Joey Barton's Rovers team host Port Vale to begin the Christmas run-in.
Barton's Rovers side welcome Darrell Clarke's Port Vale side to North Bristol in this difficult fixture that kicks off a busy festive schedule. After an underwhelming start following their relegation from League One, The Gas will be hoping to move swiftly up the table in the coming months
The two sides have not faced each other in the league since 2017, where traveling Gasheads witnessed a 1-1 draw at Vale Park. The home side took the lead fifty four minutes in through a calamitous Bob Harris own goal, however, Billy Bodin came to the rescue late on to equalise. Rovers had to wait until 2019 to have another go at beating Vale, and they did so in style in January 2019 - beating Vale 3-0 in the Checkatrade Trophy quarter final. Ollie Clarke put the North Bristol club 1-0 in front of their home fans with a superb individual effort but it was Tom Conlon's red card that put the result beyond all doubt. Minutes later, Tom Nichols doubled the lead calmly from the penalty spot and Alex Rodman headed home to complete the rout.
This will be an important match for Joey Barton and his Rovers team as they go up against, ex-manager, Clarke at the Memorial Stadium. The former coach oversaw a great deal of success at The Gas, before the difficult decision was made to sack him, and this has continued at high flying Port Vale. Barton and his team will be looking to prove themselves in this match.
About Bristol Rovers
Nicknamed The Pirates and The Gas, Bristol Rovers Football Club were established in 1883 and currently play in the EFL League Two, the fourth tier of English football.
The club plays its home matches at the 12,300 capacity Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of Bristol. Having been bought by billionaire Jordanian Waed al-Qadi and his family in 2016, Rovers have struggled to live up to expectations and will be looking to prove doubters wrong in the 2021/22 season.
Bristol Rovers have played in the English football league since 1920, with their best-ever finish being in both 1956 and 1959 when they secured sixth place in the second tier of English football, then known as Division Two.
Having suffered relegation to League Two in 2011 and then into the Conference in 2014, they managed to bounce straight back with two consecutive promotions in 2014/15 and 2015/16 to regain their League One status in 2016/17, where they remained for 4 years before their relegation back to League Two last season.
The club's honours include the 1990 Football League Third Division title when they finished 2 points ahead of arch-rivals and that seasons Runners-Up, Bristol City. Find Bristol Rovers' full 2020/21 fixture list here.