Tranmere Rovers vs. Accrington Stanley match preview
By Matthew Jones
August 30 2010
Total Tranmere brings you an indepth match preview ahead of Tuesday's game against Accrington Stanley, with all the stats, facts and team news you need to know for the match
Copyright Historical Football Kits and reproduced by kind permission.
Rovers haven't had the best start to the season, winning just once in their opening six games, and this will be a tough test for them against a tough Accrington side with an ungiving defence, but Les Parry's side will be hopeful of picking up a win, progressing to the second round of this season's trophy and gaining some vital confidence.
Tranmere will be hoping to emulate their runs to the final of the trophy in 1990 and 1991, and they know anything similar to that run this season will be a huge success and hopefully a boost as they look to up their performances in the league.
Accrington Stanley Factfile:
Ground: The Crown Ground
Formed: 1968
Nickname: Stanley
Manager: John Coleman
League Finish 2009/10: 15th (League Two)
Kit
Colours: All red shirt, shorts and socks (home), black shirt with white trim on sleeves, white shorts and black socks
(away)
Previous Meetings:
The last time these two clubs met was in an F.A. Cup first round replay during the 2008/09 season.
Following a dire 0-0 draw at the Crown Ground, the two sides headed to Prenton Park to face each other again as they looked to book their place in the second round for a home game against Peterborough.
The game, played live on Sky Sports, was again not a great spectacle, with only 2,560 fans turning up to see Rovers win 1-0 thanks to a second half strike from Chris Shuker.
The former Manchester City player scored the only goal of the game on 69 minutes as he converted from Steve Jennings' pass, firing across goalkeeper Arthur and into the net.
Rovers had looked threatening early on, with Ian Moore hitting the bar with a chip, whilst Danny Coyne had to make a couple of saves to deny Stanley in the first half, but in truth it was a poor game with very few chances, with Shuker's goal easily enough to settle the tie.
Vital Stats (Including Accrington Stanley as Accrington, who folded in 1968):
Tranmere and Accrington have met on 34 previous occasions at Prenton Park, with Rovers winning on 22 occasions, as well as picking up five draws and just seven defeats
Rovers have kept three successive clean sheets against Accrington
Tranmere are unbeaten in five cup matches against the Lancashire side, picking up three wins and two draws, with all the wins coming at Prenton Park
Rovers have scored 94 goals at Prenton Park against Accrington, with Stanley netting on just 32 occasions!
Tranmere have scored four or more goals against Accrington ten times in 34 home games, including three times when they have scored eight or more
On This Day:
2002: Ray Mathias' Tranmere suffer their customary defeat at Ashton Gate, losing 2-0 to Bristol City
1996: Tranmere are defeated 1-0 by Bradford City in Division One
1991: John King's Tranmere hold Grimsby Town to a 2-2 draw at Blundell Park
Tranmere
have played 22 previous games on this day, picking up six wins, six draws and ten defeats. In these 22 games, they have scored 26 goals and conceded on 29 occasions.
Rovers have played one previous cup game on this day, drawing 1-1 with Crewe in 1982, whilst they have only won one of their last eight matches on August 31st.
The Form Book:
Accrington Stanley first three away games games: WDD
Tranmere Rovers first three home games: LLL
Accrington Stanley have had a strong start to the season, coming into this game having not conceded a goal so far this season in the league, whilst they have also defeated higher placed opposition in the League Cup.
John Coleman's side started the season with a 0-0 draw at home to last year's play-off semi-finalists, Aldershot, before beating Doncaster Rovers 2-1 in their first away game of the season in the Carling Cup.
Stanley then drew 0-0 with Northampton Town before beating Macclesfield Town 3-0 thanks to a hatrick from midfielder Sean McConville, who'd previously only scored one goal for the club.
Accrington were then defeated 3-2 despite a spirited display by Premier League side Newcastle in the second round of the Carling Cup, whilst in their most recent game they recorded their third 0-0 draw of the season against Oxford United in League Two.
John Coleman's side come to Prenton Park then having lost once in six games so far this season, whilst they have picked up six of an available 12 points in the league, leaving them in seventh place.
The Crown Ground side made a number of signings this summer, including Charlie Barnett and Andy Parkinson, both former Rovers players, whilst last Friday they signed Terry Gornell from Tranmere.
Wirral born Craig Lindfield also joined from Macclesfield on a free transfer, whilst Alex Cisak arrived from Leicester City and Ray Putterill signed from Liverpool, with Stanley also making a further four signings this summer.
Tranmere Rovers have not had the best start to the season, having lost all three of their home matches this season, and having won just once in their opening six matches.
However, Rovers have, on the main, looked stronger with each passing game and will hope that soon their strikers begin to click and start banging in the goals.
Rovers started the season with a 2-1 defeat to Oldham Athletic before picking up their only win of the season to date as Ian Goodison scored in a 1-0 win over Walsall in the Carling Cup.
Tranmere then drew 0-0 at the Galpharm Stadium against big spending Huddersfield Town, but all the hard work done in those two games was undone by a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth a week later.
Rovers then lost, undeservedly, to Swansea City in the Carling Cup second round, with the Championship side recovering from 1-0 down to win 3-1, before in their most recent game, Tranmere came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Dagenham and Redbridge, with Enoch Showunmi netting for the second time in two games.
Rovers then come into this game in 22nd place in League One, having picked up just two points from an available twelve in their opening four games, whilst they have won one, drawn two and lost three of their six games so far this campaign.
Double Hit:
Along with midfielder Charlie Barnett and striker Terry Gornell, Andy Parkinson is a former Tranmere player who signed for Accrington Stanley this summer.
The Liverpool born striker joined the club from Cambridge United after a spell on loan with Gateshead last season.
