Tranmere Rovers
Walsall vs. Tranmere Rovers match preview
By Matthew Jones
April 8 2010
Ahead of another big weekend in Coca Cola League One, Matthew Jones brings you all the facts, stats and team news you need to know as Tranmere travel to the Bescott Stadium to take on Walsall
Saturday 10th April 2010 - Coca-Cola League One
Walsall v Tranmere
Kick Off 3.00pm at The Bescott Stadium
One year ago, almost to the day, Ronnie Moore's Tranmere rolled up at the Bescott Stadium, knowing that an away win would work wonders for their promotion push and would propel them up into the play-off places. Bas Savage put in a masterful performance for Rovers, scoring the only goal late on as the Prenton Park side won 1-0, meaning Tranmere finished the day in sixth place, two points ahead of seventh placed Scunthorpe.
A year later, and Tranmere need a similar performance, though for different reasons, as a much changed Rovers side from that day will look to get a win that could move them out of the relegation zone, where they currently stand in a tough battle to beat the drop.
Les Parry will have to fire his side up for this game and get them ticking, as ahead of two home games against Wycombe and Exeter, Tranmere know that a point at least in this game would put them in good stead going into two matches which they will certainly see as winnable, and are two of the most important games in Rovers' recent history.
Previous Meetings:
A lot has changed in the seven month that have elapsed since Tranmere lost 3-2 to Walsall at Prenton Park in September, with Tranmere having since sacked their manager and assistant manager, and made several moves in the transfer market.
It was a game that Tranmere perhaps deserved to win, and indeed led up until just before half time thanks to a strike from winger Chris Shuker, who chipped the ball over the Walsall keeper after beating the offside trap to collect Craig Curran's pass.
However, just before half time Walsall equalised as Byfield poked home from inside the six yard box after Luke Daniels failed to hold on to Taundry's effort from outside the area, and then straight after the break the visitors took the lead when Deeney fired home from inside the area, beating Collister who had come on as a half time substitute for Daniels, who was injured in a tackle from Deeney just before the break.
Collister made a couple of saves before Tranmere equalised on the hour mark as Alan Mahon's long range effort deflected off Kithson Bain's back and went into the goal.
Tranmere though couldn't hold on as Deeney netted his second of the game with seven minutes left, with Nichol's cross going right across the six yard box before Deeney tapped home, this after Collister had made a number of fine saves.
Vital Stats:
Tranmere have made 30 previous trips to Walsall, picking up just six wins and losing on 19 occasions
In these 30 games, Tranmere have scored just 27 goals, conceding 54 times
Walsall haven't completed the double over Tranmere since the 1960/61 season, when they beat Rovers 4-1 at Prenton Park and won 3-1 at home
These two sides have played met 59 previous times in the league, with all of these coming in divisions three and four
Tranmere have lost just one of their last five away games against Walsall, picking up two wins
On This Day:
2004: An early goal from Gary Jones is enough for Brian Little's Tranmere is they beat Luton Town 1-0 at Prenton Park
2001: On their way to relegation from Division One, Tranmere beat Birmingham City 1-0 at Prenton Park
1999: Kenny Irons strikes early but Tranmere are held to a 1-1 draw with Barnsley in Division One
Tranmere have played 21 previous games on April 10th, picking up seven wins, five draws and nine defeats, though they have lost just one of their last seven on this day, picking up four wins. In these 21 games, they have scored 25 goals and conceded 28.
The Form Book:
Walsall Last Six Home Games: WWDLWD
Tranmere Last Six Away Games: LLDDWD
Chris Hutchins' side started their six match sequence with a 0-0 draw against Bristol Rovers before picking up their first win in six home matches against Brentford as Nichols and Deeney scored in a 2-1 win.
Walsall then lost 1-0 at home to relegation threatened Yeovil Town before picking up their eighth home draw of the season against Millwall ten days later, Nichols and Taundry scoring in a 2-2 draw.
