Bristol Rovers vs Southend Predictions

• Bristol Rovers come into this fixture having lost none of their last seven matches.
• Southend have won just one of the last six renewals of this fixture. Rovers have won three of those six.
• Only AFC Wimbledon have conceded more away goals than Southend this season.

Rovers keep the wolf from the door

Not much of the general League 1 focus has been on Bristol Rovers, but that’s not to say that Graham Coughlan’s men haven’t been doing an excellent job. The Gas have quietly crept into 9^th place having avoided defeat in each of their last three league games, two of which they’ve won. They’re also unbeaten in seven in all competitions, four of which they’ve won.

Rovers aren’t overly impressive at either end, though they’ve developed a knack of keeping themselves in games and coming up with the goods when it matters most. More importantly, they’re very tough to get the better of, as recent form suggests.

At home, Rovers are particularly tough to silence, which is why they’ve lost just one out of nine at Memorial Stadium. Such a record doesn’t bode well for Saturday’s visitors, who’ve only won one out of ten on the road this term.

Struggle continues at Southend

It’s been a dismal, dismal campaign for Southend, who appear to be going down without a fight. Sol Campbell’s men are a massive ten points from safety, and it doesn’t look like they’ll be eating into that deficit any time soon.

Strangely enough, Southend have claimed more points away from home than they have at Roots Hall, but that’s nothing for Shrimpers fans to get excited about as their side has been awful both home and away. Five points from a possible 30 on the road is anything but desirable, that’s for sure.

However, for all they’re struggling and seemingly on the way down, the Shrimpers have got some half-respectable results on the road of late. They only lost by a single goal away against Sunderland, while they drew 1-1 with both Tranmere and Burton.

More of the same in store

At the end of the day, Bristol Rovers are a better side than Southend and thus should win this match. That said, the hosts don’t appeal at the current prices. The bet that does stand out is ‘Both Teams to Score’. Southend are in a bad place, make no mistake about that, though they’ve made a habit of getting on the scoresheet away from home, scoring in seven of their last eight on the road, where they’re yet to keep clean sheet. Both teams have also notched in each of Rovers last three in League 1, while they are now without a clean sheet in five.

‘Correct Score’ punters are pointed towards a 2-1 win for the hosts. Southend have made a habit of getting a goal on the road, but their defence has often let them down. Moreover, Bristol Rovers have notched multiple goals in each of their last three and, with someone like Johnson Clarke-Harris in their ranks, appear to have the strength to outscore weak opponents.