Another Date With The TV Cameras...

I'm not sure about you guys but I could get used to this.

It's been confirmed today that Rovers clash with Aston Villa in early January will be screened live on ESPN - the second FA Cup game in succession that we'll be on TV! It'll take out TV appearances this season so far to 3 following Totton last Sunday and AFC Wimbledon on the opening day of the season.

A number of players, including Craig Stanley and last round's double goalscorer Eliot Richards, have tweeted on Twitter in regards to their battle with Villa and it's safe to say it's a game that has captured the imagination of everybody associated with the club. It's a welcome distraction from the league and pockets the club an unexpected sum of money which will no doubt be gratefully received by Nick Higgs and the board. Higgs has already pledged that money will be spent on players during January after saying that the club were 'close' to landing '3 or 4 players' prior to the loan window closing a couple of weeks ago, so with the added bonus of more live TV appearances pocketing the club well in excess of £100,000 a time, we should see a fair few players join next month. About time too.

Not that I don't think the board backed Paul Buckle enough during the Summer. Buckle had plenty of scope to bring in players and they were all his choices, so he couldn't lay much blame with the board during our troubled times recently. He'll be hopeful the 6-1 demolition of Totton will prove a catalyst to an upturn in league-form, with Rovers next facing local rivals Swindon Town, who are currently on an 8-game unbeaten run under Paolo Di Canio.

In a positive twist, Matt Ritchie - one of Swindon's most influential players - will miss the game through suspension after receiving a fifth yellow card of the season during their game at Southend in the JPT yesterday. Etienne Esajas could take his place in the side on Saturday and will be familiar with Gasheads after featuring for the Sheffield Wednesday side that thrashed us 6-2 last December. A year on and we are mirroring last season - currently struggling in the league and in need of a revival. We didn't get it last year but here's hoping we can kickstart our season with a victory versus our local rivals.

Bring on the Robins.