Southend United v Tranmere Rovers Match Preview
By Matthew Jones
February 11 2010
Ahead of another important six pointer in Coca Cola League One for Tranmere Rovers, Matthew Jones gives you all the background information you need to know as Rovers travel to Roots Hall to take on Southend United.
Saturday 13th February 2010 - Coca-Cola League One
Southend U v Tranmere R
Kick-Off 3.00pm at Roots Hall
On Valentines day last year, Tranmere Rovers travelled to Southend and suffered a last minute defeat which put a huge dint in their promotion hopes. Nearly a year on, and with both sides at the other end of the table, another six pointer comes around at Roots Hall, with Tranmere determined to put in a performance like the one which saw them beat Gillingham on Tuesday.
Rovers will go in to the game looking to make it back to back wins in the League for the first time this season, and for the first time since April last year, knowing that a win could well lift them out of the relegation zone, and as high as sixteenth, if results go their way.
Previous Meetings:
In a game watched by under 4,500 spectators, Les Parry secured his third win as Tranmere manager against Southend earlier this season, meaning a win for Rovers in this fixture would give them the double over the Roots Hall side.
The result, which still left Tranmere rooted to the foot of the League One table, was secured courtesy of goals in either half, firstly by Jamaica international Ian Goodison, before Terry Gornell scored his second goal of the season late on.
Goodison got Tranmere's first, and his first of the season, after just ten minutes, when he headed home Gareth Edd's knock-down from close range after Australian Edds had connected with Shuker's deep cross at the far post.
Chances were few and far between for the remainder of the half, only John Welsh firing over from distance, but after the break, Tranmere came out all guns blazing and were unlucky not to go 2-0 up moments into the second half as Craig Curran's goal bound effort was turned round the near post by 'keeper Mildenhall.
From the resulting corner, Ash Taylor came close before just over twenty minutes later, Tranmere doubled their lead and secured the win as striker Terry Gornell fired into the net from close range as Shay Logan's cross perfectly dropped for the youngster.
Curren and Thomas-Moore came close in the final minutes, though Rovers couldn't add a third, not that it mattered, as they picked up three vital points against a side who have been in poor form ever since this match.
Vital Stats:
In 23 trips to Southend, Tranmere have picked up eight wins and six draws, losing just nine times
Rovers have lost just one of their last six and two of their last ten games against the Roots Hall side
In their 23 away fixtures against Southend, Tranmere have scored 26 goals, conceding 35
Southend have only kept one clean sheet in their last ten games against Tranmere
Despite playing each other on 47 occasions, these two sides have only previously met once in February, with Rovers suffering a 2-1 defeat at Roots Hall last season on Valentines Day
On This Day:
2001: John Aldridge's Tranmere lose 1-0 in front of just over 15,000 at Hillsbrough against Sheffield Wednesday
1999: Two years earlier, goals from Dave Challinor, Lee Jones and Graeme Allan secure Rovers a 3-2 home win over QPR
1993: John King's Tranmere suffer a disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Luton Town in Division One
Tranmere Rovers have played eleven previous fixtures on February 13th, picking up four wins, one draw and six defeats. In these eleven games they have scored eighteen goals and conceded nineteen times.
The Form Book:
Southend Last Six Home Games: DDLWLW
Tranmere Last Six Away Games: WDLDLW
Without a win in five and with just two wins in their last twelve, Southend come into this game bereft of confidence, having not won a game in 2010 and appearing to be in free-fall as they slip toward the division's relegation zone.
The Shrimpers actually started their six match sequence with a win, a 2-1 victory over MK Dons, with Barnard scoring a 90th minute winner from the penalty spot, before on December 1st Steve Tilson's side lost 3-0 at home to high flying Norwich.
Twelve days later, Southend recorded their second home win in three, and made it four wins out of five on home soil as they beat Hartlepool 3-2, thanks to two strikes from Barnard and a goal from Laurent, but since this result Southend haven't recorded a home win, as next up they lost 2-1 at home to local rivals Colchester United.
