Total Tranmere - Walsall v Tranmere Rovers

Walsall v Tranmere Rovers

By Deadly Submarine January 31 2006
As Tranmere travel to the Bescot Stadium to face Walsall in League One on Boxing Day, Total Tranmere brings you all the statistics and team news to keep you in the know prior to the game. Rovers will be looking for a much improved display after a 4-1 home defeat to Brentford in the League.

TOTAL TRANMERE – Match Preview

WALSALL Vs TRANMERE ROVERS

Monday December 26^th 2005 – Kick-Off 3.00pm

Coca-Cola League One – Bescot Stadium

Team News

Walsall have winger Ishmel Demontagnac out through suspension whilst Eric Skora (knee), Darren Wrack (shin) and Paul Merson (achilles) may be all be struggling to make it.

Tranmere Rovers will be without goalkeeper John Achterberg (stomach) and strikers Chris Dagnall (leg) and Calvin Zola (back), but Ian Goodison and Chris Greenacre should return after recent injury absences.

Match Referee – Mr Keith Hill (Hertfordshire)

Form Guide

Walsall:

Last Six At Home - WWWWWW

Last Six Games - WWLDWW

Tranmere Rovers:

Last Six Away - LWLWLD

Last Six Games - WDLDLD

Walsall have not lost at the Bescot since September 17^th when Chesterfield were 3-2 victors thanks to a 77^th winner by former Rovers striker Wayne Allison. Walsall’s only other home defeat this season came at the hands of high-flyers Swansea City back in August with the Swans winning 5-2.

Rovers last won on their travels 2-1 at Scunthorpe on November 19^th and in the two away visits that have followed, Rovers have dominated possession but failed to make chances count ultimately losing 2-1 at Barnsley and drawing 1-1 at Blackpool.

Rovers win at Scunthorpe is their only win in their last six games whilst the Saddler’s defeat at Oldham in early December is their only defeat in the last six.

The Hotshots

Walsall: Matt Fryatt – 14 Goals

Tranmere Rovers: Chris Greenacre – 9 Goals

Last Meetings – Last Season

28th December 2004 – Coca-Cola League One – Bescot Stadium

Walsall 0 – 2 Tranmere Rovers

McAteer 57

Taylor 81

Attendance: 7,217

Referee: Mr Graham Laws (Tyne and Wear)

22^nd January 2005 – Coca-Cola League One – Prenton Park

Tranmere Rovers 2 – 1 Walsall

Hume 8 Leitao 62

Dagnall 50

Attendance: 8,651

Referee: Mr Phil Prosser (Yorkshire)

In the last season’s meetings between the two sides, Rovers managed to do the double over their Midlands opponents with a 2-0 win at the Bescot Stadium in December, followed by a 2-1 victory just three weeks later at Prenton Park.

In the post Christmas game at the Bescot, captain Jason McAteer put the visitors 1-0 up just before the hour mark with a long range strike before Ryan Taylor added another goal nine minutes from time to seal the points.

In the return game at Prenton Park, Rovers took an early lead through Iain Hume and doubled the lead thanks to Chris Dagnall before Jorge Leitao added a consolation just after the hour mark. Rovers held on though to record a second win of the season over the Saddler’s.