How Bristol Rovers will attempt to heap more misery on Sheffield United in the FA Cup this weekend

A scroll through various social media channels confirms Bristol Rovers, their third round opponents, sense it too. Paul Tisdale’s team have not made the greatest of starts to the campaign themselves, losing nearly half of the 18 matches they have contested since September. But even that mixed bag of results, which also contains six wins and four draws, looks positively stunning when compared to the one woven together by United. Wilder’s squad, which has taken only two points from its last 17 Premier League outings, enter Saturday’s contest under serious pressure.

Although protocol prevents them from saying so, United’s coaching staff will view this tie as an opportunity to record the type of comprehensive victory Wilder acknowledges is required to replenish confidence levels and build self belief behind the scenes at Bramall Lane.

But they are also aware that Rovers possess a number of genuine threats, including their leading scorer Brandon Hanlan. Previously of Charlton Athletic and Gillingham, the 23-year-old has scored eight times in 20 appearances this term with three of those efforts, including the one which laid the foundations for last weekend’s win over Blackpool, coming since Tisdale’s appointment in November. Despite being regarded as a centre-forward, heat maps composed by analysts at WyScout reveal Hanlan prefers to spend more time on the flanks than he does prowling around the six yard box. They also highlight the subtle adjustments Tisdale has made to Hanlan’s game in order to exploit his finishing skills. Rather than being allowed to loiter on the wing, the youngster is now being encouraged to reduce the amount of time he spends in wide positions and make earlier runs into the penalty area. This has led to a more than 20 per cent increase in his shooting accuracy while Hanlan’s passing has also become more clinical.

“It all comes off the back of being purposeful,” Tisdale explained, before Christmas. “The Rovers I used to watch were always attack-minded but with a purpose and a game plan of how to do that. They were always working towards something.”

Despite only taking charge two months ago, Tisdale has already made a number of key changes at Rovers. Predictably, his decision to increase their tempo and unveil a change of formation has not favoured some of the players inherited from his predecessor Ben Garner, with cult hero David Tutonda among the casualties. With Tisdale asking Rovers to play with a flat back four, he appears to have little need for an out and out wing back.

Midfielder Zain Westbrooke and Sam Nicholson, Hanlan’s strike partner, are among the other big beneficiaries of Tisdale’s more attack-minded approach. Westbrook showcased his creativity during a successful spell with Coventry City before joining Rovers over the summer. However, until Tisdale’s arrival, he spent much of his time performing a deep lying role. The change of shape has freed Westbrooke from his defensive responsibilities and, as a result, made the most of his talents. Nicholson, acquired from Colorado Rapids, is a gifted technician capable of prising defences apart with his footwork - a talent Tisdale has also been quick to exploit with the Scot also on target against Blackpool, who had earlier taken the lead through former United marksman Gary Madine.

“It is one thing having the capability to actually execute what you think,” Tisdale said following the match. “But the first thing is having the capability to think the right thing and make quick decisions.

“He is a second ahead of, if not all, most players, and that’s his greatest strength. The fact he’s also got the speed and the technique to execute what he’s thinking makes him a very good player.”

Like United, who have returned an average percentage of 41.9 per game so far this season, Rovers are not preoccupied with dominating possession. Instead, Tisdale has instructed his players to concentrate on being sharp, incisive and efficient. That policy is reflected by Rovers’ recent results. Their last seven outings in all competitions, including November’s second round thrashing of Darlington, have returned five wins and two defeats with 17 goals scored in the process. United have found the back of the net on only four occasions during the same period.

Rovers’ more enterprising style, though, has come at a price. Tisdale’s team averages 10,7 shots per game so far this term, with opponents enjoying an average of 13.2 against them. Despite their difficulties in front of goal, that is something United will look to exploit given the higher calibre of player at their disposal.

One thing Wilder will not want, given that morale in United’s camp is at a worryingly low ebb, is see then concede first. Of course, he would rather they didn’t concede at all, with July’s 3-0 win over Chelsea the last time Wilder’s team kept a clean sheet. Although United’s manager is unlikely to shed too many tears if their defence is breached once an unassailable lead is established, he will be aware of the debilitating effect falling behind early on would have on a team already wracked with self-doubt.

“It’s important, whenever we set foot on the pitch, that we give ourselves a platform,” he said. “That’s not something we’ve been able to do too often lately, but it’s something I believe we’re capable of becoming much better at. It brings obvious benefits and lets you dictate what is going on.”

An important message: Thank you for reading this article, one of dozens we publish every single day to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative coverage of YOUR club. This depth of coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to from the football team at The Star, please consider taking out a subscription to our new discounted sports-only package. You'll find all the details at https://www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions/sports. Your support is much appreciated.