Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers v Swindon Town Match Preview
By Matthew Jones
May 5 2011
Total Tranmere brings you all the stats, facts and team news you need to know ahead of the final League One game of the season at home to already relegated Swindon Town........
Copyright Historical Football Kits and reproduced by kind permission.
Swindon Town Factfile:
Ground: The County Ground
Formed: 1879
Nickname: The Robins
Manager: Paul Bodin (caretaker)
League Finish 2009/10: 5th (Defeated in Play-off final)
Kit
Colours: red shirt with white trim, red shorts with white trim and red
socks with white stripes around top (home), white shirt with black
marking on top and bottom, all white shorts and socks
(away), all blue shirt, blue shorts with white trim and blue socks with
white stripes around top (third)
Previous Meetings:
When these two sides met at the County Ground in late January, they played out a 0-0 stalemate, though each team had chances to win the game, with both keepers having to make some good saves to ensure they kept a clean sheet.
The biggest moment of the match was a penalty save from 'keeper Tony Warner, who dived to his left to expertly save from Charlie Austin in the first half, this after a foul by Joss Labadie in side the penalty area, whilst at the other end Lateef Elford-Alliyu hit the post with a low shot shortly afterwards.
Rovers
themselves had a penalty claim of their own turned down before the
close of a frantic first half, with Enoch Showunmi going down in the box
only for his appeals to be waved away by the referee, whilst in the
second half, the closest either side came was through a superb curling
effort from long range from Adam McGurk, only for the shot to be
excellently turned away by Smith.
Vital Stats:
In 30 previous meetings between the two sides at Prenton Park, Tranmere have won on 17 occasions, whilst eight matches have been drawn and Swindon have emerged victorious five times
Tranmere have netted 51 goals in those 30 previous matches, whilst the Robins have scored 34 times
John Welsh will become only the third player in the Tranmere team to reach 100 appearances for the club if he plays in this fixture, following Ian Goodison and Alan Mahon
Rovers have not won in their last three games against the Wiltshire club
These two sides have played two previous games in May, with each team picking up one win
On This Day:
2005: Brian Little rests a number of key players for Rovers' upcoming play-off games against Hartlepool, resuling in this team losing 2-1 against MK Dons in the final League fixture of the season
2000: A season which saw Tranmere reach the League Cup final and F.A. Cup Quarter Final comes to a disappointing end as John Aldridge's side lose their final game of the season 2-1 against Crystal Palace
1995: John King's side draw 1-1 with Middlesbrough in Division One
Tranmere Rovers have played thirteen previous games on this day, picking up just three wins to go with four defeats and six draws. In these thirteen games, they have scored fourteen times, whilst they have conceded thirteen goals.
Rovers have played five previous games at home on this day, picking up two wins, two draws and one defeat, whilst they have won their final regular league game of the season four times since being relegated to this division
The Form Book:
Swindon Town last six away games: LWLLDL
Tranmere Rovers last six home games: WLWLWL
It has been a poor season for Swindon Town, who, after reaching the play-off last season, have suffered huge financial trouble over the past twelve months and seen their squad decimated by outgoing stars who have never been replaced.
Caretaker manager Paul Bodin was put in charge of the club following the sacking of Paul Hart after their Easter Monday defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, though Hart himself had only been in charge of 12 games following the sacking of Danny Wilson.
Swindon struggled hugely under both managers, mainly after key strikes Billy Paynter (in the summer) and Charlie Austin (in January) left the club, and as such, they come into this game having won just two games since Christmas.
The Robins started their six match sequence with a 1-0 defeat against struggling Swindon Town before picking up a hugely impressive 0-0 draw away to Huddersfield Town.
They followed this result up with successive defeats, however, starting with a 2-1 defeat against title winners Brighton and Hove Albion, before losing 1-0 against then play-off chasing Exeter City.
A 1-0 win over Brentford in their next away game proved to be Paul Hart's only success in charge of the club, however in their most recent away game they lost 3-1 against Sheffield Wednesday, this despite a screamer from Jonathon Douglas.
Swindon come into this game with the joint worst defence on the road in League One, having conceded 45 goals from their 22 matches so far, whilst they have only netted eleven times in their last 19 games.
Other notable results away from home for the club include wins over Charlton Athletic (4-2) and Walsall (2-1).
The Robins have played 22 away games so far this season, picking up 14 of
an available 66 points, this thanks to three wins, five draws and fourteen defeats.
Impressive
results at the County Ground for the Robins include wins over Southampton (2-1), Huddersfield Town (1-0), Bristol Rovers (2-1) and Colchester United (2-1).
Swindon Town come into this game bottom of the League One table, having
picked up 38 of an available 135 points for 45 games so far, this
thanks to eight wins, 23 defeats and fourteen draws.
Tranmere's
inconsistent and hugely disappointing home record has been their
downfall this season, with Rovers not able to match last seasons total of 36 points on home soil, even if they win this fixture.
Indeed,
their tally of nine home defeats so far in the league is their most
losses on home soil since then 1985/86 campaign, when Rovers lost at
home 13 times, but this is in contrast to their away form, which has seen them pick up more points than any other season away from home since 2004/05.
Rovers
started their six match sequence with a hugely disappointing 1-0 defeat against struggling Bristol Rovers before talisman Enoch Showunmi scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Colchester United.
Tranmere however lost their next home game, defeated 2-0 by high flying Huddersfield Town, before picking up a crucial win in the battle against relegation, beating Dagenham and Redbridge at home thanks to two well converted goals from Enoch Showunmi and Ian Goodison.
