Tranmere Rovers
Match Preview: Tranmere Rovers v Grimsby Town
By Louise Formston
April 30 2016
As Tranmere prepare to host Grimsby Town on Saturday evening, Louise Formston returns with her match preview ahead of the game.....
How do you start the final preview of the season when so much is at stake? It’s puzzled me all week. For Tranmere this is a season defining moment in what has been a dismal past 5 years (at least) and despite it being in the conference, for a lot of our fans it’s the first time they’ll experience anything like this. Tranmere head into the game knowing a win at Prenton Park and a loss for Braintree at the Avanti Stadium would hand them a playoff spot. Grimsby meanwhile have already secured a playoff spot but still have plenty to play for with Dover just behind them in search of third place ahead of the playoffs.
Form Guide:
Tranmere have experienced two losses in the last ten games (Welling and Wrexham), which has meant that they have slipped just outside the play off spots. However they’ve secured five wins out of 10, which when added with three draws isn’t bad form heading into the end of the season – it’s form that last year would have seen us remain in the Football League.
Grimsby meanwhile, have had a patchy run, four losses and four wins in their last ten games – their most recent loss coming last weekend at the hands of Chester.
Over the course of the season, our home form has been the issue of much contention. In reality, we’ve actually won more games at home than we have on the road – however we’ve lost nine at home, compared to two away. Our ability to hold up the ball and be difficult to break down away from home has not transferred to Prenton Park. Second placed Forest Green have actually only lost three less games than Rovers, showing that in reality, we’re not totally that far away and probably where we should be this season.
Previous Meetings:
The teams met back in September on a Friday night in a game broadcast by BT Sport. It finished 1-1 with Nathan Blissett scoring for Rovers after Jon-Paul Pittman had put Grimsby ahead after just nine minutes. Prior to this, the clubs haven’t met since 2009 where Rovers won comfortably in the Carling Cup. The last league visit Grimsby had to Prenton Park saw them lose 2-1 and be relegated from Division 2. Goals for Rovers came from Iain Hume and Eugene Dadi. Steve Jennings was on the bench for the game.
Injuries and Suspensions:
Rovers are likely to be without key centre back Steve McNulty after he sustained a nasty eye injury against Eastleigh last weekend. However by all accounts Martin Riley did very well when called upon to fill in. Former Rovers man Evan Horwood has been classed as a doubt ahead of his return to Prenton Park, whilst striker Nathan Arnold, Patrick Hoban and Toto Nsiala could all feature for the The Mariners.
One to Watch:
This is tough with Grimsby likely to rest players ahead of the play offs so I’ll just try and do a who's who! Padraig Amond is Grimsby’s (and the National League’s) top scorer with 30 goals this season – averaging a goal every 108 minutes. Goalkeeper James McKeown has played every game this season for Grimsby, keeping fourteen clean sheets in the process. Omar Bogle has also chipped in with goals this season, racking up thirteen so far. Players to play for both teams include Ben Tomlinson, who appeared for Rovers before Christmas and Jack Mackreth who has made the full circle from Rovers to Grimsby and back to Rovers since the end of January.
My Starting XI:
Davies
Vaughan Riley Ihiekwe Ridehalgh
Kirby Jennings Hughes Mekki
Taylor-Fletcher
Norwood
I’m all for not changing a winning team but I’m also all for winning a game! We need to be attacking and aggressive from the start. With no McNulty, Riley will fill in the back. Whilst I don’t agree that Ridehalgh is the greatest leftback we’ve had but I think he’s a better option than Hill and he works well with Mekki. A midfield combination of Jennings and Hughes will hopefully ensure some protection from any Grimsby attacks thanks to Jenno, whilst offering an attacking outlet with Hughes. Although lately Jenno has been taken it up on himself to launch some attacks. Norwood upfront, without a doubt. Although it’d appear he’s playing as a loan striker I’d expect a huge amount of support from Kirby and Mekki as we play hugely attacking football.
I’m hoping for a win, I’m hoping for play off success but being a Tranmere fan I’m cautiously optimistic. We’re actually able to have an exciting end to a season for the first time in years. Lets just enjoy it, whatever happens we’re not getting relegated for a change!
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30/04/2016 09:16
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