Tranmere Rovers v Rochdale Match Preview

Total Tranmere brings you all the stats, facts and team news you need to know ahead of Tuesday's game against Rochdale in League One...

Exactly one month after their first league meeting for 22 years, Tranmere and Rochdale meet again on Tuesday evening, this time at Prenton Park.

The team's fortunes have been someone different since their last meeting, with Tranmere continuing to stick around the relegation zone, whilst a great run of form has seen Rochdale up into the top half of the table and within four points of the play-offs, but there is still very little between the two sides and Tranmere will be confident of picking up a third successive home win in this fixture.

It won't be an easy game for either side however and it is sure to be a tough, hard fought game at Prenton Park as both sides look to pick up valuable points that could continue to propel them up the table.

Rochdale Factfile:

Ground: Spotland
Formed: 1907
Nickname:  The Dale
Manager:  Keith Hill
League Finish 2009/10: 3rd (League Two)
Kit Colours: Blue shirt with black stripes and black arms,white shorts and blue socks (home), purple shirt with white trim around collar and shoulders, purple shorts and socks (away), white shirt with black trim, black shorts and white socks (third)

Previous Meetings:

Rochdale and Tranmere last met exactly a month ago on New Years Day, with Rochdale recording a valuable 3-2 win in a closely fought but error ridden game.

Dale took the lead early on from the penalty spot with Gary Jones slotting home after Marlon Broomes had rugby tackled Chris O'Grady in the penalty area, a tackle the saw him red carded.

Following the sending off, ten man Tranmere battled back and just before half time equalised through Joss Labadie who netted his first goal of the season from near the penalty spot as he stabbed home a loose ball, but only two minutes later it was advantage Rochdale again as Gary Jones slid in to prod the ball home from in side the six yard box after the winger had been allowed to run unchallanged down the right.

After half-time, Tranmere were the better side as they battled hard to get back into the game, with Cresswell and Jennings coming close before Joss Labadie was bundled down in the area, with Ian Thomas-Moore stepping up to slot home the resulting spot kick.

However, Rovers were once again their own worst enemy as Grant rose unmarked to head home a corner from no more than ten yards with just six minutes left and just three minutes after Rovers had equalised.

Vital Stats:
 

In 59 home games against Rochdale, Tranmere have recorded 43 wins, with Rochdale winning six times

In those 59 games, Rovers have scored on no fewer than 164 goals, conceding just 67 times

These two sides have meet on 105 previous occasions in the league, but this is only the twelfth time they have played a league meeting outside of the Football League's basement division

Rovers are unbeaten in their last thirteen home games against Rochdale, a run dating back to 1975/76

Each side has won twice in the five previous matches against each other in the month of February

On This Day:

2003: An own goal is all that is required for Ray Mathias'  Tranmere as they beat Port Vale 1-0 at Prenton Park

1997: Graham Branch and Ian Thomas-Moore score for Tranmere in a 2-2 draw against Reading

1971: Rovers lose 4-3 to Torquay at Plainmore in Division 4

Tranmere Rovers have played nine previous games on this day, picking up four wins, four defeats and just one defeat.  In these nine games, they have scored on fifteen occasions and conceded 20 times.

However, Rovers have also played five previous home games on this day and are, as of yet, undefeated, picking up four wins and drawing once, scoring eleven times in the process.

 The Form Book:

Rochdale last six away games: WWWLDL
Tranmere Rovers last six home games:  WDWLLL

Rochdale have been in solid form since the turn of the year and this is reflected in their away form, with the Spotland side coming into this game with three successive away victories behind them.

Keith Hill's side started their six match sequence with three successive games without a win however, starting with a 2-0 defeat at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday, before a Gary Jones penalty, one of his fourteen goals so far this season, helped the club secure a 1-1 draw with Carlisle United.

Against Peterborough United in their final game of 2010, Rochdale then lost 2-1 at London Road before starting 2011 in a somewhat better run of form, beating Oldham Athletic 2-1 on January 3rd thanks to two goals from ex-Latics striker Chris O'Grady.

Successive away wins have since followed for the Dale, starting with a 1-0 win against Dagenham, O'Grady again getting the winner, before another Gary Jones penalty secured the three points in a 1-0 win over Yeovil.

Rochdale have recorded three other away victories this season, beating Southampton 2-0 and Brentford 3-1 in the league, whilst they also recorded a 2-1 League Cup first round victory at Oakwell against Championship side Barnsley.

Keith Hill's side have played thirteen times on the road this season and picked up eighteen of an available 39 points, this thanks to five wins, three draws and five defeats.

Impressive results at Spotland for Dale this season include wins over Dagenham (3-2), Huddersfield Town (3-0) and Walsall (3-2).

Rochdale come into this game in tenth place in npower League One, having played 25 games and picked up 36 of an available 75 points, this thanks to nine wins, nine draws and seven defeats.

Tranmere's home form this season has been somewhat indifferent, with Rovers recording a dissapointing five defeats so far at Prenton Park this season.

However, they do come into this game without a defeat in their last three matches on the Wirral and will be hoping to extend this run of form against Rochdale on Tuesday.

However, Les Parry's side then started a run of three successive home defeats as they firstly lost 1-0 to Hartlepool United after an error by Peter Gulacsi, before the Wirral side were knocked out of the Johnstone Paints Trophy at the area semi-final stage against Huddersfield Town (2-0).