Tranmere then however lost 1-0 against Notts County, this thanks to a dubious penalty that was converted by Craig
Westcarr, whilst poor finishing also cost the home side dearly, before in their most recent home game, goals from Michael Kay, Lucas Akins (x2) and Enoch Showunmi saw Rovers demolish Exeter City 4-0.
Other
notable results on home soil for Tranmere this season include victories
over Sheffield Wednesday (3-0), Southampton (2-0), MK Dons (4-1) and
Peterborough United (1-0).
The Wirral side have played 22 home league games this season and picked up 31 of an available 66 points, this thanks to nine wins, four draws and nine defeats.
Impressive results away from home for Rovers this season include successes over Walsall (4-1), Bournemouth (2-1), Leyton Orient (3-0) and Plymouth Argyle (3-1).
Les
Parry's side currently lie in 15th place in League One, having picked
up 56 of an available 135 points from 45 games, thanks to fifteen wins,
eleven draws and nineteen defeats.
Double Hit:
Former Rovers striker Wayne Allison spent two years
with Swindon during the mid-90s, having joined the club from local
rivals Bristol City.
Allison started his career with local
Yorkshire club Halifax, before moving to Watford in 1989. He spent just
one season with the Hornets before moving to Bristol City in 1990,
where he would make 225 appearances and score 57 goals, a decent record
of nearly one goal in every four games for the striker.
In 1995
he moved to Swindon for £475,000 and became a successful player for the
club, playing 122 games and scoring 36 goals, before opting for a move
back to Yorkshire with Huddersfield in 1997.
His
spell with Huddersfield was followed two years later by a move to
Tranmere, for £300,000, still one of the highest transfer fees Tranmere
have paid for a player to date.
The Chief became a firm fan
favourite at Rovers and was part of the side that reached two F.A. Cup
Quarter Finals as he stayed with the club for three years and made 116
appearances for the club, scoring 32 goals, including the winner in an
F.A. Cup tie against Premier League side Sunderland at Prenton Park.
Allison
left Tranmere in 2002 and went on to have spells as a player with
Sheffield United and Chesterfield, before moving in to coaching with
Chester City.
After the sacking of John Barnes in October 2009, Allison
became Les Parry's assistant manager, along with Shaun Garnett, at
Tranmere Rovers, making a much supported return to Prenton Park before making a controversial exit at the end of the season.
One To Watch:
Having lost key strikers Billy Paynter and Charlie Austin over the last twelve months, as well as numerous other crucial players who've been at the County Ground, either permanently or on-loan, it's been a hugely turbulent and difficult season for Swindon, who've sacked two managers (Danny Wilson and Paul Hart) and have seen very few players stand up and put in consistently excellent performances.
Midfielder Matt Ritchie has had a decent season, however, and was recently named the club's Player of the Season.
The 21-year old pocket-sized midfielder came through the youth ranks at Portsmouth, but only made ten appearances for the club in between loan spells with Dagenham and Redbridge, Notts County and Swindon Town (x2).
With Dagenham, Ritchie impressed hugely, netting 12 times in 41 games over a season with the club, whilst he also showed his goal scoring prowess in netting three times over a brief spell with Notts County.
His first loan spell at Swindon came towards the end of last season before he rejoined the club in October 2010, and, after some impressive form, signed for Danny Wilson's side permanently in January.
He has played 40 games for the Robins this season, netting eight times, with five of his goals coming away from home and Swindon only winning one of the games he has scored in.
Wearing the number 22 shirt for the club, the midfielder likes to push forward and get goals, as the stats show, and he has been one of Swindon's shining lights in what has been a disappointing campaign for the County Ground side.
Around League One:
The League One season draws to a close this weekend, with a full round of matches all kicking off at 3pm on Saturday afternoon:
Bournemouth vs. Rochdale
Carlisle vs. Yeovil
Charlton vs. Hartlepool
Colchester vs. Bristol Rovers
Huddersfield vs. Brentford
Notts County vs. Brighton
Oldham vs. MK Dons
Peterborough vs. Dagenham and Redbridge
Plymouth vs. Leyton Orient
Sheffield Wednesday vs. Exeter City
Southampton vs. Walsall
Tranmere vs. Swindon
Team News:
Dale Jennings looks high on confidence having got a goal against Hartlepool and is much improved for it, whilst Adam McGurk's finishing over the last four weeks has been a real highlight for Les Parry's side.
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05/05/2011 16:03
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2011:05:09:18:15:56 by Mikey.
Though Tranmere are no primed to finally get a long awaited hat-trick of league wins, that has not happened for 2 years and is long overdue.
Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.
Quote:Matt34
That's the danger though, confidence aside, for them to sign off from league 1, with a win against an old adversary if you will, would no doubt give Bodin a buzz and the players.
Though Tranmere are no primed to finally get a long awaited hat-trick of league wins, that has not happened for 2 years and is long overdue.
REminds me of a last game years ago. Already relagated Plymouth played great, TRFC turned out.
i waas furious that fans had paid for a game and their team were not going to give them one
Every ball is a white ball............TRFC
That's a good line actually. in a 1930's mobster style voice.
Hey Swindon, you're going down to league 2, courtesy of Tony and the back 4 boys. Oh yeah and Slasher McGurk says he can't wait, so get ready for a pastin' Tranmere style, 'cause Les, Tony and the boys, are going to put you out of your misery; capiche Mr Bodin?
Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.
good matt34..
looking forward to watching Mcgurk up front, hopefully we don't hoooof it dont think he will win headers. (because hes small) he still trys to to jump for tho.
