Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers Vs Charlton Athletic Match Preview
By Matthew Jones
September 16 2010
Copyright Historical Football Kits and reproduced by kind permission.
The Addicks lie ninth in League One ahead of this game, but don't be fooled by their league position, as Phil Parkinson brings one of the early season promotion favourites to Prenton Park just two points off top spot, and only outside the play-offs on goal difference.
Les Parry however will be confident that his side can pick up some crucial points in this fixture and will still be full of confidence following their 1-0 win over Peterborough United in their most recent home game.
Charlton Athletic Factfile:
Ground: The Valley
Formed: 1905
Nickname: The Addicks
Manager: Phil Parkinson
League Finish 2009/10: 4th
Kit
Colours: red shirt, white shorts, red socks (home), light blue shirt, dark blue shorts and socks
(away)
Previous Meetings:
Charlton Athletic managed to take four points off Tranmere last season, as they handed out a footballing lesson to John Barnes' side at Prenton Park in August, before they were lucky to escape with a draw when the two sides met at the Valley.
When the two teams faced each other at Prenton Park, Tranmere had just 40% of the possession in the game as they were disappointingly hammered 4-0 by the League One new boys.
Charlton took the lead in the match after 24 minutes when Lloyd Sam scored a header, beating Aaron Cresswell in the air to fire home, before doubling their lead two minutes later when Jose Somedo beat Luke Daniels after running on to Deon Burton's neat back heal.
The visitors had several more chances before adding their third shortly after half time, Sam again the scorer as he headed home from a left wing cross, before Charlton added a fourth, the final goal of the game, with 68 minutes on the clock, Bailey firing home from outside the area.
At the Valley in January, it was a different story, as Tranmere, now managed by Les Parry, put in a battling display against Charlton and were arguably the better side as they drew 1-1.
Tranmere had several chances to take the lead in the first half, before Charlton defender Sam Sodje scored his second own goal for Tranmere in the space of five months, with Curran's flick-on knocked into the net by the former Leeds defender.
Seven minutes later though, it was all square again as Bailey scored from Basey's corner, beating goalkeeper Luke Daniels at his near post.
Both sides pushed for a second, with Luke Daniels pulling off a string of fine saves for Tranmere whilst Edds and Thomas-Moore came close for Tranmere, but niether side could find a second as Tranmere picked up an excellent point thanks to a 1-1 draw.
Vital Stats:
Tranmere Rovers have played Charlton Athletic on thirteen previous occasions at Prenton Park, picking up five wins, two defeats and six draws
At all venues, the two sides have each picked up seven wins to go with twelve draws from 26 games
Rovers have netted 23 times in their thirteen home games against the Addicks, conceding on fourteen ocassions
Charlton are unbeaten in seven games against Tranmere, a run dating back fourteen years
Tranmere are unbeaten in five September meetings between the two sides, picking up one win and five draws
On This Day:
2004: Tranmere come from behind to draw 1-1 against Wrexham in one of Ray Mathias' final games in charge of the club
2001: Stuart Barlow scores a hatrick as Tranmere beat Notts County 4-2 at Prenton Park in Division Two
1999: Two years earlier, John Aldridge's Tranmere are defeated by the same scoreline against Portsmouth at Prenton Park
Tranmere Rovers have played eighteen previous games on this day, picking up five wins and seven draws to go with six defeats. In these eighteen games, Tranmere have scored 27 goals and conceded 29. All of Tranmere's last five games on this day have been at Prenton Park, with four of Rovers' five wins on this day coming on home soil.
The Form Book:
Charlton Athletic first four away games games: LLWL
Tranmere Rovers first five home games: WDLLL
In their first home game of the season, the club were knocked out of the Carling Cup thanks to a 4-3 defeat to League Two side Shrewsbury Town, with Charlton actually leading the match 3-0, before the Addicks picked up their first win on the road in their next away game thanks to a 3-2 victory over fellow London side Leyton Orient.
Since, Charlton have played two away games and not picked up a point, as they firstly lost 3-1 to big spending Huddersfield Town, before they failed to score in a 1-0 defeat to Exeter City in their most recent away game.
The Addicks have played three games on the road so far this season in NPower League One, picking up three of an available nine points, thanks to one win and two defeats.
However, Charlton's form at home so far this season has been almost faultless in the league, with the side picking up 1-0 wins over Bournemouth and Notts County, as well as a 1-1 draw with Oldham.
Phil Parkinson's side come into this fixture in ninth place in NPower League One, just two points off top spot and only outside the play-offs on goal difference, having picked up ten of an available eighteen points from six games, thanks to three wins, one draw and two defeats.
Rovers were then knocked out of another cup competition, the Johnstone's Paints Trophy, after losing on penalties to Accrington Stanley following a 1-1 draw in normal time, before in their most recent home game, a goal from Arnaud Mendy was enough to help Tranmere beat Peterborough United 1-0.
All this means that Tranmere have picked up three of an available nine points from their first three home games at Prenton Park this season, thanks to two defeats and one draw in the league.
Les Parry's side have also struggled on the road this season though, and despite a 1-0 win over Walsall in the Carling Cup, they are yet to pick up a league win on the road, with their most notable results being draws against Huddersfield Town (0-0) and Dagenham and Redbridge (2-2).
Rovers then come into this game in 21st place in League One, having picked up five points from an available eighteen in their opening six games, winning once, drawing twice and losing three times so far in the league this season.
Double Hit:
Due
to the clubs spending very few seasons playing the same standard of
football, very few players have represented both clubs during their
careers.
One such player includes current Rotherham manager
Ronnie Moore, who had spells with Tranmere as both a manager and a
player, whilst the defender turned attacker also had a spell at Charlton Athletic as a player.
