Total Tranmere - Bradford City v Tranmere Rovers Preview

Bradford City v Tranmere Rovers Preview

By Deadly Submarine April 1 2006
All the News and Stats ahead of Rovers weekend trip to Valley Parade to face Bradford City in Coca-Cola League One. Can the boys in white make amends for a frustrating and controversial FA Cup exit at Valley Parade earlier in the season by taking all three points this time around in the league?

TOTAL TRANMERE – Match Preview

Saturday January 28^th 2006 – Kick-Off 3.00pm

Coca-Cola League One at Valley Parade

By Deadly Submarine

Tranmere travel to Yorkshire for the fifth time this season and make it their second trip of the season to Bradford following the somewhat controversial 2-1 FA Cup defeat back in November.

This time, Rovers will be hoping to gain revenge for what was a frustrating afternoon in the first round of English Football’s most famous competition when, after taking a lead through Chris Greenacre after just six minutes, Rovers were then beaten by a ‘did it cross the line’ strike from Lee Crooks and a Dean Windass penalty just a minute later.

Rovers go into the weekends game unbeaten in eight matches having won three and drawn five. All five of those draws have ended 0-0 including the last three matches but in between, Rovers strung together a run of three straight wins over Christmas again conceding just three goals in the process.

In those last eight games, Rovers have scored nine goals and conceded three so they will be confident of getting at least a point from Valley Parade if not more. In their last eight games away from home, Rovers have lost just twice which includes that FA Cup defeat at Bradford in November.

The Bantams have lost just once in their last six games but prior to that had gone on a four game losing run that saw them conceded eleven goals with five of them coming against Barnsley in the FA Cup replay at Valley Parade.

City have won just once in their last six games at Valley Parade but have also drawn two of those six.

Games between these two sides have been very entertaining and high-scoring in recent years with Bradford’s 5-4 win at Prenton Park last season probably the most memorable. This seasons encounter at Prenton Park was equally entertaining as the sides battled out a 2-2 draw after Rovers had twice been behind.

MATCH PREDICTION: Bradford City 1 – 2 Tranmere Rovers

Bradford City: Marc Bridge-Wilkinson (foot) is definitely out for the Bantams but captain David Wetherall (hip) is expected to recover in time to be available for the game. Andy Cooke has recovered from an injury to his thigh and is also in contention for the game.

Tranmere Rovers: Rovers' only absentee for the trip to Bradford is goalkeeper John Achterberg who is recovering from further surgery, this time on his groin, which will keep him out for around three weeks. Ian Goodison returns from his one match suspension and Carl Tremarco is close to a return after a wrist injury.

Match Referee – Darren Deadman (Cambridgeshire)