Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers vs. Wycombe Wanderers match preview
By Matthew Jones
April 11 2010
Ahead of this weeks huge game against Wycombe Wanderers in Coca Cola League One, Matthew Jones brings you all the stats, facts and team news you need to know in his regular Match Preview
Tuesday 13th April 2010 - Coca-Cola League One
Tranmere R v Wycombe Wanderers
Kick-Off 7.45pm at Prenton Park
Tranmere are now one point adrift of safety in the table following successive defeats for the first time since Les Parry was handed the job full time, and with Wycombe below Rovers in the table and seemingly destined for relegation from the division, the importance of this game and a win for Tranmere is huge.
If Rovers can get three points, then some of the pressure on them will be lifted, but with another crucial home game ahead of struggling Exeter next Saturday, the importance of this week cannot be stressed enough, as they must at least be out of the bottom four following these next two games, with tough trips to Colchester and Brentford to come this season.
Previous Meetings:
John Barnes picked up just two wins as Tranmere manager, and one of these came away at Adams Park against Peter Taylor's Wycombe Wanderers on September 29th 2010.Rovers dominated the possession in this game, but it was their solitary shot on target that got them the goal and in the end earned them a three hugely important points, without which Rovers would be even deeper in trouble in the bottom four.
The goal for Tranmere came on sixteen minutes, after they'd had a run of corners, with the third one finding Ian Thomas-Moore in the penalty area, who sweetly volleyed home past Scott Shearer from a tight angle.
Betsy and Pittman put efforts wide for the home side, with Luke Daniels not really troubled before the interval, but after the break the on-loan 'keeper was called into action several times, saving from Pittman and Zebroski.
Ricketts cannoned a header against the cross bar for Rovers whilst Daniels saved from Duberry and Green at the other end as Tranmere kept a clean sheet and picked up a hard earnt three points.
Vital Stats:
Tranmere and Wycombe have only previously met seven times in their history
In their three meetings at Prenton Park, Tranmere have picked up two wins, drawing with the Chairmen once
Rovers have twice before completed the double over WycombeTranmere have only lost once in their history against the Chairmen, this at Adams Park in 2002
Rovers have scored four and conceded two in their three home matches against Wycombe
On This Day:
2009: Bas Savage and Charlie Barnett score for Tranmere in a 2-1 Easter Monday win over Hereford at Prenton Park
2002: Dave Watson's Tranmere lose 2-1 away to Cambridge United, despite taking the lead through a goal from Gareth Roberts
1998: Rovers, managed by John Aldridge, stroll to a 3-0 victory over Stockport County in Division One
Tranmere Rovers have played thirteen previous games on this day, picking up five wins, two draws and six defeats, though they've only lost one of seven home matches played on this day. In these thirteen games, they have scored eighteen goals and conceded 24The Form Book:
Wycombe Wanderers Last Six Away Games: LDDLDW
Tranmere Last Six Home Games: WDLWLW
Wycombe Wanderers' away form is only slightly less abysmal than Tranmere's, with the Chairboys having also only won twice on the road this season, though they have picked up three more points on their travels than Tranmere courtesy of three more draws.
Despite their poor away form on the road this season, Wycombe have actually though only lost two of their last six on the road in a six match sequence which has seen them pick up three draws and a win.
Their sequence started with a win against Bristol Rovers, as goals from Harold, Revell and Beavon secured Wycombe and 3-2 victory, before in their next outing Kevin Betsy scoring in a 1-1 draw with Brentford.
However, a hugely disappointing defeat to Stockport County in a thrilling game at Edgely Park followed for Wycombe, as despite two strikes from Phillips and a Williams own goal, Wycombe lost 4-3, before picking up a draw in their next away outing at Oldham, Harrold and Betsy scoring in a 2-2 stalemate.
A 1-1 draw against Colchester was a decent result in their next away game, but they suffered another disappointing away defeat in their most recent away game, as Walsall beat Wycombe 2-1, the same scoreline that Tranmere lost to the Saddlers by at the weekend.
Wycombe's only other away win this season came against Millwall (2-0) in November, though they have picked up draws away to Leeds United (1-1) and Southend United (1-1).
Wycombe come into this game having picked up fourteen of an available sixty points from their 20 away games, thanks to two wins, eight draws and two defeats.
Impressive results at Adams Park for Wycombe this season include wins over Bristol Rovers (2-1), Brentford (1-0), Millwall (1-0) and Harltepool United (2-0).
