Hartlepool United v Tranmere Rovers Match Preview
By Matthew Jones
April 21 2011
Total Tranmere brings you all the stats, facts and team news you need to know ahead of Good Friday's League One trip to Victoria Park to take on Hartlepool United....
Copyright Historical Football Kits and reproduced by kind permission.
Hartlepool United Factfile:
Ground: Victoria Park
Formed: 1908
Nickname: The Monkey Hangers
Manager: Mick Wadsworth
League Finish 2009/10: 20th
Kit
Colours:Blue and white striped shirt, blue shorts, white socks
(home), Orange shirt, black shorts and orange socks with white stripe
(away)
Previous Meetings:
Hartlepool United beat Tranmere 1-0 at Prenton Park when the two sides met on a cold Tuesday night on the Wirral in late November.
The fixture was another one of those games where Tranmere played pretty well, but their inability to finish their chances cost them the game, though Rovers arguably did field one of their weakest sides of the season, with Showunmi, Welsh and Labadie all unavailable for selection.
Rovers had the first chance of the match, though Ian Thomas-Moore could only direct his header straight at the 'keeper, before Liddle volleyed straight at Gulacsi for the visitors.
Cresswell and Mantom fired off target for Tranmere, before Peter Gulacsi saved well from Collins at the other end, tipping the ball out of play.
However, from the resuling set-piece, Gulacsi somehow managed to punch the ball into his own net, scoring an own goal that gave the visitors the lead and saw Tranmere's heads drop.
Jennings hit a 35-yard strike goalwards which required saving, however by this time it was too little too late, as Gulacsi's disappointing mistake cost Tranmere a crucial point, at the very least.
Vital Stats:
These two sides have met 57 times at Victoria Park, with Hartlepool picking up 27 wins to Tranmere's 15, a long with a further 15 draws
Rovers have failed to win in any of their last five trips to Hartlepool
Hartlepool have netted 99 times in their 57 home games against Tranmere, whilst Rovers have scored on 62 occasions
All 109 league meetings between these two sides have come in the Football League's bottom two divisions
In total, Tranmere have scored 199 goals against Hartlepool in 117 matches
On This Day:
2006: Ronnie Moore's Tranmere are hammered 3-0 at Prenton Park by bogie side Bristol City
2000: John Aldridge's Rovers are beaten 2-0 by Manchester City at Maine Road in Division One
1988: A point at home to Torquay thanks to a 1-1 draw keeps Tranmere in midtable in Division Four
Tranmere Rovers have played 20 previous games on this day, picking up seven wins, three draws and ten defeats. In these 20 games, they have scored and conceded 26 goals.
Rovers have failed to win any of their last four games on this day, a run dating back to 1974, whilst they have not won away from home on this day since a 3-1 success over Wrexham in 1922, playing eight games since.
The Form Book:
Hartlepool United last six away games: WLLWWL
Tranmere Rovers last six home games: WLDLDD
Hartlepool United's inconsistency has been their worst enemy this season, and is the reason they lie midtable in League One as opposed to pushing on towards the play-offs.
Mick Wadsworth's side indeed were well placed to push on for a promotion challange at the turn of the year, however, having failed to win back-to-back games since New Years Day, their push has somewhat fizzled out.
The Monkey Hangers started their six match sequence with a defeat against high flying Huddersfield Town, losing 1-0 against the promotion chasing side who are yet to lose a league game in 2011, before Andy Monkhouse scored twice as Mick Wadsworth's side defeated Brentford 3-0 at Victoria Park.
Sweeney and Collins were then on target at Hartlepool made it successive home wins in their next home game, beating relegation favourites Plymouth Argyle in the North East, before three days later they lost 1-0 against Leyton Orient.
This was followed by another defeat, this time 2-0 against in form Rochdale, before in their most recent home game, Hartlepool beat Yeovil Town 3-1 thanks to strikes from Boyd, Collins and Larkin.
In six of their home league defeats this season, Hartlepool have failed to score.
Other notable results at Victoria Park for Hartlepool United this season include wins over Brighton and Hove Albion (3-1), Charlton Athletic (2-1), Peterborough United (2-0) and Colchester United (1-0).
The Monkey Hangers have played 21 away games so far this season, picking up 31
of an available 63 points, this thanks to nine wins, four draws and eight defeats.
