Bristol R v Southend preview

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John Ward has no fresh injury worries as Bristol Rovers face Southend looking to bounce back from defeat to Hartlepool last Saturday.

Ward’s side suffered their heaviest loss since he arrived at the club as they were thumped 4-0 by Pools and the former Cheltenham manager could be set to ring the changes.

Alefe Santos, Chris Beardsley and Tom Lockyer, who signed a new deal this week, are all likely to be in contention as the Pirates look to get back to winning ways after back-to-back defeats.

Rovers know victory on Friday night can open up a seven-point gap between themselves and the relegation zone ahead of Saturday’s fixtures.

Southend will be without the suspended Barry Corr when they take on Bristol Rovers.

The striker was shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident in last weekend’s goalless draw with Bury and begins a three-match ban.

Luke Prosser could return to the starting line-up after he made his comeback from a calf problem for the reserves on Tuesday, while Adam Thompson may also feature after overcoming his calf injury.

Phil Brown’s side are without a win in 11 league games, a run which has allowed Plymouth to leapfrog them into the play-off places.

Bristol R v Southend preview

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Rovers defender Tom Parkes will return from suspension in the midweek encounter.

The former Leicester centre-back had to sit out Saturday’s 2-1 FA Cup first round defeat to Sheffield United after being sent off against AFC Wimbledon.

Parkes is likely to be the only extra body available to Mark McGhee this week with a number of his injured players still a few weeks away from a return.

Former Exeter duo Matt Gill and Danny Woodards are still on the sidelines while Cian Bolger will return in a month.

“Now we’re starting to get a better squad, we’ll start getting better results,” McGhee told the Bristol Evening Post. “By Christmas, I’m expecting our injury setbacks to be behind us and that I’ll be able to field a very strong team.”

Southend welcome back Britt Assombalonga while fellow loan signing Tamika Mkandawire is in line for his debut.

Leading scorer Assombalonga, with nine goals to his name this season, was denied permission by parent club Watford to feature in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Stockport in the first round of the FA Cup.

Millwall midfielder Mkandawire arrived on loan on Friday but he was also not given clearance to play in the cup-tie.

Ryan Cresswell is waiting on a verdict from Southend’s medical team as to whether he can be involved having been forced off midway through the first half with a loss of vision in his right eye following a clash of heads.

Defensive replacement Luke Prosser will miss the match at the Memorial Stadium after picking up his fifth booking of the season, meaning he now serves an automatic one-match ban.