Bristol Rovers discover Hughes is free to face Swindon Town

Jeff Hughes will be available for Bristol Rovers' clash with Swindon Town this weekend – thanks to a refereeing blunder.

The Pirates feared they would be without the Northern Irishman and Danny Coles for the home clash with the Robins after both players picked up what was thought to be their fifth cautions of the season in Saturday's defeat at Colchester.

But it has emerged that Hughes' yellow card was only his fourth of the campaign – he was booked in error after a case of mistaken identity by referee Darren Deadman in the 3-2 win at Southampton in September.

Pirates boss Paul Trollope said: "We believed that we were going to be missing Danny and Jeff for the Swindon game, but as it turns out it's only Danny.

"Jeff has only got four yellow cards because there was a bit of a misunderstanding in the away game at Southampton when the referee booked Jeff instead of Byron Anthony, which was later overturned."

Hughes is one of a clutch of Rovers players on four bookings, with Carl Regan, Stuart Campbell and Anthony also one more card away from a suspension.

"It's getting to that time of year where bookings tot up and people get near suspension. We have quite a few players now on four so everyone in the squad is going to be needed and has to be ready to play," said Trollope.

Though Rovers will be missing central defender Coles against Swindon, they will have on-loan Pat Baldwin available again after missing the game against his parent club.

"Pat couldn't play on Saturday but will be available again," said Trollope. "Steve Elliott came into the side at Colchester, gave us a reminder of what he's about and performed to a good level.

"Byron has had a good run in the team as well, so we do have options available."

Aaron Lescott is expected to be fit to face the Robins and could return to the left-back berth, freeing up Hughes to return to a role on the wing.

"We knew when we signed Jeff that he had the versatility to play at left-back or on the left side of midfield and he has shown that he is comfortable in both roles," said Trollope.

"We have had quite a successful combination with Aaron behind and Jeff in front so it's another nice headache for me to have in terms of selection.

"Looking back on the Colchester performance, it's probably the attacking aspect of our game that we need to improve on so that is a definite possibility."

Rovers will be looking to continue a run which has seen them bank three home wins on the bounce – although they have lost each of their last five away games.

"We have come up against quite a few of the top teams away from home recently. After starting well and picking up some good results on the road, the points return from the recent run of away games has been disappointing," admitted Trollope.

"We have probably shown at the better teams in the division that we are not quite at the level we need to be to win the games, so that's something we need to improve on. I am sure we can turn it around.

"But we want to continue our home form, which has been okay over the last few games and has seen us pick up some good results.

"The Swindon game is a terrific one for us – a local derby – and we have been pretty close together in the league for a number of weeks, although they went above us after a good win over Leyton Orient at the weekend.

"We are 20 games into the season and have been in and around the play-off zone for the whole time. We want that to continue and are looking up rather than down.

"We would have taken this position at the start of the season. The league is very tight and a couple of wins can quickly push us back up to where we want to be.

"We wanted to cement ourselves in the top half of the table, and we have done that."

Rovers have turned down a request from Exeter City for the game at St James' Park to be brought forward to Saturday, January 2. Neither club are in action that day.

The fixture will take place as originally scheduled on Tuesday, February 23.