Tranmere Rovers v Yeovil Town Match Preview
By Matthew Jones
January 14 2010
As Rovers prepare for only their second game of 2010 so far and their first in the League, Matthew Jones takes a look ahead as Yeovil Town become the latest team to visit Prenton Park this Saturday afternoon in a game which Rovers need to win to keep their chances of surviving relegation alive......
Tranmere Rovers host Yeovil Town at Prenton Park in Coca-Cola League One this weekend, with Les Parry's men hoping to defend an unbeaten home record against the Glovers that stretches back to the 2005/06 season, when the two sides first met.
The game this weekend is the proverbial six-pointer, with both sides desperate for points as they look to beat the drop to League Two this season. Although Yeovil start the game in fifteenth place, they are only four points above the relegation zone, and just seven ahead of Tranmere, who have a game in a hand over the Somerset side.
Previous Meetings:
Tranmere Rovers travelled to Huish Park full of expectation and hope on the opening day of the 2009/10 season, but they were sent home empty-handed as the John Barnes and Jason McAteer reign started in the worst possible fashion - a trend that was unfortunately set to continue for most of their time in charge of the Wirral side.
With six new signings in the Tranmere line-up, plus youngster Ashton Taylor starting for the first time, Rovers put in a woeful display, as they suffered a 2-0 defeat in the bright Somerset sunshine, their heaviest defeat against Yeovil to date.
The rot set in for Tranmere on 23 minutes, when young striker Dean Bowditch nipped in front of his marker to score his first goal for the club, powerfully heading home from close range from a Yeovil corner.
Luke Daniels made a string of fine saves in the Rovers net to keep the score at 1-0, but Tranmere's defeat was confirmed on 76 minutes when Yeovil netted a second, Tomlin netting from the penalty spot after the referee had awarded a controversial penalty for a foul by Aaron Cresswell.
Vital Stats:
Tranmere have never lost at Prenton Park against Yeovil Town, picking up three wins and one draw against the Somerset side.
In their four home matches against Yeovil, Tranmere have scored nine goals, conceding just four.
Rovers have never lost the second meeting of the season between the two sides.
Neither side has kept a clean sheet when the two sides have met at Prenton Park.
The two sides have met six times after Christmas, with Tranmere undefeated in these six matches.
On This Day:
2008: Ronnie Moore's Tranmere lose their F.A. Cup third round replace at Hereford United 1-0.
2007: A year earlier, Gareth Taylor scores the only goal in a 1-0 win for Rovers over Crewe at Prenton Park.
1999: John Aldridge guides his Tranmere side to a 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate against Bristol City in Division One.
Tranmere Rovers have played eleven previous matches on January 16th, picking up four wins, four draws and three defeats. They have scored fifteen goals and conceded thirteen in these eleven matches.
The Form Book:
Tranmere last six Home Games: LDWWDW
Yeovil last six Away Games: LDDLLL
Tranmere Rovers come into this fixture on an impressive run of form, having not lost any of their last four home league games, and with just one defeat in eight at Prenton Park.
Rovers started their six match sequence with an impressive 2-0 win at home to Southend United thanks to goals from Ian Goodison and Terry Gornell, before Les Parry's side drew 0-0 at home to League Two side Aldershot Town in the second round of the F.A. Cup.
The Prenton Park outfit then won two home games in a row, beating Brentford 1-0 thanks to a well worked Craig Curran strike before Curran again netted in a 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers, with Gareth Edds netting the other goal.
However, Tranmere are without a goal in their last two games, having firstly drawn 0-0 at home to Carlisle United in League One, before Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Rovers 1-0 in the F.A. Cup third round.
Other notable home results for Tranmere Rovers this season include wins over Gillingham (4-2), Grimsby (4-0) and Brighton (2-1).
Tranmere have so far played twelve home games this season, picking up 17 of an available 36 points, thanks to five wins, two draws and five defeats.
Away from home, Tranmere have been in dismal form this season, picking up just one win thanks to an Ian Moore striker over Wycombe Wanderers (1-0), whilst they also drew 3-3 with Huddersfield Town.
Rovers come into this game in 22nd place in League One, having played 23 games and picked up 21 of an available 69 points, thanks to six wins, three draws and fourteen defeats.
Yeovil's away form coming into this fixture has been extremely poor, having failed to win any of their last six matches on the road and only won one away game all season.
In the first match of their six game sequence, The Glovers lost 4-0 at Elland Road against Leeds United, before Oxford United of the Blue Square Conference beat Yeovil in the F.A. Cup by a 1-0 score line.
