Tranmere Rovers
Leeds United v Tranmere Rovers Preview
By Deadly Submarine
February 1 2008
All the pre-match news as Rovers travel up the M62 to face Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday in Coca-Cola League One. Rovers are on the back of a three game winning run whilst Leeds will be under the charge of new Manager Gary McAllister for the first time follwoing the departure of Dennis Wise to Newcastle this week.
Leeds U Vs Tranmere R
Saturday 2nd February 2008 - Kick-Off 3.00pm
Coca-Cola League One at Elland Road
For some Rovers fans this may have been the game they have been waiting for all season long as the Superwhites travel to Elland Road to face the once mighty but now fallen Leeds United in League One.
The game may have been long anticipated for some but the importance that this game now brings in terms of the chase for promotion suddenly outweighs all other reasons why this game is a huge one for both sides.
A win for Rovers could send them into the play-offs by 5.00pm on Saturday, possibly at the expense of their hosts for the day but a win for Leeds could see them right back in the hunt for automatic promotion.
Rovers are heading to Yorkshire on the back of three straight wins in the League, something they had previously failed to manage all season.
Leeds on the other hand haven't won in the League for three games and have lost two of their last three home games to Oldham and Doncaster respectively.
When the two sides met on the opening day of the season at Prenton Park, the home side looked good value for a win after Chris Greenacre fired them ahead in the first half but with minutes remaining, the visitors made their minus fifteen points into minus twelve with two late goals from Jermaine Beckford and Tresor Kandol to seal a 2-1 win and leave Rovers deflated.
That defeat though proved to be Rovers' last for ten games as they moved to the summit of League One in early October and Leeds followed up the win at Prenton Park with an even better run that saw them go unbeaten for 13 matches which included a run of seven straight wins.
That run ensured their early fifteen point handicap was eliminated quickly to the extent that they now find themselves above Rovers in the table going into the match.
The loss of Assistant Manager Gus Poyet to Spurs coincided with a sticky patch and things got even more shaken up this week with the departure to Newcastle of Dennis Wise leaving former Leeds, Coventry and Liverpool player Gary McAllister to jump into the Manager's hotseat.
Rovers are sure to have one of their biggest away followings of the season for this game so if you are going, get behind the lads and enjoy the game.
Ronnie Moore may choose to start his son Ian on Saturday after he returned to the Club from Hartlepool on Thursday. If chosen to start it will most likely be in place of Gareth Taylor who joined Doncaster on the same day as Moore arrived.
If Moore doesn't start, Chris Greenacre may return to the starting line-up after missing four games through injury.
Tranmere were boosted this week by the news that the injury to Chris Shuker that it was thought would keep him out for the rest of this season, is now not as bad as first thought and he is likely to return in around six weeks after an operation this week.
Fellow winger Steve Davies is out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury although he too could yet return earlier than expected.
Match Referee - Scott Mathieson (Cheshire)
Useful Stats
Tranmere v Leeds United Head-to-Head
At Elland Road:
NO PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Overall Record:
P1 W0 D0 L1 F1 A2
Tranmere Form Guide and Season Record
League Form Guide
Overall: LLLWWW On the Road: LDLLLW
Season Record
Overall: P29 W12 D7 L10 F33 A29 On the Road: P14 W4 D4 L6 F12 A17
Leeds United Form Guide and Season Record
League Form Guide
Overall: LWWLDL At Home: WWWLWL
Season Record
Overall: P29 W18 D5 L6 F49 A24 At Home: P14 W11 D1 L2 F29 A9
LINK: FOOTBALL GROUNDS WEBSITE - ELLAND ROAD INFO
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