Parkinson started his career with Liverpool, where he came through the youth ranks with the likes of Jamie Carragher, Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard, but was signed by Tranmere in 1996 having failed to make an appearance for the club.
He spent seven (mainly) happy seasons at Prenton Park, hitting the heights of his talents whilst on the Wirral as he became one of the most feared players outside of the Premier League.
With pace to burn, skill and a willingness to run at and take on his opponents, as well as a keen eye for goal, Parkinson became a key player for Tranmere as, under John Aldridge, they reached the League Cup final in 2000 and F.A. Cup Quarter final in 2000 and 2001.
However, injury hampered the final year of Parkinson's time at Prenton Park, and he was released in 2003, joining Sheffield United, where he failed to establish himself in the first team and was sent out on loan to Notts County.
Unfortunately for Parkinson, his injury at Tranmere had robbed him of his key asset; his pace. He would never hit such form again in his career, and since leaving Sheffield United in 2004, he has not played in the Championship.
After being released by the Blades, "Parky" joined Grimsby, where he stayed for two years, making 95 appearances and scoring thirteen times, before returning to Notts County on a free transfer in 2006.
Parkinson spent another two years in the Football League with Notts County, making 73 appearances for the Meadow Lane side, before being released at the end of the 2007/08 season.
Upon his release, Parkinson joined Cambridge United, and helped the side to the Conference Play-Offs in his first season with the club.
However, earlier in the same season, Parkinson had suffered another horrific injury, meaning he made just 12 appearance in his first season with the club.
He never really recovered his form for Cambridge, making just 29 appearances in two years for the club, whilst he spent the latter part of last season on loan with Gateshead, managed by former Rovers boss Brian Little.
After being released by Cambridge in the summer, Parkinson made a surprise return to the Football League as he signed for Accrington Stanley.
The 31-year old though has played in all of Accrington's games so far this season, and impressed in his only start, a 3-2 cup defeat to Newcastle United last week.
Having made nearly 450 career appearances, Parkinson is a vastly experienced player who despite having lost some of his pace, still has the ability and skill to scare defenders.
One To Watch:
Midfielder Charlie Barnett has had a strong start to the 2010/11 season after joining Accrington on a free transfer.
Liverpool born Barnett was released by Tranmere at the end of the 09/10 season and was signed by Accrington manager John Coleman just days before the start of the new season.
Barnett came through the academy at Liverpool but was released by the club without making an appearance, signing for Tranmere after a successful trial in 2008.
However, after signing for Rovers, Barnett struggled to break into the first team and had a rumoured fall out with manager Ronnie Moore.
He made just three appearances in the first three months of the season, but in October he made his break through into the first team and became a key player for Rovers as they finished seventh in League One, missing out on a place in the play-offs by just two minutes.
Barnett hesitated to sign a new contract at Prenton Park at the end of the 08/09 season, and after penning a new one-year deal, he again had a fall out with John Barnes, and then Les Parry, making just ten appearances for Tranmere last season before being released.
Since joining Accrington this summer though, following an unsuccessful trial with Falkirk, Barnett has had a good start to the season.
The 21-year old has started five of Accrington's six games this season, playing a key role from midfield as the side have gone unbeaten so far in the league this season.
Wearing the number eight shirt for Accrington, Barnett is a creative midfielder who can play on either wing or in the centre.
He has pace and skill, as well as the ability to beat his man, which will pose a huge problem to Tranmere's defence in this fixture.
Football League Trophy, Northern Section Round One:
As usual, eight teams have been given byes in the First Round of this seasons trophy, leaving sixteen teams in action in eight ties in on Tuesday and Wednesday night in the Northern Section of the draw:
Hartlepool vs. Northampton
Tranmere vs. Accrington
Macclesfield vs. Morecambe
Oldham vs. Shrewsbury
Port Vale vs. Rochdale
Rotherham vs. Lincoln
Walsall vs. Chesterfield
Sheffield Wednesday vs. Notts County (Wednesday)
Team News:
Les Parry has several injury worries for his side ahead of Tuesday's game against Accrington Stanley.
Both Paul McLaren and Joss Labadie came off injured in Tranmere's 2-2 draw with Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday, leaving Rovers short in midfield, as both are likely to miss this fixture as well.
With Alan Mahon and Ash Taylor also missing for the game, this leaves Rovers without four midfielders, and as such leaves them extremely short in an area where they have struggled this season.
Such injuries could force Tranmere into a 4-4-2 formation, with a midfield pairing of John Welsh and Max Blanchard, whilst Ryan Fraughan and Kayleden Brown would occupy the wing positions.
Nick Wood and Ian Thomas-Moore are both doubtful for the game after the missing Saturday's game at Victoria Road due to injury, meaning Zoumana Bakayogo could start for the first time this season at centre-back, with one of Liam Benson or Max Power likely to be named amongst the substitutes.
Jones' Prediction: Tranmere 1-0 Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley have had a strong start to the season, whilst Tranmere's form in their three games at Prenton Park so far has not been at all good.
However, there's no reason to believe that Tranmere can't turn that around this weekend and pick up their second win of the season, and first at home, against John Coleman's League Two side.
Rovers have, on the main, been getting better, with players beginning to gel and the likes of Enoch Showunmi getting fitter, resulting in Tranmere looking a more complete team.
Three goals in their last two games also show that Tranmere are beginning to get their act together in front of goal so hopefully Rovers will be more of a potent threat when they face the Accrington 'keeper.
The big worry for Les Parry's side though is injuries, and with both Paul McLaren and Joss Labadie likely to miss the game, Tranmere look very short in midfield and may have to call upon inexperienced replacements in their place.
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Every ball is a white ball............TRFC
I hope he does well for them. over the season that is, not tonight however
. Well just well enough to look good, but not well enough to score.