Match Preview: Tranmere Rovers v Wrexham
By Louise Formston
December 10 2015
As Tranmere prepare to host Wrexham in the FA Trophy on Saturday afternoon, Louise Formston returns with her match preview ahead of the game.....
This weekend sees a welcome break from the National League as Rovers play hosts to Wrexham in the FA Trophy. This is Rovers’ first venture into the Trophy whilst Wrexham won the competition back in 2013 as they beat Grimsby Town on penalties.
The FA Trophy:
Started in 1969, the FA Trophy gave those clubs outside of the Football League a realistic chance of going to Wembley - and I quote that from the FA website.
The full name of the cup is The Football Association Challenge Trophy. The first winners were Macclesfield Town who beat Telford United 2-0 in front of a 28,000 strong Wembley crowd. Since then, there have been forty-four finals with thirty-seven of them being played at Wembley, Upton Park and Villa Park filled in during the build of new Wembley.
Scarborough, Woking and Telford United have racked up the most wins with three apiece however with both Scarborough and Telford now defunct, there’s an opening for a new record to be made. Having started his first managerial role, Martin O’Neill oversaw Wycombe Wanders FA Trophy win in 1991 and again a few years later.
After winning the FA Trophy in 2013, Wrexham became the first Welsh team to win the cup and visited the final again in 2015 but were beaten on penalties by North Ferriby. The record for the largest crowd attending the FA Trophy final is held by Kidderminster and Stevenage fans who were the first two teams to play in the final at the new Wembley in 2007. They played out in front of 53,262 fans.
Ahead of This Weekend:
Wrexham defender Blaine Hudson has given an interview this weekend stating how the pain of the final defeat just nine months ago will spur on Wrexham as they travel the short journey to Prenton Park on Saturday. Wrexham managed a 1-0 win against Torquay at the weekend in end of the world wind conditions, bouncing back after they lost against Macclesfield the week before.
Before that loss at Macclesfield, Wrexham were on a five game unbeaten run and will be hoping that run has restarted with a second win in a row on Saturday. Rovers meanwhile lost to Braintree on Saturday failing to build on their draw at Boreham Wood. However, this is a cup game against a local rival - all bets are off.
The Teams:
For Rovers, it’s hoped that both GTF and Harris will be available come Saturday as both are struggling with injury. Jay Harris was a member of that Wrexham side that lost in May’s final so I am sure he’ll be keen to make amends and return to Wembley with Rovers this season. Defenders Riley and Hogan will miss the weekend’s game through injury. Brabin stated last weekend that Dawson would be with the club for another week whilst they work to secure a permanent deal for the winger.
For my starting eleven; Davies, Vaughan (providing he’s not been cup-tied), McNulty, Sutton (overall he’s pretty solid and although he made some mistakes on Saturday, he wasn’t the only one) and Ridehalgh. Midfield four of Dawson, Maynard, Harris and my MOTM from Saturday Mekki. Up front Norwood and Mangan - I’d love to mix it up here but with Margetts and Stockton both on loan and my dislike of GTF, it’s going to have to be a case of stick with what you know and hope they come good again.
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Quote:Doug heffernan
i`m seriously thinking of giving it a miss even though my season ticket gets me in for free, i fell for all the spin in the summer, like most of us i was well pumped by august but its all gone now i`m almost back to were i was last may, its absolutely awful, 2-0 to wrexham, bad, bad days
With that kind of positivity it's probably for the best!
This isn't one of those "the fans are to blame for the problems" posts but despite the recent blip (and that's all I'm calling it) we need to continue to at least start off positively and get behind the lads.
Quote:Doug heffernan
i`m seriously thinking of giving it a miss even though my season ticket gets me in for free, i fell for all the spin in the summer, like most of us i was well pumped by august but its all gone now i`m almost back to were i was last may, its absolutely awful, 2-0 to wrexham, bad, bad days
I thought you had to pay a tenner even if you've got a season ticket? At least that's what it says on the official site?
Quote:Deadly Submarine
I'm seeing that fans going into the game negative to start with just won't help the situation.
This isn't one of those "the fans are to blame for the problems" posts but despite the recent blip (and that's all I'm calling it) we need to continue to at least start off positively and get behind the lads.
despite of the awful football we have to watch the fans have largely been behind the team and manager