Tranmere Rovers
Yeovil Town v Tranmere Rovers Match Preview
By Matthew Jones
August 6 2009
Ahead of the opening game of the 2009/10 season away at Yeovil on Saturday afternoon, Total Tranmere is delighted to welcome the Match Previews of message board regular Matthew Jones to the site for this season beginning with Matthew's thoughts ahead of the trip to Huish Park.....
Yeovil Town Vs Tranmere R Kick-Off 3.00pm at Huish Park
Coca-League One - Saturday 8th August 
Three months ago, Tranmere had just suffered the disappointment of a last gasp draw against Scunthorpe, which resulted in Rovers missing out on the play-offs by just two points.
With a new manager, coaching staff and squad of players now at Prenton Park, the 2009/10 season will kick off this weekend, as Tranmere look to build on last season and finish in the Top Six during their 125th anniversary season.
For Rovers, who will be managed by John Barnes for the first time in a competitive fixture, the season kicks off in Somerset, with Tranmere making the long, long journey south to Huish Park, where they will take on Terry Skiverton's Yeovil Town.
Both sets of fans will hold high ambitions ahead of the fixture as they hope to see their team challenge for promotion in the new campaign, though only time will tell if their ambitions are realised.
Yeovil Town Team Profile
Formed: 1895
Ground: Huish Park
Manager: Terry Skiverton
Nickname: The Glovers
Season Finish 2008/09: 17th (Coca-Cola League One)
Previous Meetings
Tranmere failed to win either of their matches against Yeovil last season, taking just one point off the Glovers in two meetings, their worst points return in a season against the Huish Park side ever.
Tranmere's first match against Yeovil was in November when a Tranmere squad, heavily hit by injuries, illness and suspension, struggled hugely against Yeovil and slipped to a 1-0 defeat.
Yeovil, in the relegation zone before kick off, got the win courtesy of a cleverly worked free-kick, which was smashed home from 20-yards by now manager Terry Skiverton in the first half, after he received the ball from Danny Schofield.
Rovers never looked like getting back in the game, and indeed Yeovil could have won by more, had it not been for some slack finishing and for the brilliance of Rovers ‘keeper Danny Coyne, now with Middlesbrough.
The meeting at Prenton Park came on April 25th, when Tranmere were heavily involved in a play off place and were desperate to pick up as many points as they could in their final home game of the season.
However, it was Yeovil who took the lead, after a drab first half, in the 67th minute, when Obika fired home Tomlin's pass to give the visitors a deserved lead.
Rovers though kept their play-off hopes alive thanks to captain Antony Kay, who levelled the scores at 1-1 in the 78th minute when Kay smashed home from a Shotton throw-in.
Vital Stats
In eight previous meetings between these two sides, there has been just one away win, with Rovers picking up the three points at Huish Park in the 2006/07 season thanks to two goals from Chris Shuker.
Yeovil have beaten Tranmere just once in the eight games between the two sides
There have only been two clean sheets when these two sides have met before
Of Tranmere's six goal scorers against Yeovil in their previous eight meetings, only one, Chris Shuker, will be available for selection on Saturday, with Ian Goodison suspended and the other four scorers, Steve Davies, Chris Greenacre, Calvin Zola and Antony Kay having left the club.
Tranmere have lost four of their last five season opening fixtures in recent seasons.
On This Day
2006: Ronnie Moore sees his side lose 1-0 at Cheltenham Town, courtesy of a Kayodi Odejayi goal, in his first away game as Tranmere manager
1998: John Aldridge's Tranmere side lose 2-0 away to Wolves in Division One.
Tranmere Rovers have played just two previous fixtures on August 8th, as the season begins to start earlier and earlier. They have conceded three goals and scored none, losing both previous fixtures on this day.
The Form Book
Tranmere Rovers have had a topsy-turvy pre-season, as their defensive frailties have been clear to see for all, though they have still been able to produce some reasonably good displays and results.
In their three "big" fixtures, so to speak, at Prenton Park, Rovers firstly suffered a 2-1 defeat against Preston North End, though the game will be notable for second-year scholar Joe Collister putting in a superb performance in goal, whilst a week later, Tranmere played a Liverpool side including Steven Gerrard at Prenton Park, and held their Merseyside neighbours to a 2-2 draw, with Chris Shuker and Gareth Edds scoring for John Barnes' side.
In their other match at Prenton Park, Tranmere really struggled against League Two side Shrewsbury Town and could only pick up a 1-1 draw, courtesy of a second half equaliser from Alan Mahon with a stunning free-kick.
Elsewhere, Rovers drew 3-3 away to Morecambe and lost 1-0 at Macclesfield Town, whilst they picked up wins against non-League Southport and Heswall.
Over the summer, Yeovil Town played six friendly matches, and impressively managed to win three of them.
They rounded off their 2009/10 season preparations last Saturday when they picked up a 3-0 win against local non-League side Tiverton Town, with Welsh, Bowditch and Schofield getting on the score sheet.
Previous to this, although the Glovers had lost 2-0 to Championship side Derby County, they picked up an excellent 3-2 win over Bristol City, another Championship side, with Bowditch and Schofield on the score sheet again, whilst Tomlin scored a late winner for the side.
However, their other friendly defeat came to a League Two side, Grimsby Town, with Yeovil losing 3-2 at Blundell Park against the Mariners, whilst they were forced to come from behind to beat non-League Dorchester Town (3-2) and in their other friendly, Yeovil drew with Weymouth.
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06/08/2009 23:06
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:08:06:23:13:53 by Deadly Submarine.
