Colchester v Tranmere Rovers Match Preview

A look ahead to tonight's second attempt at playing the match between Rovers and Colchester United at the Weston Homes Community Stadium after the first game was postponed very late on due to a frozen pitch.back on 3rd January as the first cold snap of 2009 struck.

Tuesday 10th February 2009 - Kick-off 7.45pm

Colchester U v Tranmere R

Coca-Cola League One at Weston Homes Comm. Stadium

Just over a month after the first attempt was foiled just ninety minutes before kick-off when the referee finally decided the pitch was in fact frozen after all, Tranmere travel to Essex again tonight to face Colchester United in Coca-Cola League One.

Without an away win since October 18th when they beat Leyton Orient 1-0 and with a poor Tuesday night away record in recent years, most Rovers fans will not be holding out much hope for a result at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

It was in fact March 2006 when Rovers last won away from home on a Tuesday night in the League when they beat Swindon Town 2-1 in a game that had been frozen off the Saturday before (an omen for this game perhaps?) - a run stretching back over 15 Tuesday night games.

When the sides met earlier in the season at Prenton Park, the fans were treated to a thriller as the visitors stormed into a 4-1 lead after just 47 minutes before goals from Andy Taylor and a cracker from on loan Ryan Shotton from distance made it 4-3 to Colchester keeping alive home fans' dreams of a fightback.  Sadly it wasn't to be and the visitors hung on for a perhaps unsdeserved victory.

If Rovers were to spring a surprise and win the game, they would move to within three points of three teams all on 50 points.  One of these teams is Oldham who even after tonight will have still played one more game than Rovers but on the other hand Millwall, who are also on 50 points will have played two games less than Rovers after tonight.

The two teams last met in Essex in April 2006 in the season when Colchester were promoted and Rovers were almost relegated from League One.  That game was of course played at the U's old Layer Road Stadium and the home side won 1-0 thansk to a 63rd minute Wayne Brown goal - heaping the pressure on Brian Little.

As for tonight's game and following the cancellation of the Official Coach run by the Club, the number of Rovers there tonight are sure to be few and far between so if you are going it's all the more important to get behind the lads!! !

Tranmere Team News

Winger Edrissa Sonko will face a late fitness test ahead of the game after injuring his shoulder in the 0-0 draw with Leyton Orient at Prenton Park on Saturday which saw him taken off at half-time in that game.

Strikers Chris Greenacre Craig Curran and Terry Gornell are all missing through injury once again for this game.

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