Play-Offs: Tranmere v Hartlepool – Tues (7.45pm)


By Deadly Submarine
May 16 2005

Rovers take on Hartlepool once again in the second leg of the promotion play-offs with the visitors holding an all important 2-0 lead from the first leg. Tranmere need to win by two goals to take the game in to extra-time or by three goals to win outright. The game kicks off at 7.45pm.

From a Rovers point of view, it all went wrong on Friday night as the players failed to motivate themselves sufficiently and left Hartlepool United fans hailing a 2-0 lead that they will be happy to travel to Prenton Park with on Tuesday.

 

So forget the form and past meetings listed below, its all down to ninety (or maybe 120) minutes of football for a place in the Play-Off final in Cardiff’s Millenium Stadium.  The task is simple to understand but will be much harder to achieve.  Rovers need to win by three clear goals to win the tie on the night, but a two goal win after ninety minutes will be enough to force extra-time and then possibly the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

 

Rovers shoot-out record has not been good in the past so most home fans will hoping the job can be done before that scenario is required.  Hartlepool have only won one of their last six games on their travels whereas Tranmere have won three of their last six at home.  The difference this time is that Hartlepool are starting off at 2-0 up and that will be a huge boost for them going into the game.

 

Brian Little needs to motivate his players and get them playing football on the ground if they are to have any chance.  My personal feeling is that we will win on the night but not by the required number of goals.  I’ve been wrong almost every time with my predictions so lets hope this time is no different and that Rovers CAN do it!

 

Once again it has never been more important that you make yourselves heard, give the best support you can and let the players do the rest!

 

SUPERWHITE ARMY!!!  SUPERWHITE ARMY!!!  SUPERWHITE ARMY!!!

 

DEADLY’S MATCH PREDICTION: TRANMERE ROVERS 2 – 1 HARTLEPOOL UNITED

 

 

Team News

 

Tranmere have no injury concerns from the squad that was available on Friday but with the Whites chasing the game, it is possible that Eugene Dadi may make a start up front possibly at the expense of Theo Whitmore as Brian Little looks a little more prescence up front.  Chris Dagnall may also come into contention.

 

Hartlepool are also expected to name an unchanged side with Joel Porter likely to remain on the bench.  Steven Istead and John Brackstone have returned from injury and are likely to be pushing for a place in the squad.

 

Probable Rovers Team: Achterberg, Taylor, Sharps, Jackson, Goodison, Roberts, Rankine, McAteer, Hall, Dagnall, Hume.

 

Referee – Mr Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)

 

 

 

 STATTO’S STATS

 

Meetings This Season:

 

Coca-Cola League One Play-Off - First Leg (Victoria Ground) – May 13th 2005

 

Hartlepool       2 – 0   Tranmere Rovers

Boyd 32                     

Boyd 68

 

Hartlepool: Konstantopoulos, Barron, Nelson, Westwood, Robson, Williams, Sweeney, Strachan, Humphreys, Daly (Porter 63), Boyd (Tinkler 90).

Subs Not Used: Provett, Clark, Butler.

 

Tranmere: Achterberg, Jackson, Sharps, Goodison, Taylor, McAteer, Whitmore (Dadi 79), Rankine, Roberts, Hall (Beresford 83), Hume.

Subs Not Used: Howarth, Linwood, Harrison.          

 

Bookings: Williams (Hartlepool) Hume and Jackson (Tranmere)

 

Attendance: 6604

 

Referee: Brian Curson (Leicestershire)

 

 

Coca-Cola League One (Prenton Park) – August 10th 2004

 

Tranmere Rovers 2 – 1 Hartlepool United

Taylor (pen) 27            Robertson 23

Dagnall 68

Tranmere: Achterberg, Goodison, Jackson, Sharps, Taylor, McAteer, Rankine, Hall, Roberts, Dadi (Zola 79), Dagnall.                                                                                                                            Subs not Used: Howarth, Whitmore, Beresford.

Hartlepool: Provett, Ross (Betsy 74), Nelson, Westwood, Robertson, Williams, Sweeney, Tinkler, Humphreys, Boyd, Porter.                                                                                                         Subs not Used: Clarke, Strachan, Istead, Konstantopoulos.

Bookings: Dagnall and Hall (Tranmere) Nelson and Tinkler (Hartlepool).

Sent Off: Dagnall (Two Cautions).

Attendance: 8128

Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)

 

 

Coca-Cola League One (Victoria Ground) – March 12th 2004

 

Hartlepool 0 – 1 Tranmere Rovers

                           Dagnall 53

Hartlepool: Provett, Craddock, Clark, Nelson, Brackstone (Robson 67), Williams, Strachan (Istead 79), Sweeney, Humphreys, Porter, Boyd.                                                                                  Subs not Used: Konstantopoulos, Barron, Daly.

Tranmere: Achterberg, Taylor, Jackson, Sharps, Goodison (Linwood 45), Hall, Rankine, McAteer, Roberts, Hume (Whitmore 33), Dadi (Dagnall 45).                                                                     Subs not Used: Howarth, Harrison,

Bookings: Goodison, Roberts and Sharps (Tranmere).

 

Attendance: 4887

 

Referee: Andy Penn (West Midlands)

 

 

Top Scorers:

 

 

Hartlepool United: Adam Boyd – 29 Goals

 

Tranmere Rovers:  Iain Hume – 16 Goals

  

 

Summary of Past Meetings (Since 2003-04 Season):

 

At Victoria Ground:

 

Games Played = 3

Hartlepool Wins = 1

Tranmere Wins = 1

Drawn = 1

 

At Prenton Park:

 

Games Played = 2

Tranmere Wins = 1

Hartlepool Wins = 0

Drawn = 1

 

Total in All Games:

 

Games Played = 5

Tranmere Wins = 2

Hartlepool Wins = 1

Drawn = 2

 

 

Current Form Guide:

 

 

Tranmere:

 

Last Six Games – LDLWLL            Last Six Games Home: LWLWDW

 

Hartlepool:

 

Last Six Games – DWLLDW            Last Six Games Away: LWDDLD