Since the draw against Millwall, Walsall have picked up successive wins at the Bescott, firstly against Colchester United as Darren Byfield scored an injury time winner, before Smith and Gray scored in a 2-1 Easter Monday win over Wycombe Wanderers.
Other notable results on home soil for Walsall this season include wins over Huddersfield Town (2-1), Exeter (3-0), Oldham Athletic (3-0) and Stockport County (2-0).
Walsall's home form so far this season has been a mixed bag of results, with the Saddlers playing 20 home games so far this season, picking up 29 of an available 60 points, thanks to seven wins, eight draws and five defeats.
Impressive results away from the Bescott Stadium for Chris Hutchins' side this season include wins against Leeds United (2-1), Bristol Rovers (1-0), Yeovil Town (3-1) and Tranmere Rovers (3-2).
Walsall come into this game in thirteenth place in the League One table, all but mathmatically safe from relegation this season, having played 40 games and picked up 51 of an available 120 points, thanks to thirteen wins, twelve draws and fifteen defeats.
There is no doubt that it's Tranmere's away form that is the reason why they've struggled so much this season, with Rovers picking up just 11 points on the road all season, though they have lost just once in their last five matches away from Prenton Park ahead of this fixture.
Rovers started their six match sequence with an excellent draw at the Valley against Charlton, as Sam Sodje scored an own goal in Tranmere's favour as Rovers picked up a 1-1 draw, before in their next away game Tranmere picked up their second away league win of the season against Gillingham, with Ian Thomas-Moore scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win.
Tranmere then picked up another good point, this time at Roots Hall when Ian Goodison scored a second half equaliser in a 1-1 draw for Rovers against Southend, before they travelled to Bristol Rovers and extended their unbeaten run on the road to four matches thanks to a 0-0 draw.
However, Tranmere have been in dire form on the road since, conceding six and failing to score any in their last two away games, as they firstly lost 3-0 to Brighton and Hove Albion before in their most recent away game losing to Swindon Town by the same scoreline.
Tranmere have also had a player sent off in each of their last three away games, and four of their last six away matches, with Zoumana Bakayogo sent off twice and Andy Robinson and Terry Gornell also seeing red.
Rovers come into this game having picked up just 11 of an available 57 points on the road this season, having won two, drawn five and lost twelve of their nineteen games on the road, scoring just nine goals in the process.
Notable results at Prenton Park for Tranmere this season include wins over Gillingham (4-2), Norwich City (3-1), Southampton (2-1) and Southend United (2-0).
Les Parry's side come into this match in 21st place in the League One table, lying just inside the relegation zone, level on points with Leyton Orient, having played 39 games and picked up 41 of an available 117 points, thanks to eleven wins, eight draws and twenty defeats.
Double Hit:
Tranmere Rovers legend David Kelly started his career with Walsall and became a firm fan favourite with the Saddlers fans during his five year stint with the club. The Birmingham born striker scored 80 goals for the club in 190 appearances for the club, form that earned him a big money move to West Ham in 1988.
Over the next nine years, Kelly made regular big money transfers, as he played for Sunderland, Newcastle, Leicester City and Wolves, transfering for a total of £2,800,000 (including his move to West Ham) and scoring 116 goals for the five clubs, becoming a renowned goalscoring in English football.
At Sunderland however, the goals dried up. After moving to the club for £900,000 in September 1995, he played 40 games for the club and scored just two goals, leading to him leaving the club for Tranmere Rovers in 1997 for £350,000.
Kelly's move to Tranmere, then managed by John Aldridge, who knew Kelly from his days as an Ireland international, was a masterstroke. The striker became a firm fan favourite at Prenton Park and he cemented his place in Tranmere history thanks to his strike against Leicester City in the Worthington Cup final at Wembley.
Kelly stayed at Prenton Park for three years, making 112 appearances for the club and scoring 35 goals, thirteen of which came in seventeen League Cup appearances!
After his contract expired on the Wirral, he moved to Sheffield United on a free-transfer, and later had spells with Motherwell and Mansfield at a player, before retiring and moving into coaching, when he rejoined Tranmere as assistant manager and has since spent time at Sheffield United, Preston and Derby, before moving to Nottingham Forest, where he is currently assistant to Billy Davis.
