Tranmere Rovers
Match Preview: Woking v Tranmere Rovers
By Louise Formston
November 23 2015
As Tranmere prepare for the long midweek trip to Woking on Tuesday evening, Louise Formston returns with her match preview ahead of the game.....
Rovers fans breathed a big sigh of relief this weekend after their goal drought was ended thanks to James Norwood and a vital three points came Tranmere’s way taking them within five points of the play offs. This week we make the journey south as we travel to Woking on Tuesday night.
Previous Meetings:
The teams have met twice before, once already this season. The opening day of the 2015/2016 season saw Woking visit Prenton Park and return home to Surrey with no points and no goals after a Jay Harris wonder strike saw Rovers off to a winning start in the Vanarama National League. Thanks to the weird way in which the fixtures work in this league, the return leg is being played already - less than four months after the first game. Prior to this, the two sides met in 2006 in the FA Cup where Rovers won 4-2 thanks to goals from Chris Greenacre and Gareth Taylor.
Form Guide:
Tranmere have been poor recently, but a win and two goals at the weekend should hopefully do wonders for team confidence. Rovers have only lost three on the road this season; drawing five and winning three (it’s not much different to our home form for those who like to use that argument!). Two of those away trip losses came in the last two away games - both against Lincoln so really should we just count that as one and combine it?
Woking on the other hand haven’t won a game at home since they played Forest Green on the 15th September (they won 2-1). In fact, in their most recent home game they lost 5-1 against Macclesfield. At the weekend, an away trip to Chester saw them win 2-1. Despite this appalling home form, Woking sit in 14th place with just five points between them and Tranmere.
Injuries and Suspensions:
Both Adam Mekki and Martin Riley were subbed off against Guiseley due to injury. Mekki played almost the entire game but Brabin revealed in his post match interview that he was suffering from cramp and was subbed as a precautionary measure. Riley, however was subbed off half way through the second half after he went down injured. Thankfully, no red cards were issued during Saturday’s game - even with some of the tackles the Guiseley players were throwing in at times and with only Hogan booked during the game, no one received that dreaded fifth yellow card.
The Opposition Dugout:
Gary Hill has been in charge of Woking since January 2011 and in his first half a season in charge saw them finish fifth in the Conference South. Hill took it one step further the following season and Woking finished top of the Conference South in the 2011/2012 season which saw them promoted into the National League as champions. Before managing at Woking, the 57 year old started his managerial career in 1991 at Heybridge Swifts where he stayed for six years, taking them to the First Round of the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history, before moving onto St Albans City and eventually Dagenham and Redbridge in 1999.
At D&R, Hill saw them promoted to the Conference as champions in his first season there. His second season at Dagenham and Redbridge, they finished third in the Conference and took Charlton (a Premier League side at the time) to a replay in the Third Round of the FA Cup - can you see a theme emerging with Gary yet? After missing out on the Football League, Hill wasn’t able to recreate quite the success he’d experienced at first and resigned in 2004.
He then managed Hornchurch and Weymouth - leaving both due to issues with money. From there Hill went to Rushden and Diamonds were he saw himself suspended for two weeks and received a 10-game touchline ban after head butting the assistant manager of an opposition team. After another two years at the club, Hill resigned and was appointed manager of Woking not long after.
The One To Watch:
Front two John Goddard and Dan Holman have provided eighteen goals for Woking so far this season; including one each against Chester at the weekend. Holman is on loan from Colchester United, and having spent last season on loan at Wrexham, Aldershot and Dover knows the Division - and how to score in it - very well.
John Goddard meanwhile signed for Woking in 2013 and the twenty-two year old has already doubled his goal tally from last season. Quick mention to Scott Rendell who has yet to play for Woking this season after he tore his cruciate knee ligament during the game at Prenton Park in August. Rendell has been Woking’s top scorer, as well as their player of the season for the past two seasons and is no doubt being missed amongst the squad.
As far as notable former players go, Bournemouth player Harry Arter played for Woking during the 2009-2010 season, making thirty-six appearances and scoring five goals. It was because of this goal return the midfielder attracted league club attention and after a tribunal settled the fee, Arter was officially a Bournemouth player.
Around the League:
With only two other midweek games this week I’ve just mentioned them all!
Tuesday:
Chester vs Dover: Dover climbed into the playoff spots at the weekend whilst Chester will be keen not to suffer another home loss.
Wednesday:
Boreham Wood vs Lincoln City: With Lincoln City occupying that last play off spot five points ahead of Rovers and Boreham Wood way down the bottom of the table, a home win here would be ideal providing Rovers do the business on Tuesday. Also Rovers’ game next weekend sees them visit Boreham Wood.
My Starting XI:
After a great performance on Saturday and a fantastic display of passion Scott Davies keeps his place in the side. With Martin Riley injured I’m going for a back four of Sutton, Hogan, McNulty and Hill - would like to remove McNulty but I’m wary of disrupting a back four so much. Midfield is easy Adam Mekki, Jay Harris, Lois Maynard and after his performance on the wing on Saturday - James Norwood.
Sticking with the same two up front GTF and Mangan - hopefully with Norwood having scored, it won’t be long before the rest of our strikers chip in again too. Aside from this, GTF, Mangan, Mekki and Norwood moved about a lot on Saturday - if they could use this a bit more effectively we could be opening up channels for balls and making runs all over the shop. Another win would be nice, but a draw away from home is not to be sniffed at after our recent form.
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23/11/2015 13:44
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:11:23:16:07:18 by Deadly Submarine.
Quote:So were most from close in which were like dinks or chips into their keepers hands. He was pretty casual in the way he dealt with them [apart from his part in the penalty]AndyMase
Most shots from distance that were on target on Saturday were more like a back pass.
