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'We'll assess it' - Bristol Rovers team news ahead of Blackpool as Gas face quick turnaround

-Credit: (Image: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
-Credit: (Image: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)


Matt Taylor has admitted that he'll have to assess where the bodies of his Bristol Rovers players are at before selecting his team to face Blackpool tomorrow (Tuesday) with there being a three-day turnaround from the Gas' 1-0 win at Mansfield Town on Saturday.

A second half goal from Luke McCormick was enough to secure a much-needed three points on the road for Rovers at the One Call Stadium but, despite the long trip in nasty conditions, Taylor had his players back in on Sunday as well as Monday as focus and preparations turn to their game against the Tangerines at the Mem tomorrow night.

Although there aren't any known injury doubts on the back of the win at Mansfield, there will likely be a need to make a few alterations for a bit of freshness given the quick turnaround.

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Having last spoken to local media in the aftermath of Saturday's victory, Taylor couldn't offer much insight on Blackpool with less than half an hour passing since the full-time whistle in the East Midlands. However, he confessed that there could be some changes.

"Everything was built towards Mansfield," the Rovers manager admitted. "I'll watch our game on the coach on the way home. I might get a chance to watch it again first thing in the morning and then I'll just load myself with Blackpool.

"But one thing we have to be wary of is not too much on the opposition because after game after game, I'm sure we might change Tuesday, I'm sure they'll change as well. You get in that cycle where if we can concentrate on us as much as anything else, then the opposition is not irrelevant in any way, but we still look the same and that's what I'm certainly aiming for.

"Massive game on Tuesday," he added. "Great to be back at the Mem but we'll see how much this has took its toll out of the group.

"Look, those players probably deserve to keep their shirts, but I think the physical aspect of any game is important. We can't be flat going into the game. We can't. We have to find a way of finding energy straight away from kick off and if that's a couple of changes, then so be it."

In terms of players definitely ruled out, Promise Omochere will miss a couple of weeks at least after suffering a broken hand on top of the ankle issue that was already likely to keep him out of the Mansfield game at the very least.

The striker had returned to action the week prior against Crawley Town but looked well below par with Taylor later confessing it might have been too early to bring him back.

Since though, the Irishman has picked up an entirely separate issue which could see him miss the first half of December, if not longer.

Additionally, Lino Sousa and Jack Hunt are also certain to miss out while it's still unclear whether Joel Senior will be fit enough to make the squad with Taylor revealing before the Mansfield game that the right-back is now back available after three months out with a serious hamstring injury.

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