Bristol Rovers vs Blackpool Predictions

• Both Blackpool and Bristol Rovers rank in the bottom six when it comes to shots on target for.
• Both Blackpool and Bristol Rovers rank in the bottom half when it comes to shots for.
• Less than three goals have been scored in 60% of Bristol Rovers’ home matches this term.
• Three or more goals have been scored in only 47% of Blackpool’s away matches during the current campaign.

Winless run goes on

Try as they might, Bristol Rovers seemingly cannot buy a win at the minute, which means that Ben Garner remains without a win since taking over back in December. Rovers come into this match off the back of a draw away from home, which is never the worst thing in the world, though it was yet another game where they disappointed offensively, failing to find the net for the seventh time in the league since the new boss came in.

Gas are certainly becoming tougher to beat since they’ve lost two of their last five and have lost by more than a single goal just once during that time, though a lack of firepower is not something that the new man has been able to fix. In fact, Rovers are now worse offensively then they were before. They’ve scored in just four of their 11 League 1 matches with Garner at the helm. Worrying times indeed.

Visitors struggling

Blackpool also come into this match in poor form, though their recent struggles have stemmed from a lack of solidity at the back as opposed to a lack of power at the other end, though they’ve been by no means prolific in that sense. Saturday’s visitors, who this week parted ways with manager Simon Grayson, come into this match having lost four of their last five, while they’ve won just once since the middle of December, and that was seemingly only because they came up against a Southend side that is heading swiftly towards relegation.

Like Rovers, Blackpool have been struggling to hit their stride offensively on the road of late. They’ve scored in four of their last five away matches, but have not scored more than once in any of those five, while they’ve only scored more than a single goal in one of their last ten travelling matches, three of which they’ve failed to score in.

Fireworks unlikely

Those hoping to go to Memorial Stadium and see a high-scoring classic on Saturday might just be disappointed. Based on what this pair have shown of late, ‘Under 2.5 Goals’ stands out as a viable betting option. The hosts have failed to score in seven out of 11 under their new manager, while only 40% of their home matches overall this season have seen more than three two goals go in. Blackpool haven’t scored more than once in any of their last six away matches, while they too have been involved in low-scoring games more often than not on the road this season. Add in that both teams rank poorly in terms of shots on target for and touches inside the opposition box and betting the goals stay away on Saturday is the way to go.