Rovers then slipped to a 2-1 home defeat against Leyton Orient before in their first home game of the new year, Les Parry's side beat Carlisle United 2-1 despite missing two penalties, with Ian Goodison the hero as he scored a quite fantastic left footed strike.

Tranmere then let a 3-1 lead against Walsall slip as they drew 3-3 before in their most recent home game, John Welsh and Dale Jennings scored as Tranmere recorded an excellent 2-0 win over Southampton.

Other impressive results for Tranmere Rovers this season include wins over Peterborough United (1-0), MK Dons (4-2) and Plymouth Argyle (1-0).

Double Hit:

Current Morecambe winger Chris Shuker had a brief loan spell at Rochdale whilst he was trying to break into the Manchester City first team.

Liverpool born Shuker started his career with City, coming through the youth ranks with the club, but he made just seven appearances during a four year stint at a professional in Manchester.

It was during this time that Shuker played for Rochdale though, as, following short stays with Macclesfield (eight games, one goal) and Walsall (five games), Rochdale signed Shuker on a three month stint in August 2003.

Whilst at Spotland, Shuker impressed and made fifteen league and cup appearances for the League Two side, scoring his only goal against former club Macclesfield.

On his return to Man City, he went out on loan again, this time joining Hartlepool, where he played fourteen times and scored once in another three month spell.

Shuker's loan stint at Hartlepool came to an end when he joined Barnsley, then a League One club, for a nominal fee.

With the Tykes, Shuker began to build up a strong reputation as an electric and exciting lower league winger, capable of creating a simple bit of magic with the drop of a shoulder or the flick of his right boot.

In just over two seasons with Barnsley, Shuker became a success as he played 114 times for the club, scoring on eighteen occasions, as well as weighing in with a number of assists.

After helping Barnsley win promotion to the Championship in 2006, Shuker, however, was deemed surplus to requirements and joined Ronnie Moore's new regime at Tranmere Rovers.

His first season with the club was a success, as Shuker was voted into the League One Team of the Year by his fellow professionals.

He started the following season in the same vein of form, however, a knee injury picked up on Boxing Day against Carlisle was to prove so severe that it hampered the remainder of Shuker's time at Prenton Park.

The injury kept him out until March but upon his return, Shuker just never seemed to be the same player.  He had lost the little spark and the confidence to take men on.

On brief occasions over the next two and a half years, Shuker showed signs of his old flourishing self, but at the end of the 2009/10 season, he was released with few complaints.

He ended his Tranmere career having made 144 appearances for the club, scoring on eighteen occasions, including just nineteen times under Les Parry.

After being released by Tranmere, Shuker had a trial with Motherwell in Scotland and Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand before signing for Morecambe in August.

After being handed the number nine shirt with the club, the 28-year old, who stands at just 5'04, has gone on to make 21 appearances for the Lancashire side, scoring on two occasions.

 One To Watch:

Centre-back Craig Dawson is currently on a season long loan deal at Rochdale from Premier League side West Bromwich Albion.

Dawson signed for the Baggies in the summer and immediately returned to Spotland on loan as the Roberto Di Matteo looked for his player to gain more first team experience before breaking into the West Brom side.

The defender was with Manchester City before signing for local non-league outfit Radcliffe Borough half way through the 2007/08 season.

He became a firm fan favourite with the club, winning the player of the season award in 2008/09, the same season in which he signed for Rochdale after also receiving offers from Bury, Crewe and Port Vale.

Dale signed Dawson midway through the 08/09 campaign, but he remained with Radcliffe Borough on loan until the end of the season, eventually leaving the club having scored 15 goals in 75 games, an impressive record for a centre-back.

In this first season with a Football League club, Dawson helped Rochdale to promotion to League One for the first time in nearly 50 years and didn't miss a single game for the club, playing 52 games and scoring twelve goals, form that earned him a move to the Hawthornes with West Brom for an undisclosed fee.

He immediately returned to Rochdale and has since played 22 games for the club, scoring a further two goals.

Aged 20, Dawson is a towering centre-back, although he only stands at just over six foot tall, who wins a staggering amount of headers in both boxes, and is somebody who will have to be watched carefully by the Tranmere defence.

The Rochdale number 26 is also quick across the ground and strong in the tackle and will be a tough player for Rovers to get round this Saturday.

Around League One:

 There is a full round of fixtures in League One this week, with ten fixtures on Tuesday evening and a further two, Bristol Rovers vs. MK Dons and Notts County vs. Walsall on Wednesday.

Bournemouth vs. Swindon
Charlton vs. Colchester
Dagenham vs. Brentford
Exeter vs. Southampton
Huddersfield vs. Carlisle
Leyton Orient vs. Brighton
Oldham vs. Hartlepool
Peterborough vs. Sheffield Wednesday
Tranmere vs. Rochdale
Yeovil vs. Plymouth 

Team News:

Tranmere will have to make at least one change to their match day squad from their 0-0 draw with Swindon seven days ago following Ian Thomas-Moore's transfer to Rotherham, and he is likely to be replaced on the bench by new signing Andy Robinson.

Zoumana Bakayogo is also likely to be on the bench too after missing the last two matches with an injured left foot whilst Lateef Elford-Alliyu plays what should be the final game of his loan spell, unless Tranmere extend it.

Les Parry has a number of injury concerns however, especially in defence, as after picking up an injury that will rule him out for the rest of the season against Southampton, Marlon Broomes will once again miss out, along with Ian Goodison, Timothy Cathalina and Max Blanchard.