Stockport County v Tranmere Rovers Match Preview


By Matthew Jones
May 6 2010

Ahead of Tranmere's biggest game for quite some time, Matthew Jones brings you all the stats, facts and team news you need to know as Tranmere face Stockport in League One, with their League One place at stake

 Article Header - Match Preview

Saturday 8th May 2010 - Coca-Cola League One

Stockport C v Tranmere R

Kick Off 3.00pm at Edgeley Park

Article Header - By Matthew Jones

It's the final weekend of the League One regular season, and things couldn't be more exciting at the bottom of the table, with a potential four* teams battling against the drop to League Two.
 
*Four if Hartlepool are deducted three points today.

Tranmere Rovers travel to Stockport in their final game of the season knowing a win may not be enough to keep them up, but any victory would put huge pressure on Exeter, Hartlepool and Gillingham around them to pick up the results they need to stay in the division.

Les Parry's side travel to Edgely Park with a near fully fit squad, and with a sell out away following of 3,000 fans, Tranmere know they will be backed brilliantly vocally as the Prenton Park faithful come out in force to show their support for the boys.
 
Over the course of the next two days, look out for our special articles on the relegation weekend, starting with this preview today.
 
Previous Meetings
 
Les Parry's first game as Tranmere manager after taking over from John Barnes was a game screened live on Sky Sports against Stockport County at Prenton Park.  However, Parry couldn't get the fairytale start to management that he longed for, as Rovers suffered a 1-0 defeat in front of just over 5,600 fans.
 
The goal for Stockport came from the penalty spot after Luke Daniels had brought down the Stockport attacker in the penalty area, for which he was controversially red carded.  Joe Collister, making his debut for the club, replaced Daniels in goal, but he could do nothing to stop Baker stepping up and making it 1-0.

Daniels Luke



Tranmere had had chances before then to take the lead, Curran and Mahon both coming very close in the first half, Fon Williams doing well to keep Curran out midway through the first half, whilst Gornell and Mahon both saw shots blocked.
 
After Stockport had taken the lead, Curran saw a header saved by Fon Williams, whilst Thomas-Moore shot wide, but Rovers simply couldn't break through the Stockport backline and were left disappointed after a 1-0 defeat.

 
The defeat was Tranmere's ninth of the season and left them 22nd in the League One table, whilst Stockport were lifted up to thirteenth, a position they have since plummeted from, having picked up just thirteen points in 33 games since their trip to Prenton Park.

 
Vital Stats:

Tranmere haven't won in their last four trips to Edgely Park, drawing three of the games
 
In 56 trips to Stockport, Rovers have picked up just ten wins, losing on 32 occasions
 
When Tranmere last faced Stockport on the last day of the season, they came from 2-0 down to win 3-2
 
Stockport have scored 103 goals to Tranmere's 50 in their 56 meetings at Edgely Park
 
Tranmere are unbeaten in three May meetings between the two sides

On This Day:
 
2004: Goals from Iain Hume or Eugene Dadi relegate Grimsby to League Two as Brian Little's Tranmere win 2-1 at Prenton Park
 
1994: John King's Rovers side are defeated 2-1 at Prenton Park by Birmingham City
 
1993: Rovers draw 1-1 at London Road against Peterborough

Tranmere have played six previous games on this day, picking up three wins, one draw and two defeats.  In these six games, they have scored eight goals and conceded seven.  They've never lost a game in League One (under it's various names) on this day.

 
The Form Book:
 
Stockport last 6 home matches:  LLDLLD
Tranmere last 6 away matches:  DLLLLD
 
Stockports form, is, quite frankly, dire, with the already relegated League One side coming into this game without a win in thirteen matches, and having picked up just two points in their last six on home soil.
 
The Hatters started their six match sequence with a draw, as they held relegation candidates Gillingham to a 0-0 draw at Edgely Park, before they lost 1-0 at home to local rivals Oldham Athletic.
 
Brentford then travelled to Stockport and picked up a 1-0 win, meaning Stockport had gone three games without scoring on home soil, before a Jabo Ibhere penalty helped Gary Abblett's side to a 1-1 draw against Walsall.
 
However, despite this draw, Stockport have failed to turn their form around at home, and have lost their two games since, firstly losing 3-1 against Yeovil Town before in their most recent home game, Huddeersfield Town, who took over 3,000 fans to Edgely Park, smashed the Hatters 6-0, the sixth time they'd conceded four or more goals in a league game this season.
 
Impressive wins at home for Stockport this season include victories over Wycombe Wanderers (4-3) and Leyton Orient (2-1), their only two home league wins this season.
 