Wycombe are in 23rd place in Coca Cola League One ahead of this game, having played 41 games and picked up 35 of an available 123 points, thanks to seven wins, fourteen draws and twenty defeats.
Les Parry's Tranmere side have been very inconsistent at home of late,failing to win two on the bounce at home since the turn of the year. A win though in this game is desperately important for the Prenton Park outfit and Les Parry will have his side fired up for this game.
Rovers started their six match sequence in good form, with a 2-1 win over Leyton Orient, as Ian Thomas-Moore and Marvin Sordell scored for Tranmere, though in their next home match a few days later they were soundly beaten by promotion chasing Huddersfield Town, with Lee Clark's side beating Rovers 3-0.
In their next home match though Tranmere picked up one of their best results of the season, as Marlon Broomes and then an Ian Thomas-Moore penalty secured Tranmere a 2-1 win over Johnstone's Paints Trophy winners Southampton, before they were hammered 4-1 by high flying Leeds United at Prenton Park three days later.
Tranmere though are unbeaten at home since the defeat to Leeds, registering a draw and a win, firstly against Hartlepool United in a dire 0-0 draw, before battling to a hugely impressive and confidence boosting 3-1 win over Norwich City, with Ian Thomas-Moore netting twice and Craig Curran once in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
Other notable results at Prenton Park for Tranmere Rovers this season include wins over Gillingham (4-2), Brentford (1-0), Bristol Rovers (2-0) and Carlisle United (2-0).
Tranmere have played twenty home games so far this season, picking up 30 of an available 60 points, thanks to nine wins, three draws and eight defeats.
Notable results away from home for Les Parry's side this season include wins over Wycombe Wanderers (1-0) and Gillingham (1-0), as well as a 3-3 draw with Huddersfield Town and an F.A. Cup win over Aldershot (2-1).
Les Parry's side come into this match in 21st place in the League One table, one point away from safety, having played 40 games and picked up 41 of an available 114 points, thanks to eleven wins, eight draws and 21 defeats.
Double Hit:
The only link that could be found between the two clubs is former Swindon and Huddersfield striker Iffy Onuora, who enjoyed a spell on loan at Wycombe during the 2003/04 season, just before he had a very short spell at Tranmere, when he played three games before being released.
Onuora started his career with Huddersfield, scoring 30 goals in 165 games for the club, before enjoying spells with Mansfield, Swindon and Gillingham, adding over 80 league goals to his name in the process.
Onuora was in fact so successful and so well liked at Gillingham that he had two spells with the club, sandwiching a two-year stint at Swindon, with Gillingham shelling out £25,000 and then £100,000 for the player, selling him in the process to Swindon for £120,000.
Enjoying a 16-year professional career, Onuora left Gillingham in 2002, joining Sheffield United on a free-transfer, but he was never a hit at Brammall Lane, scoring once in eight appearances for the club over two-years, in which time he spent time on loan at Wycombe, where he failed to score in six games during the 2003/04 season, and at Grimsby, where he netted three times in 22 games.
In February 2003 Brian Little brought Onuora to Tranmere, but he made just three appearances before being released, playing five times before the end of the season for Huddersfield Town, before retiring, aged 37.One To Watch: Matt Harrold
A well known striker in the lower divisions of English football, Matt Harrold is a forward who has been at Wycombe for 18 months now having arrived at the club from Southend United in September 2008.
Harrold started his career with local club Harlow, before moving in to the Football League with Brentford in 2002. However, his form at Brentford was poor and a return of just five goals in 39 games was not good enough for the Griffin Park club.
After spells with Dagenham and Grimsby on loan, Harrold joined Yeovil Town in June 2005 for an undisclosed fee and played for the club in their first season in Coca Cola League One. In total, he scored ten goals (two of them against Tranmere) in 54 appearances for the club before joining Southend United in September 2006.
Harrold remained at Southend for two seasons, but his form was always poor and he failed to ever retain a place in the first team, with half of his appearances for the club coming from the bench. He played 59 games for the Shrimpers but scored only six goals and in September 2008 he joined Wycombe for an undisclosed fee.
The striker has enjoyed success since joining the Chairboys, as they were promoted under Peter Taylor last season, and his form has been much better due to holding down a regular first team place.
22 goals in nearly two seasons with the club, including ten this year, have been a good return for a striker who has never been prolific, but adds plenty of options, both in the air and on the floor when with the ball.
Standing at just over six feet tall, the Wycombe number nine is joint top scorer for the club this season and his side have lost just one of the nine games he's scored in during this campaign.
