Match Preview: Tranmere Rovers v Kidderminster Harriers

As Tranmere prepare to host Kidderminster Harriers on Monday afternoon, Louise Formston returns with her match preview ahead of the match.....

Bank Holiday Monday sees a second game in three days for both teams in the Vanarama National League.  Kidderminster Harriers travel to Prenton Park in the hope of securing their first win of the season whilst Rovers will be keen to prove they have learnt from their mistakes and will grab all three points on Monday.

Form Guide:

Kidderminster have yet to win a game this season.  Following four losses and two draws, the Harriers find themselves 22^nd in the table with just two points. Only Halifax and Southport have started off worse.  Saturday’s game saw them lose 2-0 to Forest Green (who maintained their 100% record) at home, managing just one shot on target (BBC Sport Statistics).  The Harriers have only failed to score in two games this season (against Guiseley and FGR) but have conceded twelve goals already.

Rovers on the other hand, appeared to start strongly this year with three wins and a draw before losing to Boreham Wood (0-2) a week ago, and again to Altrincham (2-1) on Saturday.  Similarly to the Harriers, Rovers have struggled to find the net in only two games this season and haven’t conceded more than two in a game.  All this has left Rovers in the more favourable position of 8^th in the table, however they are eight points off the top already.

Injuries and Suspensions:

Marcus Holness made his first start of the season on Saturday following an injury sustained in January’s game away at Morecambe.  Although he’d made a few substitute appearances this season, Holness was by all accounts a little rusty during Saturday’s game after he replaced Michael Iheikwe in the starting line up.  The away trip to Altrincham game a little too soon for Liam Hogan who is still recovering from a foot injury after he hobbled off against Braintree but there is hope he could return for Monday’s game against the Harriers.  Kidderminster however are looking a little better on the injury front.  Only Kelvin Langmead is a doubt for Monday’s game having sustained a foot injury in the opening game of the season.

The Opposition Dugout:

Gary Whild is the man currently in charge of Kidderminster Harriers, who have had a fairly star-studded (depending on your definition) list of Managers over the years – more on that later.  Whild was brought in late in the 2014 season, replacing Andy Thorn and is credited with providing the Harriers with some much-needed stability at the tail end of that season.  Following his appointment, Whild went on to lose on one of the thirteen remaining games but just missed out on securing a play off place with the Harriers finishing 7^th.

Whild was handed a one-year rolling contract, most likely due to his limited managerial experience (he was previously Steve Burr’s number two when Burr was in charge of the Harriers).  Whilst the Harriers started strongly last season, they found themselves on struggling for consistent form before money troubles saw wage cuts and players loaned out.  The season ended with the Harriers winning only three out of the final twenty games finishing 16^th, despite their promising start.  This season, Whild will be hoping the poor form that has seen the Harriers sit in the relegation zone is only temporary.

Former managers of the Harriers include ex-Tranmere player Andy Thorn who was in charge for just two months in 2014 after three wins in ten games. Current Chester City manager Steve Burr also spent time in charge of the Harriers with his stint lasting for years.  Former Ajax and Liverpool player Jan Molby had two spells in charge of the Harriers from 1999 to 2002 and again from 2003-2004.  Molby’s first spell saw the Harriers achieve promotion to League Two but his second stint was very different – the Harriers were relegated back into the conference following Molby’s resignation.

One to Watch:

Alex Palmer - Goalkeeper (19) - English

19-year old Alex Palmer signed for the Harriers on loan from West Brom at the start of the season and has started the last two games for Kidderminster, conceding three in the process.  Despite not making a Premier League appearance for West Brom, Palmer was named as substitute in a game against Arsenal last season and is rated by those at the Hawthorns.  The teen was capped at under-16 level for England, playing in four games and is likely to be starting against Tranmere tomorrow.

Other significant players in the Harriers side include Gurjit Singh who’s scored two goals so far this season and is looking for more and Jared Hodgkiss, another former WBA player, has provided two assists for goals this season despite being a rightback.  Lathaniel Rowe-Turner is a name most Rovers’ fans won’t know but for Rowe-Turner returning to Prenton Park is likely to bring back memories.  Rowe-Turner signed for Martin Allen’s Cheltenham Town in 2008, and went on to make his first professional debut against Rovers at Prenton Park.  Rowe-Turner didn’t make any more appearances for Cheltenham and returned to Leicester.  Former Tranmere player Rob Taylor is also a Harriers player after joining in the start of August on a non-contract basis following preseason.

Notable former players for the Harriers include everybody’s favourite villain Lee Hughes.  Hughes started his career at the Harriers in 1994 scoring 70 goals in 139 appearances before moving to West Brom.  Hughes returned to Kidderminster in January when FGR’s terminated his contract scoring three in thirteen.  New Rovers signing Nathan Blissett was once a Harrier himself.  He left the Harriers last season after a loan to Bristol Rovers became permanent in January.

Around the League:

Braintree Town vs Aldershot:  Braintree take on Aldershot this Monday.  They have won every game since their draw against Rovers and will be hoping to leapfrog Tranmere in the table.

Forest Green vs Bromley:  Forest Green will be hoping for a happy Bank Holiday weekend as they aim to continue their unbeaten run with another win against 19^th placed Bromley.

My Starting XI:

Although Brabin has started to utilise a back three, I still think a back four in this League is the way to go.  Iheikwe needs to come back in as right back (there is a sentence I never thought I would say!) followed by Hogan (if fit, Riley if not), Sutton and Hill.  As far as I am concerned, Hill and Ridgehalgh make a brilliant left side pairing and are probably the only two fit to wear the shirt so far.  My midfield would involve Ridehalgh on the left, a central partnership of Harris and Maynard with Mekki on the right. I’d like to see both Blissett (Mangan if fit) and Margetts up front.