Impressive
results away from home for Mick Wadsworth's side include successes over Exeter City (2-1), Huddersfield Town (1-0), Bournemouth (1-0) and Tranmere Rovers (1-0).
Hartlepool United come into this game in 14th place in the League One table having picked up 54 of an available 126 points for 42 games so far, this thanks to fifteen wins, nine draws and 18 defeats.
Tranmere's way record this season has been much improved on last seasons efforts, with Rovers having picked up two more away league wins already than last season, and this is reflected in their record as they come into this game with just two defeats in their last six on the road.
They started their six match sequence with successive 1-1 draws, firstly against Exeter as Zoumana Bakayogo's early goal gave Tranmere a half-time lead before they were pegged back, whilst in their next away game it was a similar story, with Enoch Showunmi giving Rovers an early lead against Charlton before the home side equalised.
Les Parry's side then put in a battling display against league leaders Brighton and Hove Albion before eventually going down 2-0 against Gus Poyet's side, who still haven't lost a home league game this season, whilst Tranmere then picked up their third draw in four away games as they played out a dull 0-0 draw with Oldham in front of the Sky Sports camera's.
Rovers were then hammered 4-0 after a shocking display against Sheffield Wednesday in their next away game, before in their most recent fixture on the road, Ian Goodison and Adam McGurk scored the goals that gave Tranmere a very welcome 2-1 win over Bournemouth at Dean Court.
Other notable results for the Super Whites on the road this season include wins over Walsall (4-1), Bristol Rovers (1-0) and Notts County (1-0).
The
Wirral side have played 21 away league games this season and picked up
21 of an available 63 points, this thanks to five wins, six draws and ten defeats.
Impressive
results at home for Les Parry's side this season include wins over MK Dons (4-2), Southampton (2-0), Peterborough United (1-0) and Dagenham and Redbridge (2-0).
Les
Parry's side currently lie in 18th place in League One, having picked
up 49 of an available 126 points from 42 games, thanks to thirteen wins,
ten draws and nineteen defeats.
Double Hit:
Tranmere signed Ian Thomas-Moore from Hartlepool United on January transfer window deadline day in 2008, with the player re-joining the club he supported as a boy and made his debut for in the Football League in the 1994/95 season.
Thomas-Moore stayed at Prenton Park for three years before moving on to Nottingham Forest for £1,000,000, and spending time at West Ham on loan after failing to establish himself in the Forest team.
A £800,000 move to Stockport in 1998 revitalised his career, as over two years he made over 100 appearances for the club, before joining Burnley for £1,000,000 in November 2000.
A five year stint at Turf Moor saw Moore spend time out on the wing, as well as in his favoured striker position, but his excellent work rate earned him many fans at Burnley, where he made over 200 appearances and scored fifty goals for the club.
In 2005 he moved on to Leeds United, but was in and out of the first team at Elland Road, and fell out with manager Dennis Wise, before moving to Hartlepool in 2007.
He last only eight months at Hartlepool, as although he was successful, scoring nine goals in 30 games, he didn't enjoy the journey to the North East from his Warrington home ever day, and was snapped up by Tranmere on a free-transfer in January 2008.
Moore remained at Prenton Park for almost exactly three years, enjoying some of the best form of
his career and he was given the captain's arm band for the club this
season.
A dispute over his contract led to Thomas-Moore handing in a transfer
request at the club however, and despite this being rejected,
speculation around his departure continued and in January, after a hot and cold season, disrupted by numerous injuries and rumoured off the field disputes, the striker eventually left for Rotherham.
He left Rovers having scored nine goals for the club this season, adding to his fifteen from year before which helped secure Tranmere's League One status.
In total, combining his two spells for the club, Ian Thomas-Moore netted 51 goals for Tranmere Rovers from 207 appearances.
Since joining Rotherham, his dad, Ronnie Moore, has been sacked as manager of the club, and injury has once again restricted the number of appearances he has been able to make.
His only goals were a hatrick in a 6-0 win over Lincoln, though he hasn't played for the club since the end of March.
30 year old midfielder Andy Monkhouse continues to be an important player for Hartlepool United, having played in all of their 50 games so far this season.