One To Watch: Julian Gray
Former Bimingham and Arsenal winger Julian Gray has impressed hugely at the Bescott Stadium, since his February move to the club after being released by Barnsley in December.
The 31 year old started his career with Arsenal in the mid-1990's, but only made one appearance for the club before moving to Crystal Palace in 2000 for £500,000, the highest transfer fee spent on him in his career.
Gray remained with the Eagles for four years and became an important player for the club, as he made 144 appearances for the club, scoring fourteen goals, as well as spending time out on loan at Cardiff during the 2003/04 season, where he made nine appearances.
In 2004 he made a summer move to Birmingham on a free-transfer, helping the club into the Premier League, but he failed to ever hold down a regular place in the first team after they reached the top flight, making just 73 appearances in three years with the club, 22 of them as a substitute.
He moved to Coventry on a free-transfer in 2007 and after impressing for the Sky Blues, he signed for Fulham on transfer deadline day in February 2009. However, he made only three appearances for Fulham before joining Barnsley in the summer.
Just seven appearances in three months with the Yorkshire side led to his release, upon which Gray was picked up by Walsall. He has since shown the form that helped propel Birmingham into the Premier League, making twelve appearances and scoring three goals, all in his last three games for the club.
Gray, who wears the number 24 shirt for the Saddlers, possesses lots of pace and a great left foot, capable of scoring some great goals from outside the area, as well as provinding great crosses for his team mates.
League One Fixtures:
With the heavy Easter fixtures now completed, it's a return to the normal fixture list this weekend, with all 24 teams in League One kicking off at 3.00 this Saturday afternoon.
Brighton vs. Huddersfield
Brentford vs. Carlisle
Colcheter vs. Swindon
Exeter vs. Leyton Orient
Leeds United vs. Southend
Millwall vs. Gillingham
Norwich vs. MK Dons
Oldham vs. Bristol Rovers
Southampton vs. Charlton
Stockport vs. Yeovil
Walsall vs. Tranmere
Wycombe vs. Hartlepool
Team News:
Suspensions continue to hit Tranmere Rovers hard, as Andy Robinson sits out the final match of a three match ban, whilst Paul McLaren is also suspended after picking up his tenth yellow card of the season against Norwich a week ago. Another player missing for Rovers through suspension is striker Terry Gornell, who has sent off against Swindon last Monday for stamping. He is likely to be replaced in the starting line up by Bas Savage, though Marvin Sordell and Kithson Bain are also competing for a place in the first XI.
Tranmere youngster Aaron Cresswell is available for selection again though following suspension, whilst left-back Zoumana Bayakogo could replace Ben Gordon in defence. Tranmere though will be without Shay Logan, who is undergoing treatment following a hernia problem, with Marlon Broomes likely to continue at right-back.
Jones' Prediction: Walsall 1-1 Tranmere Rovers
If Tranmere could pick up a point in this game, then it would be a fantastic result, though going into this game their recent away form, which has seen them conceed six in their last two and score none in their last three, is anything but inspiring. However, with Walsall seemingly safe in League One, they may take their foot off the gas somewhat in this game, hopefully giving Tranmere a chance to sneak through for a point.
Tranmere's poor recent discaplinary record though is hitting them hard for this game, and with Terry Gornell, Andy Robinson and Paul McLaren all missing from the game, Rovers are severely weakened attacking wise, and with Bas Savage likely to replace Gornell in the starting XI, Les Parry must make sure his Tranmere side don't return to the hoof ball tactics used when Savage has been in the side recently.
In recent away games, Tranmere have appeared to be happy to sit back and play for a point, but this has been unsuccessful against Brighton and Swindon. They must make sure they at least try and take the game to Walsall, who may be happy to sit back and invite Rovers on to them. If Tranmere could sneak an early goal, then this will be a very interesting game!
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08/04/2010 11:09
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