Two draws have followed since for the Roots Hall side, firstly a 1-1 draw with relegation threatened Wycombe and then a 2-2 draw with promotion hopefuls Swindon Town, Spencer and Baldwin scoring in the last five minutes to earn the point.
Other results of note at home for Southend include wins over Leyton Orient (3-0), Bristol Rovers (2-1) and Gillingham (1-0).
So far this season Southend have played fourteen home games and picked up twenty of an available 42 points, thanks to five wins, five draws and four defeats.
Impressive results away from Roots Hall for the Shrimpers this season include wins over Brighton and Hove Albion (3-2), Stockport County (2-0) and Leyton Orient (2-1).
Steve Tilsons' side come into this game in seventeenth place in the League One table, having picked up 31 of an available 90 points from their 30 games, thanks to eight wins, seven draws and fourteen defeats.
Of late, Tranmere's away form has been much improved, with Les Parry's side having only suffered two defeats in their last seven matches away from Prenton Park, recording two victories in that time, although one of them was in the F.A. Cup.
Rovers started their six match sequence with a win, as Ian Thomas-Moore and Terry Gornell scored in a 2-1 F.A. Cup win over Aldershot Town, though in their next fixture they were beaten 3-0 by promotion hopefuls Southampton at St. Marys, Rickie Lambert scoring twice for the Saints.
Rovers then drew 0-0 in a dull game at Oldham five weeks later in their next away game before four days later they suffered their first league defeat of 2010, losing 1-0 at MK Dons courtesy of a Jason Puncheon strike.
Since though, Rovers are unbeaten on the road, recording two excellent results and picking up four points. They firstly drew 1-1 at the Valley against Charlton, Sam Sodje scoring an own goal for Tranmere, before on Tuesday night Tranmere beat Gillingham 1-0 as Ian Thomas-Moore scored his eighth goal of the season.
Tranmere's only other notable results on the road this season were a 1-0 win at Wycombe courtesy of a Ian Thomas-Moore goal when John Barnes was still in charge of the club, a 1-0 F.A. Cup win at Leyton Orient and a 3-3 draw with Huddersfield Town.
Rovers come into this game having picked up just nine of an available 45 points on the road this season, having won two, drawn three and lost ten of their twelve games on the road.
Notable results at Prenton Park for Tranmere this season include wins over Gillingham (4-2), Bristol Rovers (2-0), Yeovil Town (2-1) and Southend United (2-0).
Les Parry's side come into this match in 22nd place in the League One table, having played 29 games and picked up 29 of an available 87 points, thanks to seven wins, four draws and ffifteen defeats.
Double Hit:
Southend defender has now been at Roots Hall for three and a half years, though his previous club before joining the Shrimpers was Tranmere Rovers, where he spent time on loan under manaer Brian Little.
Born in Yorkshire, Francis started his career with Bradford, where, having risen through the youth ranks, he made 57 appearances before earning a £200,000 move to Brammall Lane with Sheffield United.
However, the move to the Blades never worked out as Francis expected it to, as he spent time out on loan away from the club and only made fifteen appearances during two unsuccessful seasons with the club.
His first spell out on loan was with Grimsby, where in a one month stay at the club he made six appearances, before a month after leaving the Mariners, he went out on loan again, this time joining Tranmere Rovers as he replaced the out-going loanee Alex Bruce as the club's right-back.
After making a substitute appearance at Scunthorpe as his debut a day after signing, Francis made his full debut at Prenton Park a week later and scored an excellent 25-yard strike in a 2-2 draw for the club.
He spent a highly successful three months at Prenton Park and is rated by many as the best right-back to have played for the club since Ryan Taylor, now of Newcastle United, left for Wigan in Pre-season 2006.
In his three months at Prenton Park, Francis made seventeen appearances, scoring once, before returning to Brammal Lane, where he was released for his contract at the end of the season, joining Southend on a free-transfer.
Since joining Southend, Francis has never looked back. He spent a season in the Championship with the club, before they were relegated, and has now played 164 games for the club, scoring six goals.One To Watch: Steve Mildenhall
He may be a goalkeeper, but former Yeovil player Steve Mildenhall is certainly a name that sticks out on the Southend team sheet, with the player having impressed now for several sides within the Football League over the last few years.
