Tranmere Rovers v Sheffield Wednesday Match Preview

Total Tranmere brings you all the stats, facts and team news you need to know ahead of Tuesday night's League One clash with Sheffield Wednesday at Prenton Park......

Copyright Historical Football Kits and reproduced by kind permission.

Tranmere Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday meet for the first time this season in a rearranged League One game that was supposed to take place on Boxing Day.

Since then, the two teams have had contrasting fortunes, with Rovers only losing two of their last eight matches, whilst Sheffield Wednesday are yet to win a league fixture this year and sacked manager Alan Irvine at the start of February after a dire run of form.

Rovers then will be confident of picking up a result a in this fixture, with a win able to lift them above the Owls in the table, and possibly as high as thirteenth in the table.

Sheffield Wednesday Factfile:

Ground: Hillsborough
Formed: 1867
Nickname:  The Owls
Manager: Gary Megson
League Finish 2009/10: 22nd (Championship)
Kit Colours: Blue and white striped shirt, black shorts and blue socks (home), black shirt with thin yellow stripes, black shorts and socks (away)

Previous Meetings:

Tranmere Rovers completed the double over Sheffield Wednesday the last season the two clubs were in the same division, a season when The Owls went up through the play-offs after Brian Little's Tranmere were knocked out at the semi-final stage by Hartlepool United.

The first time the two clubs met was in August when Rovers beat the Owls 4-2 at Prenton Park in front of 9,500 fans.

Rovers took the lead early on when Calvin Zola headed home Ryan Taylor's excellent cross from the right before Tranmere doubled their lead six minutes later when Mike Jackson netted from Gareth Roberts' corner.

A third goal of the season for MacLean had Sheffield Wednesday back in it on 27-minutes, but it didn't take Tranmere long to restore their two goal advantage as Ryan Taylor netted from the penalty spot on the half hour mark after Guy Branston had brought down Iain Hume inside the penalty area.

Before half time, Ndumbu-Nsungu finished from MacLean's cross to make it 3-2 at the break - a thrilling half of football which surely could not be bettered.

Tranmere managed to regain a two goal advantage shortly after the hour mark when Hume netted with a deflected shot, and although this was the final goal of the game, there was more to come in the game as Branston was sent off for an elbow on Dadi late in the second half.

At Hillsborough in April in front of nearly 23,000 fans, Tranmere picked up a wonderful 2-1 thanks to a magnificent performance by Jamaican midfielder Theo Whitmore.

Wednesday initially took the lead in the game through Chris Brunt on the half hour mark as he dusted himself down after being fouled by Mark Rankine to get up and convert from the penalty spot.

Tranmere levelled before half time however through centre-back Mike Jackson who brilliantly headed home Jason McAteer's cross to net his second of the season against the Owls.

Then, on the hour mark, Tranmere scored the winning goal as Iain Hume also scored his second of the season against the Owls, stabbed home Theo Whitmore's cross, this after Zigor Arnalde had been sent off for Wednesday.

Vital Stats: 

In eight previous home games against Sheffield Wednesday, Tranmere have lost just once, winning on four occasions

In those eight games, Tranmere have scored fifteen goals, conceding on eleven occasions

Over half of the league meetings between these two sides have been in the new Millenium

Tranmere are unbeaten in seven home games against the Owls, winning two of the last three

In two previous February meetings between the two teams, Tranmere have lost once and drawn once

On This Day:

2003: Simon Haworth scores his seventeenth goal of the season to secure Tranmere a 1-0 win away to Plymouth

1986: Rovers lose 3-1 at home to Wrexham in Division Four

1983: Another defeat for Tranmere as they lose 1-0 away to Darlington, also in Division Four

Tranmere have played nine previous games on this day, picking up five wins, two draws and two defeats.  In these nine games, they have scored seventeen goals and conceded on nine occasions.

On top of this, Rovers have played three home games on this day and picked up two wins, though they are without a victory on this day since 1947.

 The Form Book:

Sheffield Wednesday last six away games: LLLWLL
Tranmere Rovers last six home games:  DWDWLL

Coming into this game, Sheffield Wednesday's away form is hardly inspiring, with the clubs only away win in their six match sequence coming in the F.A. Cup.  They do in fact come into this game having lost six successive away league games, and seven out of eight away games in all competitions.

The Owls started their six match sequence with a massive 5-1 defeat away to Exeter City, with a strike from Miller in the first half nowhere near enough to salvage anything for Alan Irvine's side, before they made the short journey to Huddersfield and were defeated 1-0 at the Galpharm Stadium.

Wednesday then picked up their only away win in their last six away games, beating Bristol City 3-0 in the third round of the F.A. Cup, with Teale, Mellor and Morrison getting on the score sheet, before they returned to losing ways in their next away game as they were hammered 4-0 by Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road.

The Owls then lost 5-3 away from home to Peterborough in Alan Irvine's final game in charge of the club, before in their most recent game way from home, on Saturday, they lost 2-1 away to Rochdale under the stewardship of new manager Gary Megson.

Notable results away from home for Sheffield Wednesday this season include victories over MK Dons (4-1), Yeovil Town (2-0), Notts County (2-0) and Hartlepool United (5-0).

The Owls have played 14 times on the road this season and picked up thirteen of an available 42 points, this thanks to four wins, one draw and nine defeats.

Impressive results at Hillsborough for Sheffield Wednesday this season include wins over Rochdale (2-0), Bristol Rovers (6-2), Walsall (3-0) and Brighton (1-0).