WIth most of his goals coming from inside the area, Harrold is a good poacher and will have to be marked especially well from corners and free-kicks on Tuesday evening.
League One Fixtures:
There are eleven fixtures in Coca Cola League One on Tuesdsay evening, with the twelfth fixture, between Swindon and Exeter, at the County Ground, being screened live on Sky Sports on Monday evening.
Bristol Rovers vs. Southampton
Carlisle vs. Leeds United
Charlton vs. Colchester
Gillingham vs. Brighton
Hartlepool vs. Stockport
Huddersfield vs. Walsall
Leyton Orient vs. Norwich
MK Dons vs. Oldham
Southend vs. Brentford
Tranmere vs. Wycombe
Yeovil vs. Millwall
The League Table:
Stockport County were relegated following their home defeat to Yeovil on Saturday, meaning there are now only three relegation places left to play for. Those places will be strongly contested over the coming month though, and with some key games this week, the table could look very different come Wednesday morning.
Tranmere are now one point adrift of safety in League One, but a win against Wycombe could well lift them out of the bottom four, with Leyton Orient in 20th facing a tough game against Norwich, and Gillingham, two points clear of the drop zone, hosting Brighton, who's home form has been strong this season.
At the other end of the table, if Norwich win and Leeds and Swindon both lose, the Canaries would be twelve points clear of the third and fourth placed teams, with four games left, and as such all but mathmatically promoted, whilst victory for Millwall and defeat for either of Colchester or Huddersfield would secure them at least a play-off place come May.Team News:
Rovers boss Les Parry has hinted that he may select Zoumana Bakayogo ahead of left-back Ben Gordon for this game, following a couple of disappointing performances from the on-loan Chelsea youngster. The Rovers manager also has two players available to him following suspension, with Andy Robinson and Paul McLaren both returning. McLaren is likely to replace Gareth Edds in the starting XI, whilst Robinson could come in for either Bas Savage or Craig Curran.
Tranmere though will once again be without striker Terry Gornell who sits out the second game of a three match ban for a red card whilst young striker Marvin Sordell has returned to Watford after Tranmere opted not to extend his loan spell by a third and final month.
Jones' Prediction: Tranmere Rovers 2-0 Wycombe Wanderers
This is a hugely important game for Rovers, and having lost back to back games for the first time since Les Parry was handed the job permanently, the Tranmere boss will no doubt have his team fired up and raring to go in this fixture.
The key for Tranmere in recent weeks, when winning, has getting an early grip on the game by attacking their opponents and scoring an early goal, and this game will be no different. If Rovers manage to score early in this fixture, Wycombe heads will drop, their confidence will be sapped, and it would definitely reduce their visitors chances of winning.
With Andy Robinson and Paul McLaren set to return for Rovers, Tranmere should be more threatening going forward, with more creativity and presence in the opposition half, whilst Robinson should provide the likes of Thomas-Moore with more goalscoring chances.
The problem though for Rovers has of course been taking their chances, and they absolutely must do that this weekend against Wycombe, a side in the bottom four who have struggled on the road all season and who Tranmere must beat to enhance their chances of survival, which currently, game by game, are getting slimmer and slimmer.
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11/04/2010 11:02
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11/04/2010 13:04
![[:wor kid:]](/phorum-5.1.15/mods/smileys/images/13.gif "[:wor kid:]")
OUT: Gordon (is paying Chelsea his wages more costly than relegation?), MCclaren (no comment), Edds (shocking against Walsall), Curran (sick of watching him- but Parry keeps playing him), Gornell (useless)
IN: Baka, Mahon, Shuker, Bain, Labadie
If Parry sticks with a similar team to which he has played against Swindon and Walsall, we will lose.
11/04/2010 18:12
Team selection ? was Ash injured at the week end ? would like to see Zoom back, and as I've said before Edds in at right back and Shae pushed forward, also I would like to see more of Labadie, think the lad has something and could keep Mac out, what do people think of McCreedy ? I think he has fitted in ok and done a job ! kwick save no frills ! but ok and we need plenty bof that.
Up fron Robbo in for TG she be fine,but alongf side ITM or Craig ? 45 each ??!? but only if we have Shae and Zoom on the flanks, could be a chance for Alex to step in LB and as with the right push Zoom forward
12/04/2010 10:15
A must win for us too - and after a great performance on Saturday I'm hopeful. And hopefully the pressure will be more on you guys as you're at home and we pretty much know we're down already!
However we haven't won back to back games all season so I'm going for a draw!
Good luck after tomorrow!
