By Deadly Submarine
April 12 2005

Friday Night football returns to Prenton Park this week as Rovers face already relegated Stockport (Kick-Off 7.45pm). Rovers will be looking to build on the superb away win at Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday and ensure they stay ahead of the chasing teams to enable a good draw in the play-offs.

While Tranmere are looking to cement their third position in League One, their opponents Stockport County are playing purely for pride after being relegated to League Two on Saturday following a 2-1 home defeat to Brentford.  Friday’s game though will be by no means one sided as Stockport can still have a say in how the rest of the table looks at the end of the season and with the pressure now off the County players, they may well play better than they have in recent weeks.

 

Tranmere go into the match on a high note after overcoming play-off rivals Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 at Hillsborough to continue their remarkable record of being the only team in League One not to lose back to back games this season.

 

Stockport go into the game on the back of five straight league defeats that has gone some way to sealing their relegation at the weekend.  Interestingly though they have not failed to score in a league game since they lost 3-0 at Swindon at the end of January.  The last time Tranmere failed to score was in a 1-0 home defeat to Bristol City on January 10^th.

 

Past connections between the sides are represented by County’s former Tranmere striker Stuart Barlow who made a substitute appearance against his old club in the game at Edgeley Park in August.

 

In the previous meeting between the sides this season at Edgeley Park back in August, Tranmere had led through a Mike Jackson header from a corner just before the hour mark but with nine minutes left, Stockport’s top scorer Warren Feeney scored a simple goal to equalise and the game ended 1-1.  The draw saw County pick up their first point of the season at home after only previously winning away at Blackpool. 

 

In last seasons match at Prenton Park, Tranmere led twice through a Ryan Taylor penalty and a Goodwin own goal from a Taylor corner, but were twice pegged back before they snatched a winner three minutes from time with another penalty from Taylor to make it 3-2.

 

In the last eight years, Stockport have not won at Prenton Park with four wins for Rovers and two draws in six matches.  Stockport always seem to score against Rovers though so it should make for a closer game tha some may be predicting.

 

DEADLY’S MATCH PREDICTION: TRANMERE ROVERS 3-1 STOCKPORT COUNTY

 

 

Team News

 

Tranmere may well be without captain Jason McAteer who has a calf problem and has missed three days of training this week but although Ryan Taylor is struggling with a sore back sustained against Sheffield Wednesday, he should be available for selection.  Rovers are still without long-term absentees Gary Jones (toe) and David Beresford (hamstring) whilst striker Eugene Dadi serves the second game of his three match ban for his sending off against Doncaster.

 

Stockport County have no further selection problems from Saturday’s defeat although midfielder Lee Cartwright came through a reserve game against Wrexham yesterday and may well be in contention for a place.

 

 

Probable Rovers Team: Achterberg, Taylor, Sharps, Jackson, Goodison, Roberts, Rankine, Harrison, Whitmore, Hall, Hume.

 

Referee – Mr Tony Bates (Staffordshire)

 

 

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Stat Attack!!

 

Past Meetings:

 

Last Meeting – 30^th August 2004 – Coca-Cola League One (Edgeley Park)

 

Stockport County 1-1 Tranmere Rovers

Feeney 81                Jackson 54

 

 

Last Meeting at Prenton Park – 27^th January 2004 – Coca-Cola League One

 

Tranmere Rovers 3-2 Stockport County

Taylor (pen) 5            Griffin 34

Goodwin og  65          McLachlan 73

Taylor (pen) 87

 

 

 

Top Scorers:

 

Tranmere Rovers:  Iain Hume – 16 Goals

 

Stockport County: Warren Feeney – 17 Goals

 

 

Summary of Past Meetings (Since 1997-98 Season):

 

At Prenton Park:

 

Games Played = 6

Tranmere Wins = 4

Stockport Wins = 0

Drawn = 2

 

Total in All Games:

 

Games Played = 13

Tranmere Wins = 5

Stockport Wins = 2

Drawn = 6

 

 

Current Form Guide:

 

Tranmere:

 

Last Six Games – WWDLW                     Last Six Games At Home: WDWLWL

 

Stockport County:

 

Last Six Games – WLLLLL                       Last Six Games Away: LLWLLL