Here is how we think Bristol Rovers will lineup against Barrow in the second game of 2026 for the Gas
(Image: Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock)
Bristol Rovers started 2026 with a 3-0 win against Shrewsbury Town at The Croud Meadow. Fabrizio Cavegn’s hat-trick lifted the Gas ahead of the Shrews, which extended the gap to the League Two relegation zone to four points, following defeats for Newport County and Harrogate Town.
Next up for the Gas is a trip to Barrow at the SO Legal Stadium on January 4. The Bluebirds appointed Paul Gallagher as their new head coach on January 2. Gallagher has been a part of the interim coaching staff under Neil McDonald since Andy Whing’s departure in early December.
Barrow have struggled for form in the league, with only two wins since the start of October. They have also lost their last four home games in League Two. Their most recent defeat was a 2-1 loss against Salford City on New Year’s Day.
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Rovers are three points behind Barrow, meaning they would go level on points with the hosts with a win. Given that Rovers’ goal difference is -23 and Barrow’s is -9, moving ahead of the Bluebirds is extremely unlikely, though.
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Goalkeeper and defence
Luke Southwood made an important stop to deny John Marquis two minutes after half-time on New Year’s Day and kept his first clean sheet in the league since the 1-0 win at Grimsby Town in August 2025. He will start in goal for the Gas.
At right-back, Joel Senior was outstanding against Shrewsbury, providing an attacking threat with his pinpoint deliveries, as well as being solid defensively when tested. His presence also gave the Rovers attack far more balance, especially on the flanks, with Jack Sparkes a reliable figure on the other side. He looks set to keep his place for Steve Evans’ side.
Kacper Lopata was forced off with an injury at half-time against Michael Appleton’s side, with Evans providing the following update after the game, “No, he just felt his hamstring a little bit. He’s not had a lot of action, obviously, he’s been suspended and out. We don’t think it’s too serious. We think there was a little bit of fatigue in there and because he’d been wholeheartedly giving everything for the first 20 minutes back at Shrewsbury. So, we’ll see how he is, and we’ll give him a day or so to recover.”
We don’t think Evans will risk Lopata, and as a result, Taylor Moore will come into the starting lineup to replace him. Moore impressed in the second half against the Shrews, alongside the captain, Alfie Kilgour, and it feels likely that these two will be the centre-backs at Barrow.
(Image: Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock)
Finally, Sparkes will start as the left-back against the Bluebirds. With the threat of Senior on the other side now, we expect Sparkes’ influence to grow in the coming weeks, as he’s already shown his importance under the new head coach.
Midfield
Tom Lockyer slotted into a number six role against Shrewsbury, with Kamil Conteh and Joel Cotterill. The former Premier League captain was a disruptive figure in the middle of the pitch, breaking up attacks and winning aerial duels in front of the back four. He did the dirty work extremely well and allowed the likes of Conteh and Cotterill to join attacks and flourish in front of him.
(Image: Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock)
The balance of this midfield three was excellent, and given there is a nine-day break until the next game after this match, we think that Evans will want to continue with the same trio in the hope of a repeat result.
Ryan De Havilland is a potential option after signing for the club yesterday, but given that he has only played twice in all competitions for Peterborough United so far this season, we don’t think Evans will start the 24-year-old at Barrow.
Attack and striker
Finally, it feels unlikely that Evans will move away from the front three that caused Shrewsbury all sorts of problems, especially Shaq Forde and Fabrizio Cavegn, who were electric in the second half. Forde consistently took it past opposition defenders and played threatening through balls to Cavegn, with the Swiss striker scoring his first hat-trick for the club, and in truth, could have had more.
Fabrizio Cavegn of Bristol Rovers celebrates after the match(Image: Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock)
Luke Thomas was also a creative spark, as usual, on the left wing, with the only change Evans might consider being the reintroduction of Ellis Harrison to the starting lineup, who was on the bench against the Shrews. Given that the striker has recently returned from injury, though, we think he’ll come off the bench for around 30 minutes, especially if the game is tight in the second half.
Bristol Rovers Predicted XI (4-3-3): Luke Southwood, Joel Senior, Taylor Moore, Alfie Kilgour, Jack Sparkes, Tom Lockyer, Kamil Conteh, Joel Cotterill, Shaq Forde, Luke Thomas, Fabrizio Cavegn.
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