Tranmere Rovers
Match Preview: Tranmere Rovers v Torquay United
By Louise Formston
January 29 2016
As Tranmere prepare to host Torquay United on Saturday afternoon, Louise Formston returns with her match preview ahead of the game.....
This weekend sees football return to Prenton Park for the first time in four weeks. Tranmere will host Torquay on Saturday as January draws to a close. Torquay are the last unknown for Rovers in the National League as this is the first time the sides have met this season, and the first time they’ve met at all in over ten years - with the last fixture between the sides coming back in 2004/2005.
Form Guide:
Tranmere head into Saturday’s game two points off the play offs and on the back of two away wins. Despite a loss to Macclesfield at home on the first weekend of 2016, Rovers’ form over the last six week has stabilised somewhat leading to four wins, a draw and a loss. It’s that dramatic turnaround in form that has put Rovers’ fourth in the form tables, and on track for a dramatic end to the season.
Torquay meanwhile find themselves at the other end of the National League table in 23rd place, six points above Kidderminster in 24th. Torquay’s last ten games have seen them win just the once (a 4-1 demolition of Forest Green on Boxing Day - yes you read that right, they beat FGR 4-1!), two draws and seven losses. However, taking the league out of it, Torquay have had a very successful run in the FA Trophy and will face Macclesfield next weekend in that competition.
On home games alone, Rovers’ find themselves in the bottom half of the table, picking up just 9 points from their last 8 home games, but Torquay’s away form is even worse. They’ve collected just six points from their last eight away games. So basically, Saturday’s sure to be a boring 0-0 draw!
Injuries and Suspensions:
Brabin spoke of a few niggles amongst the squad earlier in the week ahead of this game but he remains upbeat and positive that they will all be available on Saturday. With no signings announced yet and no suspensions we’re looking like exactly like what we started the month with - aside from Margetts and Holness going out on loan (both to Altrincham).
The Opposition Dugout:
Kevin Nicholson will bring his Torquay side to Prenton Park on Saturday. Nicholson was appointed manager at the end of September last year, after Paul Cox resigned after three months in charge claiming the Club hadn’t paid him. A player himself, Nicholson started his footballing career at Sheffield Wednesday before moving on to play for Notts County, Scarborough, FGR, Torquay and Kidderminster. Returning to Torquay in September, Nicholson became a Player-Manager, making a number of appearances for the club so far this season.
One To Watch:
Up until this week I’d planned to highlight Tyrone Marsh in this section. With seven goals, Marsh is Torquay’s leading striker but on Wednesday he’d made the switch to Dover, becoming the second striker in a day to leave Torquay as he followed Waide Fairhurst out the door. So this is going to be more of a who’s who of Torquay instead.
Torquay’s number one at the minute is Dan Lavercombe who’s played in the last eleven games for the Gulls. Dan signed for Wigan Athletic at the start of January but as part of the deal, he’s been loaned back down south for the remainder of the season. This week, Josh Rees has joined Torquay on loan for the rest of the season. The Notts Forest midfielder is expected to fit straight into the team on Saturday.
Dan Butler, Nathan Smith and Angus MacDonald are the main stays of Torquay’s defence whilst newly signed Nathan Blissett may also make a return to Prenton Park this weekend. Also getting a mention this week is Exodus Geohaghon simply because a name like Exodus makes Max Power look like old news! The 30 year-old defender is just starting to return to the side after a spell on the sidelines.
My Starting XI:
Davies
Vaughan McNulty Ihiekwe Hill
Jennings Harris
Hughes Maynard Mekki
Norwood
Don’t change what isn’t broken basically! The team won last week, and won the week before so lets get behind them and back them for another win this weekend as well. The defence are starting to look settled, other members of the team are chipping in with goals - whats not to like? January hasn’t been the best of months for me but football has kept me sane and I honestly cannot wait to be back in the Kop on Saturday cheering on the boys so please come and say Hi!
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
29/01/2016 18:11
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