Stockport County have played 22 home games so far this season and picked up just twelve of an available 66 points, thanks to two wins, six draws and fourteen defeats.
 
Notable results away from home for Stockport this season include victories over Brighton and Hove Albion (4-2), Tranmere Rovers (1-0) and Exeter City (1-0).
 
Stockport County come into this game having been relegated a few weeks ago, as they lie rock bottom of Coca Cola League One.  They have played 45 games this season and picked up just 25 of an available 135 points, thanks to five wins, ten draws and thirty defeats.
 
Tranmere Rovers' form away from Prenton Park this season is the reason why they find themselves in a relegation battle, with the Wirral side having just won twice away from home in the league all season.
 
The Prenton Park outfit actually come into this game with an identical record over their past six away matches as Stockport's home record, having picked up just two of an available eighteen points in their last six matches away from the Wirral.

Rovers started their six match sequence with a 0-0 draw at the Memorial Ground Bristol Rovers, but this was the first of three successive away games without a goal, as they lost their next away match 3-0 against Brighton and Hove Albion.
 
Tranmere then saw Terry Gornell sent off in a shocking 3-0 defeat to Swindon, in a game which Rovers barely looked interested and barely threatened the Swindon defence, before five days later Les Parry's side were unlucky to lose 2-1 at the Bescott Stadium against Walsall.

Rovers then were even more unlucky to lose 2-1 against Brentford, as a killer late goal from Ben Strevens led the path to defeat for Rovers, before in their most recent away game Tranmere came from 1-0 down to draw 1-1 with Colchester United thanks to a strike from Ian Thomas-Moore.

Moore, Ian



Notable results on the road for Rovers this season include their two away league wins, against Wycombe Wanderers (1-0) and Gillingham (1-0), as well as a 1-0 F.A. Cup success against Leyton Orient.
 
Tranmere Rovers come into this game with an identical away record to Stockport's home record, having picked up twelve of an available 66 points, thanks to two wins, six draws and fourteen defeats from their 22 games.
 
Notable results at home for Les Parry's side this season include wins over Millwall (2-0), Norwich City (3-1), Southampton (2-1) and Leyton Orient (2-1).
 
Tranmere come into this game in 21st place in League One, level on points with 20th placed Exeter City ahead of the final game of the season, having played 45 games and picked up 48 of an available 135 points, thanks to thirteen wins, nine draws and 23 defeats.

 
Double Hit:
 
In recent years, perhaps unsurprisingly due to the clubs locality, several players have appeared for both clubs, including Scott Taylor, current Rovers captain Ian Thomas-Moore and former Everton striker Stuart Barlow.
 
Another player to feature for both clubs is defender Dave Challinor, who used to hold the record for the longest throw-in in the world.
 
Starting his career with local side Bromborough Pool, Challinor was spotted by Tranmere and signed by the club in July 1994.

He stayed with the Prenton Park club for seven and a half years and became a very important player for the club as he helped them to the League Cup final in 2000 and F.A. Cup finals in 2000 and 2001.

Tranmere Rovers Dave Challinor dries the ball as he prepares to launch another throw in into the pen


However, a horrendous leg break in 2001 ended his career at Tranmere and he was barely picked again by then manager Dave Watson, who sold the player in 2002 for £120,000, having made 170 appearances for the club and scored six goals.

Upon his release, Challinor joined Stockport County, where he would remain for two seasons.  He could never recover the form from his Tranmere days though, and 91 appearances down the line, he joined local rivals Bury on a free-transfer after a successful loan spell with the club.
 
Over four years with Bury, Challinor went on to become a key player for the Shakers, captaining the side for a number of seasons and making 191 appearances for the club (including his loan spell).
 
In 2008, Challinor was released by Bury, joining Colwyn Bay on a part-time contract, where he remains today.  Challinor is also studying for a degree in physiotherapy at Salford University.

 
One To Watch:  David Perkins
 
Don't be mislead by his height, minature Stockport midfielder David Perkins is a strong, experienced player who is enjoying his time at Stockport after moving back to the North earlier this year.

The midfielder came through the youth ranks at Morecambe and over seven years made 199 appearances for the club before moving to Rochdale in January 2007 for an undisclosed fee.

Whilst at Spotland, Perkins was a relevation and was rated by many as one of the best midfielders in the division as he helped the club to the 2007/08 play-off final, ironically against Stockport, but he missed the match due to suspension. 
 
He lasted just eighteen months at Spotland, making 63 appearances and scoring five goals, before his appearances became too much for the League Two club to hold on to, and he moved to Colchester for an undisclosed fee.
 
