Rovers can rise to the challenge, says Coutts

BOSS Joey Barton has a selection headache with Bristol Rovers set to face Lincoln at the Memorial Stadium today – but captain Paul Coutts believes the Pirates have the character and leadership required to meet the challenge.

News of Alfie Kilgour’s red card from Tuesday’s defeat at Ipswich being rescinded offered some respite, but Barton still has to contend with a shortage of defensive options with James Connolly, Lewis Gibson, Josh Grant and James Gibbons all injured, while Bobby Thomas is suspended.

Creative solutions will be required, but from the perspective of Coutts, Rovers have enough quality and fortitude to battle on despite being hit by rotten luck with injuries to start the season.

“We’ll have to find solutions as a group,” Coutts, pictured, told the club’s official website. “That’s why we’ve got the group we’ve got.

“(Ipswich) was one of those random nights where both of your centre-halves get sent off, and they are probably the only two fit ones in the building.

“It’s going to be a headache for the gaffer, but one that we’ve got plenty of depth in the squad that we’ll find a solution to it and put a team out there willing to put everything on the line that is capable of getting three points.

“It will be a tough game. They are all tough games. We’ve had a big turnover of players again and