible nine. In truth, the performance against Oldham Athletic in a goalless draw was good enough for all three.
A 4-4 draw against Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s in the EFL Trophy means that they are unbeaten in their last four games, however the Gas went 3-0 down within 16 minutes, something which Darrell Clarke and co. was seething about.
This time out, Rovers get to enjoy their shortest trip of the season, crossing the Prince of Wales Bridge to face Newport County. The Exiles have lost their last five matches across all competitions after a positive start and could offer the Gas the opportunity to win three consecutive matches for the first time since October 2022.
After deadline day and the international break, there could be a few alterations on the cards. Here is how we think Clarke might set Rovers up later today…
READ MORE: Alfie Kilgour on ‘awesome’ Bristol Rovers return and enjoying life back in the West CountryREAD MORE: Every word Darrell Clarke said on Newport trip, Bristol Rovers’ deadline day activity and moreGoalkeeper and defence
Luke Southwood is away with Northern Ireland so Bristol Rovers will be without their number one goalkeeper this afternoon. The 27-year-old was in Luxembourg on Thursday night, watching on from the bench as his team won 3-1.
That opens the door for Brad Young, who made his competitive Gas debut against Tottenham Under-21s last week. Despite conceding four goals, the 23-year-old didn’t actually have a bad display and propped up with two penalty saves in the shootout the Gas ended up winning.
Darrell Clarke has been complimentary of the summer arrival since he joined from Leicester City. It will be good to see him in action in a league game.
Ahead of Young, the addition of Stephan Negru on loan potentially creates a temptation to return to a back-three, eventually at least. However, after the past couple of games and the fact that Negru joined up with his new teammates later in the week, it looks as though there won’t be any changes in defence.
Macauley Southam-Hales scored a screamer of a goal fit to win any game last weekend at Grimsby Town while Jack Sparkes and Alfie Kilgour were nominated alongside Southwood for the club’s player of the month award. Kacper Lopata has also settled in brilliantly. All things are well in the defensive department right now.
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Midfield
The ever-present partnership of Josh McEachran and Kamil Conteh looks set to continue with the latter still a Rovers player despite summer speculation.
Both have impressed in recent matches with their relationship on the pitch blossoming. What is most exciting though is that they will only keep getting better.
Meanwhile, that third midfield place is up for grabs unless Darrell Clarke opts to bring in another striker; that is what we think could happen at Rodney Parade.
Based on that assumption, the places out wide will surely be filled, once again, by Luke Thomas and Promise Omochere who both had good games again against Grimsby.
As far as the middle of the park is concerned, the departure of Isaac Hutchinson for Cheltenham Town leaves them with one less attack-minded midfielder. However, overall numbers-wise they are stronger with Joel Cotterill and Alfie Chang coming in. The former will miss this afternoon’s game due to international duty with Wales Under-21s but the latter could make his debut.
There is also a shout for Ryan Howley to come in for Ruel Sotiriou, who came off the pitch at Blundell Park with an injury. If Sotiriou is okay to feature, there is a good chance that he would keep his place. To be confirmed.
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Strikers
Although he was slightly quieter than his previous couple of games, Ellis Harrison is still in good form for the Gas right now and will be returning to his hometown of Newport.
How frequently the 31-year-old would start this season was a bit of an unknown when he officially returned to the club, but currently he’s getting a good run of games and scored against Cambridge United and Tottenham Under-21s.
Alongside him, Fabrizio Cavegn could consider himself unfortunate to not start against Grimsby after a brace earlier that week but the first league goal is coming. The Swiss still needs time to adapt to League Two but a start for him here will only aid that process.
Bristol Rovers XI: Brad Young; Macauley Southam-Hales, Kacper Lopata, Alfie Kilgour, Jack Sparkes; Josh McEachran, Kamil Conteh; Luke Thomas, Promise Omochere; Fabrizio Cavegn Ellis Harrison
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