However, Perkins has never adapted well to life in the south and yearned for a move back to the north.  After making 43 appearances for the U's last season, he played just seven times this season before moving to Chesterfield on loan.
 
The move back to the north was just what he wanted, and after making 14 appearances for the Spireites, he moved to Stockport, also on loan, in January 2010.  He has since made 21 appearances for the Hatters.
 
A small, diminutive player, Perkins is vital in the centre of Stockport's midfield and capable of providing goalscoring opportunities for this team.  He will work tirelessly all day long, running after every loose ball and happy to put in plenty of tackles in the centre of the park.
 
The blonde-haired 27 year old wears the number 25 shirt for the Hatters.
 
League One fixtures:
 
The final weekend of the League One season naturally sees all 24 teams in action this Saturday afternoon, with all 12 fixtures kicking off at 3.00pm in what promises to be an exciting and nailbiting few hours.
 
Brentford vs. Hartlepool
Brighton vs. Yeovil
Colchester vs. Leyton Orient
Exeter vs. Huddersfield
Leeds United vs. Bristol Rovers
Millwall vs. Swindon
Norwich vs. Carlisle
Oldham vs. Charlton
Southampton vs. Southend
Stockport vs. Tranmere
Walsall vs. MK Dons
Wycombe vs. Gillingham
 
The League Table:
 
If Hartlepool are deducted three points today for playing the suspended Gary Liddle against Brighton over Easter, then there are four teams battling against one relegation spot this weekend; Tranmere, Exeter, Hartlepool and Gillingham.
 
If Gillingham pick up a draw then they cannot go down, as their goal difference effectively puts them a point ahead of Tranmere, but Hartlepool and Exeter must win in order to be sure of League One status next season.

Tranmere must rely on other teams results in order to stay up, but with the fixtures are as they are (Gillingham, who haven't won away all season playing away, Brentford, unbeaten at home since October, hosting Hartlepool and Exeter hosting Huddersfield who can still finish), it's very much possible that a win would lift Tranmere out of the drop zone.

If Exeter lose then Tranmere only need a draw to beat the drop, as they would put them one point ahead of Exeter.  For a full review of what it will take for League One teams to beat the drop, click here
http://tinyurl.com/2vap4ae
 
At the other end of the table, Huddersfield can still finish second, though they require a six goal swing with Leeds and require Charlton to lose and Millwall to draw with Swindon.  A win for Leeds would be enough to secure the Elland Road side second place whilst if the table stays as it is before kick off, Millwall will play Huddersfield and Charlton play Swindon in the play-offs.
 
Team News:
 
Peter Gulacsi's loan spell will be extended for one final time as the goalkeeper continues his stint as a emergency loan due to injuries to Luke Daniels (tailbone) who has returned to West Brom and Joe Collister (thigh).  Paul McLaren remains out due to a thigh injury, whilst Ian Goodison is doubtful after complaining of a tight hamstring against Millwall.
 
Robinson Andy


 
Andy Robinson is set to start for Tranmere, with Rovers unlikely to name an unchanged side from the one that beat Millwall 2-0 last weekend, meaning Chris McCready will once again only be on the bench for Rovers.

Jones' Prediction:  Stockport 1-2 Tranmere
 
This is Tranmere's chance to prove that they have bottle, that they're up for it and that they want survival, they want to be playing in League One with Tranmere Rovers next season.

With 3,000 fans behind them, this game will almost be like a home game for Rovers, and there is no doubt that this will be a huge boost to the players, with the fans surely going to be in full voice as they attempt to be their teams twelfth man.
 
I think Tranmere can win this.  Stockport have nothing to play for, Rovers have it all, so there's no doubt that Tranmere will want it more.  They should be first to every lose ball and putting in the tough tackles, the strong headers and taking the game to their opposition.

The players will be fired up and I think we can do it, I think we can win, especially if Andy Robinson and Joss Labadie continue their inspired form to help their team to victory.

Tranmere need to attack and attack with confidence and in numbers.  If they take the game to Stockport, the Hatters may offer little resistence, as they are bereft of confidence.

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Stockport County v Tranmere Rovers Match Preview
Discussion started by Total Tranmere (IP Logged), 06/05/2010 12:38
Total Tranmere
Total Tranmere
06/05/2010 12:38
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:05:06:18:56:20 by Deadly Submarine.

jade_trfc
jade_trfc
06/05/2010 12:48
couldnt you have left the stats out of the past meeting made me more nervous lol and in our last 6 away games you have only done 5 lol

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