Preview: Chesterfield v Tranmere Rovers (1pm)
By Deadly Submarine
March 26 2005
Tranmere travel to Saltergate on Easter Saturday (March 26th) to play Chesterfield who despite being in mid-table, still harbour faint hopes of taking a play-off spot come the end of the season. Tranmere, will be looking to further secure a play-off spot and hope that the top two can slip up.
Tranmere go into the match unbeaten in two matches since the 3-1 home defeat to Hull on 5th March, having also kept a clean sheet in both games. Chesterfield have won one home game and drawn two away since they lost at home to Peterborough on 26th February. The Spireites have not kept a clean sheet since winning 1-0 at Doncaster Rovers seven games ago.
For Rovers it’s a chance to consolidate a play-off position and keep themselves in with a chance of playing in the Championship next season. For Chesterfield, who are only nine points behind Bournemouth in the last play-off place, a win would keep them in with a fair shout of making that all important sixth place at the end of the season.
Chesterfield have two former Rovers players to look out for in their side in Wayne ‘Chief’ Allison and Shane Nicholson. Both players have scored in Chesterfield’s last two games, Allison scoring their second in a 2-2 draw at Brentford last week and the week before, Shane Nicholson scored a brace of penalties as they beat Huddersfield 2-1 at Saltergate.
In the meeting between the two sides earlier in the season, a Eugene Dadi header just before half-time was enough to hand Rovers a 1-0 win as they recorded their second victory in four days at Prenton Park.
In the last meeting at Saltergate between the teams, Eugene Dadi was on target twice for Rovers but they drew 2-2 after Chesterfield goals from Hurst and Allott.
Team News
Chesterfield may have four players returning to their squad for this game with Jamie McMaster, Mark Hudson and goalkeeper Carl Muggleton all possibly returning from injury to be in contention for a place whilst Caleb Folan is available again following a three-match suspension. Martin Fulop however is away on international duty with Hungary.
Tranmere’s manager Brian Little has something of a crisis on his hands as injuries continue to affect his side along with an international call up for Rovers only regular in every game so far this season. Gareth Roberts has joined up with the Welsh squad for their World Cup qualifying double-header against Austria this week leaving Tranmere short of options on the left side.
Rovers already have Gary Jones (broken toe), David Beresford (hamstring), Calvin Zola (residency problems) missing for the rest of the season as well as broken leg victim Simon Haworth who quit the club this week at his own request having never fully recovered from injuries. Steven Jennings serves the last game of his three-match ban to add to the selection problems.
Added to this are doubts over defenders Mike Jackson and Ian Goodison along with Goodison’s fellow Jamaican Theo Whitmore who all picked up knocks against Peterborough last Friday night. This leaves the question of who will play on the left of defence and the left of midfield for this game.
Probable Rovers Team: Achterberg, Taylor, Sharps Linwood, Harrison, Rankine, McAteer, Hall, Dagnall, Dadi, Hume.
Referee – Mr Alan Kaye (West Yorkshire)
Stat Attack!!
Past Meetings:
Last League Meeting – 14th August 2004 – Coca-Cola League One
Tranmere Rovers 1 – 0 Chesterfield
Dadi 42
Last Meeting at Saltergate – 13th December 2003
Chesterfield 2-2 Tranmere Rovers
Hurst 2 Dadi 1
Allott 45 Dadi 54
Top Scorers:
Tranmere Rovers: Iain Hume – 15 Goals
Chesterfield: Tcham N’Toya – 7 Goals
Summary of Past Meetings:
At Saltergate:
Games Played = 3
Tranmere Wins = 1
Chesterfield Wins = 1
Drawn = 1
Total in All Games:
Games Played = 7
Tranmere Wins = 3
Chesterfield Wins = 2
Drawn = 2