Starting his career with his home-town club Swindon, Mildenhall made 38 appearances for the club, and spent time out on loan at Gloucester and Sailsbury, before joining Notts County for £150,000 in May 2001.
He stayed at Meadow Lane for three seasons, making 90 appearances for the club, and scoring once in a League Cup game, before moving to Oldham and later Grimsby over the next two seasons on free-transfers.
In 2006, he joined Yeovil, where his career began to take off. Over two seasons with the club, he made 85 appearances, where he impressed greatly and was thought by many as one of the best goalkeepers in League One.
When his contract ended in 2008, he made the move to Southend on a free-transfer and has never really looked back, having so far made 72 appearances in just one and a half seasons with the club.
Now 31, Mildenhall is coming towards his best years as a goalkeeper, and with nearly 350 career appearances to his name, he has the experience to match it.
The Southend number 1 is 6'05" tall and is an excellent shot stopper who commands his area well and is excellent at claiming the ball from crosses, free-kicks and corners.
League One Fixtures:
With Southampton's game against Hartlepool postponed due to the Saint's excellent F.A. Cup run, and with Charlton hosting Bristol Rovers live on Sky Sports on Monday night, there are just ten fixtures taking place in Coca Cola League One on Saturday afternoon:
Brentford vs. Wycombe
Brighton vs. Norwich
Carlisle vs. MK Dons
Huddersfield vs. Swindon
Leyton Orient vs. Leeds
Millwall vs. Exeter
Oldham vs. Walsall
Southend vs. Tranmere
Stockport vs. Colchester
Yeovil vs. Gillingham
The League Table:
Tranmere start this match in 22nd place in League One, though if results go their way, Les Parry's side could move up to seventeenth with a win, out of the relegation zone for the first time since August 22nd. Rovers are level on points with Gillingham and Oldham above them on 29 points, whilst Brighton, Exeter and Southend are all within touching distance.
Brighton have a tough game against Norwich, whilst Exeter travel to Millwall, so should Rovers win I'd expect them to leapfrog these two sides, though Oldham could get something against Walsall and Gillingham may sneak a point at Yeovil. If Tranmere win though, this would lift them above the Gills.
Team News:
After making four changes for Tuesday's win over Gillingham, the only changes to the line-up Les Parry is likely to make on Saturday are those that are enforced, with midfielder Ash Taylor likely to miss out with a hamstring injury. This would mean Gareth Edds coming in to replace him in midfield, whilst Sordell, McCready and Broomes are all expected to retain their places in the side. Ian Goodison could be on the bench for Tranmere as could be Bas Savage or Kithson Bain.
Jones' Prediction: Southend 1-2 Tranmere
Tranmere have struggled to get back to back wins all season, but I think this could be their chance, and it could be this game that lifts them out of the relegation zone for the first time since August, something that would be a huge boost to the squad.
Tranmere though have to play just like they did against Gillingham on Tuesday; stiffle their opposition attackers, starve the side of chances and constantly harry and close down their Southend counterparts.
Any chances that come their way, Tranmere must take, whilst it is important that forwards Sordell, Thomas-Moore and Curran continue to do all the vital closing down that they have been doing in recent weeks, vital workrate that helps the team defend.
Southend have been starved of goals since the January transfer window departure of Lee Barnard, though Rovers shouldn't be complacent ahead of the game, the Shrimpers still have many players capable of producing that magic moment, whilst it is important that Gareth Edds continues to get into the opposition box and drive Rovers forward.
Paul McLaren is also vital in this match, his passing his proved key in Tranmere's last two away games, whilst he has also been getting stuck in more, something that has been missing from his game since his return to Prenton Park in the summer.
I think Tranmere are capable of winning this game though, they just have to go to Southend confident of winning, but not too confident that they think the game is already won, whilst they must also attack Steve Tilson's side and not be scared of losing.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:02:13:00:05:19 by Deadly Submarine.
I'm not saying I don't rate Fraughan because I definitely do but right now I can't see him returning from loan!