Starting his career as a centre-back at Tranmere Rovers, Moore was soon
converted to a striker by manager John King and became a fan favourite
as he scored 72 goals in 249 league games for the club.
In 1979, after an eight year spell at Prenton Park, which included a
loan trip to America where he played for Chicago Sting, Moore moved to
Cardiff and then Rotherham, before signing for Charlton in 1983.
He remained with the Addicks for two years and was reasonably
successful, netting thirteen times in 62 games, before leaving the club
in 1985, returning to Tranmere via Rochdale.
Moore finished his playing career at Prenton Park, where he moved into
coaching and was assistant manager to John King during Tranmere's most
successful spell as a club, when they rose from the depths of Division
Four to within touching distance of the Premier League.
Moore
left Tranmere in 1996 after the club appointed John Aldridge as manager
ahead of him. After spells as a manager with Southport, Rotherham and
Oldham, he returned to Tranmere in 2006 and got them to within touching
distance of the play-offs in 2009 before being sacked and returning to
Rotherham for his second spell last season, managing the club to an
unfortunate play-off final defeat to Dagenham and Redbridge.
One To Watch: Gary Doherty
One of the key players for Charlton Athletic in this
NPower League One fixture will be experienced former Norwich and Spurs
defender Gary Doherty.
The Repulic of Ireland born man, who has won 30 caps and scored four
goals for his country, joined the club in the summer on a free transfer
after being released by Norwich City.
Since joining the club, he has started all six league games, proving to
be an important player in the heart of Charlton's defence, especially in
the absense of club captain Christian Daily.
Doherty, who can also play as a centre-forward came through the ranks at
Luton Town and made 84 appearances for the club, scoring 15 times,
before joining Tottenham in 2000 for £1,000,000.
A four year spell at White Hart Lane saw ginger haired Doherty make just
78 appearances as he struggled to become a first team regular for the
Premier League side, and in 2004 he joined Norwich City, where he would
remain for six years and become an important player for the club.
Over his time at Carrow Road, Doherty oversaw two relegations and was made club captain, with his final act as a Norwich player being to help them to the League One title in the 2009/10 season.
Having
made 227 appearances and scored fourteen goals for the club, Doherty
left Norwich in the summer and signed for Charlton shortly afterwards,
and is quickly becoming an important player at The Valley.
Though he is not the quickest of defenders, Doherty will dominate in the
air on his day and is a strong and effective tackler at the back. The
30-year old wears the number 12 shirt for the Addicks.
Around League One:
Once
again, there is a full round of fixtures in NPower League One this
weekend, with all 24 teams kicking off at 3pm on Saturday afternoon.
Brentford vs. Hartlepool
Carlisle vs. Brighton
Dagenham and Redbridge vs. Bristol Rovers
Exeter City vs. Peterborough United
Huddersfield vs. Yeovil
MK Dons vs. Rochdale
Notts County vs. Leyton Orient
Oldham vs. Bournemouth
Plymouth vs. Sheffield Wednesday
Southampton vs. Colchester
Tranmere Rovers vs. Charlton Athletic
Walsall vs. Swindon
Team News:
Tranmere's
injury list finally appears to be on the decrease, with Rovers hoping
to welcome back John Welsh for this game, whilst Joss Labadie could also
start after coming on as a substitute against Yeovil.
Sam
Morrow could start once again, though he will be hopeful of getting
better service than he did against Yeovil last week, though this game is
likely to come too early for Paul McLaren, who will once again miss
out.
Trio
Ian Thomas-Moore, Liam Darville and Adam McGurk are all doubtful for
the game however, though Nick Wood and Timothy Cathalina both played 90
minutes for the reserves on Wednesday night and are in contention for a
place in the match day squad.
Elsewhere,
Rovers will definitely be without goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen, who is set
for a few weeks out after picking up an injury whilst on international
duty, whilst long term absentee's Marlon Broomes, Ashton Taylor and Alan
Mahon will also miss the fixture.
Jones' Prediction: Tranmere Rovers 2-0 Charlton Athletic
Under
Les Parry, Tranmere have shown time and again that when they take on
the bigger teams in the division, they are capable of raising their game
and picking up valuable points.
Wins
against Southampton, Norwich and Millwall last season were built upon in
Rovers' last home game, when they beat Peterborough 1-0, and I believe
that Rovers are capabale of reproducing such results and performances
against Charlton.
The
big key for Tranmere is to produce a performance with the same work rate
and sheer determination that thyeh put in against Peterborough. In
terms of quality, there is no doubt that some of Rovers' players don't
compare their Charlton counterparts, but if the team work hard then they
can get in plenty of tackles and get plenty of men behind the ball.
Rovers
though must also take their chances. With just five league goals to
their credit, it's clear that Rovers aren't going to be big scoreres, so
it's crucial that when chances come their way, Tranmere at least test
the 'keeper.
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16/09/2010 22:49
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charlton are a different team than they were ast season (so are we but we've got a not manager in charge)
we normally play well against good teams.
Les has made so many post match comments after poor shows that he must be lost for meaningful words now.?
Tranmere can even leafrog Hartlepool if they lose. Providing Tranmere lost 1-0 and Hartlepool lost 2-0 at least.
I think if Tranmere do win it will be 1-0, unless there's a sending off or a penalty, possibly a free kick or two, then 2-0.
I think there's good odds of a 0-0 or 1-1.
Team for the week, assuming Shwounmi is fit.
4-3-3
Gulasci: Goal
Cresswell, Grandison, Goodison, Darville: Defence
Labadie, Mendy, Welsh: Midfield
Moore, Shwounmi, McGurk: Attack
Collister, Bakayogo, Fraughn, Catahlina and A.N.Others on the bench.