Yeovil lost for the third time in succession three weeks later, losing 1-0 to Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium, before Terry Skiverton's side picked up the first of two successive draws as they drew 2-2 at Stadium:MK against MK Dons.
Two weeks later, Yeovil drew 1-1 with Hartlepool United before, in their most recent away game, they lost 3-1 against Swindon Town on December 28th.
Since December 28th, Yeovil haven't had a fixture, with weather and the F.A. Cup causing two of their games to be postponed.
Yeovil's only away win this season came at Bristol Rovers, when second half goals from Obika and Forbes picked up a 2-1 win for the Somerset side, whilst they've also had 0-0 draws with Millwall and Oldham.
Yeovil Town have so far played twelve away games this season, picking up just eight of an available 36 points, thanks to one win, five draws and six defeats.
Their home though has been somewhat better and mainly the reason why they're outside the relegation zone. Notable results at Huish Park for the Glovers include wins over Tranmere Rovers (2-0), Wycombe Wanderers (4-0) and Carlisle United (3-1).
Having played 24 games so far this season, the Glovers come into this game in fifteenth place in League One, having picked up 28 of an available 72 points, thanks to six wins, ten draws and eight defeats.
George O'Callaghan (Left) Has Played for Both Rovers and Yeovil
Double Hit:
George O'Callaghan is the only player to have played for both clubs, having had a spell at Huish Park earlier this season. The Irishman joined Tranmere last summer from Cork City after spells in England with Port Vale, Brighton and Ipswich.
However, personal problems led to O'Callaghan making just eight appearances for the club before he was released midway through the season.
He joined Yeovil Town in the summer after a successful trial, but has subsequently been released, having made just fifteen appearances for the Glovers.
Since his release, the 30-year old midfielder has been on trial at Brighton and Hove Albion, but has once again been released.
One To Watch: Dean Bowditch
Signing from Ipswich Town on a free-transfer in the summer, striker Dean Bowditch made an immediate impression on the Yeovil fans as he scored on his debut against Tranmere in August.
Having made a limited number of appearances since his debut, Bowditch still remains one of the clubs top scorers this season, having netted four times in nine games, his most recent goal coming in a 3-3 draw at home to Norwich on December 12th.
Before joining Yeovil, Bowditch enjoyed spells on loan at Burnley, Wycombe, Brighton (x2), Northampton and Brentford, but failed to score more than two goals in a spell at any of these clubs.
After failing to secure a regular place in the Ipswich first team, having made over eighty appearances for the club, the pacey frontman was released in the summer, aged 23.
With plenty of pace and a good poachers instinct, Bowditch as a valuable striker inside the penalty area and does lots of running for his side. He wears the number 14 shirt for the Glovers.
League One Fixtures:
Brentford vs. Carlisle
Colchester vs. Norwich
Exeter vs. Leeds
Hartlepool vs. MK Dons
Huddersfield vs. Southend
Leyton Orient vs. Bristol Rovers
Millwall vs. Southampton
Stockport vs. Oldham
Swindon vs. Gillingham
Tranmere vs. Yeovil
Walsall vs. Brighton
Wycombe vs. Charlton
Alan Mahon could Return for Rovers Against Yeovil
Team News:
Les Parry has the option to recall midfielder Alan Mahon, though he may choose to leave the Irishman out because Rovers haven't been able to train on grass for over two weeks.
Striker Bas Savage is still a reserve match or two away from a return to the first team whilst any knocks picked up in Tranmere's F.A. Cup defeat to Wolves two weeks ago will now have been healed. With this in mind, Parry is expected to name the same side that played in the Wolves match.
Jones' Prediction: Tranmere Rovers 2-0 Yeovil Town
Tranmere's recent home form has been very good of, with Les Parry strengthening the Rovers defence to such an extent that they have kept four successive home clean sheets in Coca Cola League One, whilst Yeovil have struggled nearly as much as Rovers on the road this season.
For this reason, Tranmere should pick up a victory this weekend, a valuable three points that could see them climb up to 21st in the table if results go their way this weekend.
Rovers only problem is whether they can score the chances that come their way, having failed to net in their last two matches, with Terry Gornell and Ian Moore missing open goals.
Rovers though certainly have a side capable of beating Yeovil, though it is key that strikers Ian Moore and Craig Curran continue to do all the running they have done in recent weeks, as well as the midfielders continueing to provide the strikers with chances.
The Tranmere defence must also be very wary of the Yeovil frontline, who possess a lot of pace that could hamper club captain Ian Goodison.
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2010:01:15:18:26:59 by Deadly Submarine.
Thanks for the Preview Matt - excellent as ever!