Blues boss Gareth Ainsworth believes tonight’s match at the Memorial Ground will be a tough one despite Bristol Rovers’ patchy recent form.

Rovers are without a win in their last three games after losing against a rejuvenated Stevenage last Tuesday and drawing 1-1 with fellow mid-table side Exeter Town on Saturday.

These results followed on from a 2-1 loss to Crawley Town and have helped form part of a run that has seen Bristol win just once in their last six games in all competitions.

Despite this recent downturn they are only three points behind the Chairboys ahead of the game and Ainsworth is expecting a keenly contested match.

“Make no bones about it, it is always a difficult game away to Bristol Rovers,” Ainsworth explained.

“There will be a little bit of edge to the game and they are a tough side, a big club, with good home support.”

The sides last met in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in October with Bristol running out 2-0 winners while the corresponding league fixture last season saw Wycombe win 1-0.

A similar result would be well received by Ainsworth as it would see his side move into the play-off places and go just a point behind fifth placed Portsmouth.

He went to lengths to point out the difference in budget at the two clubs and feels this is highlighted by the loan deal that took Paris Cowan-Hall to Rovers last week.

The former Wycombe man had been a loan target for Ainsworth but the club hit an impasse which Rovers were able to deal with over the fee Millwall wanted for the player’s services.

He said: “Bristol have got a decent budget and can get some big players in. they have Paris Cowan-Hall on loan from Millwall and we tried to sign him but couldn’t get anywhere near what they wanted for him.”

Rory Gaffney, who arrived on loan from Cambridge last week, looks set to make his home debut for Rovers after a promising outing during the Exeter match.

Gozie Ugwu made a return to the bench for the Pompey match after recovering from a slight knock and may be joined by Stephen McGinn tonight.

Marcus Bean and Joe Jacobson are still some way from being fully fit and Ainsworth looks set to name an unchanged team for the fourth game in a row.