Match Preview: Welling United v Tranmere Rovers

As Tranmere prepare to make the long trip to Welling United on Saturday for a lunchtime kick off, Louise Formston returns with her match preview ahead of the game.....

Before I start this week’s preview I would like to extend my best wishes to Welling United’s youth player Ali Reith who collapsed last weekend in a game against Dartford and is currently in an induced coma in hospital.  I wish him a speedy recovery and his family are in my thoughts.

This weekend’s game is both Welling United and Tranmere Rovers’ first televised game of the season (the second for Rovers being Friday 18^th September against Grimsby) and will be live on BT Sport 1 at 12:30pm.  After Monday’s collapse against Kidderminster, Rovers will be keen to show they’ve made progress whilst Welling will want to end a six game winless run.

Form Guide:

Home team Welling United haven’t won a game in front of their own crowd since the opening day of the season where they beat Guiseley 1-0.  Since then they’ve lost five and drawn one (a 2-2 thriller against Eastleigh).  The most recent defeat was a 2-0 away loss to second place Woking (who extend their unbeaten run to six games).  Despite their losses, Welling have scored at least once in all but two games this season.  Rovers on the other hand managed to secure a point against Kidderminster on Monday following a 2-2 draw after two defeats to Boreham Wood and Altrincham Town.

Although many Rovers fans will argue that Monday was two points lost rather than one point gained, I prefer to think that aside from the ten minute spell where we looked lost and disorganised, the other 80 minutes showed signs of a team bouncing back.  Passes were largely accurate, players were moving forward as a unit and most importantly – Andy Mangan got on the score sheet again along with yet another of our defenders, Liam Hogan (what is it with our Liams this season?!).

Injuries and Suspensions:

Adam Mekki was subbed off at half time during Rovers' last outing after suffering a knock, but this was mostly as a precaution and I would expect him to be around the squad on Saturday.  Liam Hogan made his return from a foot injury on Monday and had a reasonably solid game I thought (apart from a 10-15 minute spell but you could argue that about any of our players!) whilst Marlon Jackson made his home debut after overcoming injury to sign on a non-contract basis last weekend.

Although he completed the 90 minutes, Liam Ridehalgh was on the receiving end of a couple of hefty tackles on Monday so hopefully he’s fully recovered ahead of Saturday.

Welling don’t have any injury concerns heading into this weekend’s game and will hopefully have a full squad to chose from.

The Opposition Dugout:

The Wings are currently managed by Loui Fazackerley, who is also their right back.  Following a repeated change of Manager after poor run of results saw Welling fall into the relegation of the Conference Premier (now Vanarama National League), Fazackerley was put in charge in March and oversaw a remarkable turn around and Welling stayed up on goal difference.  Fazackerley was handed the role permanently at the end of the season.  Being a manager hasn’t stopped the 31 year old playing occasionally –so far this season Fazackerley has made one appearance in the opening game against Guiseley.

One to Watch:

I’m not going to pretend I have an in-depth knowledge of Welling United’s players but I’ll highlight a few of them!

Last month Welling United signed Chelsea defender Nortei Nortey after he featured for them in their preseason friendlies.  The 20 year-old has yet to make any first team appearances but has featured on the bench a couple of times.

Sahr Kabba is Welling’s current top scorer with two goals in five appearances (including three as a sub).  Kabba has previously played for Gloucester and Lincoln.

Around the League:

Chester vs Forest Green:  Rovers’next opponents take on table topping Forest Green Rovers.  A win and the right result elsewhere could take Chester into the playoffs and four points ahead of Tranmere.

Southport vs Dover: Neighbours Southport will be looking to build on Monday’s 3-0 win over Altrincham as they hope to escape the relegation zone.  A win for Dover meanwhile could see them enter the playoffs.

My Starting XI:

Davies

   Riley       Hogan          Hill

            Jackson       Harris                   Jennings        Ridehalgh

        Mangan        Blissett         Margetts

 Although I was originally critical of a back three I actually quite liked it on Monday.  Aside from the first five minutes where we looked a little unsettled, I thought it worked well and I am all for consistency so would like to see us with a back three again except with Matt Hill coming in for Liam Ridehalgh who I am convinced is a winger after his flying start to the season.  Jackson also looked good during the second half and could have looked even better if the rest of the team hadn’t decided to sit back so would like to see him start, and if his fitness lacks second half then replaced with Mekki.

As much as I dislike Jennings I don’t really know whom else I would place in a midfield pairing with Harris, who I think has more to show.  Given strict instructions to break up anything that looks like it’s heading towards our defence then Jennings could be a valuable asset – he’s just yet to return to the Jennings we knew all those years ago.

A front three of Mangan, Margetts and Blissett would give us a target man to receive the crosses plus two runners either side ready to take on the knock down (in theory).  Blissett clearly isn’t blessed with the footballing talent his uncle was but he did get into a few good positions last week and it’s him or Stockton so you can decide! A s much as I like this 3-4-3 I worry it’s a little too progressive for Tranmere and I’m about to be lynched!

My team choices caused somewhat of an argument between myself and my boyfriend so here is his team selection for Saturday:

     Davies

Ihiekwe    Sutton     Hogan    Hill

Maynard (Mekki if he was fit)  Jennings   Harris    Ridehalgh

         Stockton     Mangan

Make your own decisions over which is best!