Sheffield Wednesday come into this game in 14th place in npower League One, having played 28 games and picked up 36 of an available 84 points, this thanks to ten wins, six draws and twelve 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 four matches on the Wirral and with just one defeat in their last seven games, both home and away.

However, Les Parry's side started their six match sequence with successive home defeats, first as they were knocked out of the Johnstone Paints Trophy at the area semi-final stage against Huddersfield Town (2-0) before Leyton Orient defeated Tranmere 2-1 at Prenton Park.

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 before Rovers then let a 3-1 lead against Walsall slip as they drew 3-3, with Walsall netting twice in the last ten minutes.

John Welsh and Dale Jennings then scored as Tranmere recorded an excellent 2-0 win over Southampton before in Tranmere's most recent home game, they once again let a lead slip as they drew 1-1 with Rochdale.

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:
 

Along with Eric Nixon and Paul McLaren, one man who has featured for both sides is current Sheffield Wednesday player Richard Hinds.

Hinds started his career with Tranmere Rovers, where he came through the youth ranks and made his debut for the club during the 1998/99 season, playing in the final two games of the campaign.

Although he didn't play in any of Rovers' famous cup games during the 1999/2000 campaign, Hinds was still part of the Tranmere squad that was so successful in the cups under John Aldridge and started to make his way into the first team in Rovers' league games during the season that they got to Wembley.

In the following season, Hinds was a first team regular and played in many of Tranmere's famous cup games, featuring against the likes of Liverpool, Everton, Southampton and Leeds, all Premier League sides at the time.

He remained with Tranmere for two years following their relegation to Division Two in 2001, eventually racking up 69 appearances for the Wirral side before joining Hull City in 2003.

With Hull, Hinds won two promotions, moving from League Two to the Championship and making 49 appearances in the process before joining Scunthorpe United on a free transfer.

Two seasons with Scunthorpe saw Hinds win another promotion to the Championship as he made 98 appearances for the club and scored an impressive tally of nine goals - eight more than he'd scored whilst with his two other clubs combined!

At the end of the 2006/07 season, Hinds rejected the chance to stay with Scunthorpe, instead joining boyhood club Sheffield Wednesday on a free transfer.

Hinds became a firm fans favourite with the Owls, but a horrific leg injury in only the second game of the 2008/09 season whilst kept him out until the end of the season.

He returned to the Wednesday squad for their relegation campaign last season, but since they dropped to League One, he has made just one appearance, this in the cup against former club Scunthorpe, against whom he got sent off.

As he has struggled to get in the side, he has been linked with a move away from Hillsborough, but nothing has materialised as yet.

Wearing the number five shirt, it's unlikely that Hinds will feature against his former club on Tuesday.

Now aged 30, Hinds has so far made 70 appearances since moving to Hillsborough in 2007.

 One To Watch:

Experienced goalkeeper Nicky Weaver joined Sheffield Wednesday on a free transfer in August despite interest from Tranmere Rovers.

Weaver started his career with Mansfield Town where he made just one appearance before being snapped up by Manchester City for £200,000 in August 1997.

A former England U21 international, Weaver stayed with City for ten years, though between 2002/03 season and 2004/05 he was blighted by injury and made just one appearance for the club.

His first five years with the club were hugely successful though as City made the City number 1 jersey his own in making 146 league appearances for the club.

However, after his injury he struggled to get back in the team and joined Sheffield Wednesday for the first time on loan in November 2005.

It was a dream come true for Weaver, as he supported the Owls as a boy and during a two and a half month loan deal he played fourteen times for the club.

A return to Manchester City resulted in a further 31 appearances before he joined Charlton Athletic in July 2007 on a free transfer having made 207 appearances over ten years with the club.

Weaver was number one at Charlton over his two seasons with the club and made a further 70 league and cup appearances before joining Dundee United in August 2009 on a free transfer.

Five months later, having made eighteen appearances for the Scottish club, Weaver returned to England to play for Burnley, but failed to play a single game before his release at the end of the same season.

Upon his release, Weaver eventually joined Sheffield Wednesday and has since been made captain of the club following the departure of Darren Purse.

Now Number One with Sheffield Wednesday, the 31 year old is a dominating figure in the Wednesday goal who commands his area well and is a very strong shot stopper.

Since joining the Owls, he has played in all bar two of the clubs games this season, meaning he has featured on 36 occasions.

Around League One:

There are nine fixtures this Tuesday evening in League One, all rearranged matches that were postponed over the Christmas period due to the bad weather.

Bristol Rovers vs. Bournemouth
Exeter vs. Swindon
Hartlepool vs. Charlton
MK Dons vs. Leyton Orient
Notts County vs. Colchester
Oldham vs. Carlisle
Tranmere vs. Sheffield Wednesday
Walsall vs. Dagenham and Redbridge
Yeovil vs. Peterborough

Team News:

After a 3-1 win away to Plymouth on Saturday, Tranmere are expected to name an unchanged starting line up, meaning another start for Lucas Akins and only a place on the bench for Andy Robinson.

Tranmere boss Les Parry has revealed exciting striker-cum-winger Dale Jennings is expected to miss the game however with a groin injury, but Ian Goodison and Ash Taylor should both be fit for the game after picking up knocks against Plymouth.

This game comes too early for Max Blanchard, who continues to struggle with a foot injury, whilst Marlon Broomes and Ryan Fraughan are both out with knee injuries, but trio Alan Mahon, Timothy Cathalina and Zoumana Bakayogo are all fit enough to be called upon if needed.