The Pirates host football league newcomers Sutton United to the Memorial Ground.
Rovers complete their 2021 fixtures against a Sutton United side that were promoted into the football league last season. After a somewhat disappointing start to this season and thoroughly depressing year in general, Joey Barton's team will be hoping to gift supporters the dream Christmas present with three points on Boxing Day.
The only previous matches between the two teams was a pre-season friendly match in 2015 that saw Rovers win 2-1 at Sutton's Gander Green Lane. Chris Lines put the visitors 1-0 up early on in a dead rubber match that proved fairly uneventful. Jamie Collins equalised for the Us on the eighty-third minute - poking in after he saw his penalty saved by, Gas goalkeeper, Preston - but Ryan Broom's late finish meant that it was to no avail.
Matt Gray's Sutton side have had an excellent start to life in League Two and fans will be excited to see how the team can develop. In contrast, Barton's Rovers have performed well below expectation and will be attempting to swap momentum this Boxing Day.
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.