Name: Bristol Rovers
Manager: Darrell Clarke
Ground + Capacity: Memorial Stadium – 12,011
Sat Nav Post Code: BS7 0BF
Nearest Train Station: Filton Abbey Wood
Odds: 20/1
Last Meeting: Millwall 2-0 Bristol Rovers – 28/12/09
Club Website: www.bristolrovers.co.uk/
CONSECUTIVE promotions have seen Bristol Rovers rise from the Vanarama National League to League One in just two years.
Under Darrell Clarke, the Gas won the Conference play-off final in 2015, defeating Grimsby Town on penalties, before sneaking into the final automatic promotion place in League Two on the final day of the 2015-16 season.
Drawing 1-1 with Dagenham and Redbridge, Rovers were set for the play-offs as the game entered injury time.
However, Lee Brown’s 92nd minute winner meant that they leapfrogged Accrington Stanley and secured their passage into the third tier.
When the two clubs meet next season, there should be two ex-Lions on show in the Rovers side.
In addition to goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall, who played for Millwall between 2010 and 2013, striker Jermaine Easter will vie for a starting berth with fellow attackers Ellis Harison and Matty Taylor.
Along with veteran Chris Lines in the midfield, the Gas possess quality and experience and should not be underestimated by any of their League One counterparts next year.
The two clubs have not met since the 2009-10 campaign – the season that ended with Millwall being promoted to the Championship via the play-offs.
After a 2-0 defeat at the Memorial Ground early in the season, goals from Steve Morison and a Pat Baldwin own-goal ensured a reverse of the same score-line for the Lions on December 28th.
Four of the players in the squad that day – David Forde, Tony Craig, Jimmy Abdou and Steve Morison – still ply their trade at The Den today.