Leeds born Monkhouse came through the youth ranks at Rotherham United and actually scored on his debut against Hartlepool, aged eighteen.
he stayed with Rotherham for eight years, playing under former Tranmere boss Ronnie Moore at Millmoor, but injuries restricted the number of appearances he could make for the club, and in 2006 he joined Swindon on a one-year contract having scored thirteen times in 147 games for the club.
Whilst at Swindon, Monkhouse struggled to make a place in the team his own, and was sent out on loan to Hartlepool United during the 2006/07 season.
His form whilst out on loan with the Monkey Hangers was enough to convince the club to sign him permanently, and in January 2007 he joined the club for an undisclosed fee, having made eleven appearances and scored twice for Swindon.
Since moving to Hartlepool, Monkhouse has rarely needed to look back, as he has gone from strength to strength and become a hugely important player for the Victoria Park side.
He has now made 194 appearances since joining the club permanently, scoring 33 goals, eight of which have come this season.
A hugely influential wide man, Monkhouse, who wears the number eleven shirt for Hartlepool, has plenty of skill and trickery down the wing, and is capable of providing excellent crosses to his strikers in the box.
Around League One:
League One fixtures are split this weekend, with six games on Good Friday and the remaining six fixtures taking place on Saturday, before the Easter Monday round of fixtures.
Friday:
Brentford vs. Colchester
Dagenham and Redbridge vs. Plymouth
Exeter vs. Oldham
Hartlepool United vs. Tranmere
Leyton Orient vs. Peterborough
MK Dons vs. Huddersfield
Saturday:
Brighton vs. Southampton
Bristol Rovers vs. Charlton
Rochdale vs. Carlisle
Swindon vs. Notts County
Walsall vs. Sheffield Wednesday
Yeovil vs. Bournemouth
Team News:
It's hugely important that Tranmere start converting their chances though. In front of goal this season, they have at times been anything but prolific, squandering numerous chances, and it's key that they at least start to hit the target more as they not only look to secure their place in the division but also look to push further up the table.
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2011:04:25:00:13:30 by Deadly Submarine.
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think Les for once over the next two games starting with Hartlepool 
(could not see any monkeys) change his tactics for once and drop Akins (works and runs alot)but seems to be like a headless chicken and gets no were has the lack of albilty to stick the ball in the net (at first team level) , Les let`s try Jennings/Robbo in for Akins or even McGurk or try Robbo in place of Weir in the middle and go for goals and try least to 
win at Hartlepool( a draw would be with in reason)to set up for Monday clash at home with Exeter with the same line up with out Akins(dropped to the bench for both games).
It is possible that with Jenno and Robbo/McGurk formula that they may put a bit of firepower
to the mix that has been lacking esp after Tuesday game against Notts Co not knocking Showunmi he works his socks off but has no help up front since ITM left so come Les be adventurous
for once and perhaps it may lead to some goals and two wins and if we are leading in these games you could even try Alan Mahon(if fit) in midfield to try and get hold of the ball and hold on to it or at least use it well on the deck instead of Les`s hoofball play that leads to us hanging on to a lead and defending to deep and end up paying the price.
Going back to Tuesday defeat I did not like the tactics that they used but at least Martin Allen motivated his players from the touch line with his stlye of in your face
antics to produce a first win in nine games(I know it came from a pen)but a win is a win. What was Les doing with his style
feeling his money in his pockets or counting the blades of grass around his technical area ok Les you might not change into a Aldo or even a Martin Allen(who for some of the time should have been on a lesh to restrain from going on the pitch) but a little bit of encouragement may go a long way the fans do their best to lift the team but a lot of the time it is hard to lift the team when what we see being served up is the same kick off tactic boot it to the touch line 25/30 yards or the hoofball , so with out repeating myself lets try some football on the deck with Jenno/Robbo ect for once.
COME ON YOU WHITES LET`S BREAK INTO THE 50+POINTS
LEVELThere is nothing for Pool to play for and they have a brittle defence and we could and should go for 3 points.
Our biggest problem is a lack of creativity that prevents us exploting the flaws of some of the weakest teams.Akins in away typifies that, plenty of endevour but largely predictable
Quote:@gony
lads will be so up for this we'll batter them ! going for 0 - 3 or 4
I think this plan has gone out of the winow 1-0 down all ready.
