Notts Forest v Tranmere - Sat Oct 1st
By Deadly Submarine September 30 2005 After a last gasp defeat at Huddersfield on Tuesday night, Rovers face another away trip this weekend with Nottingham Forest their opponents this Saturday afternoon. Here Total Tranmere brings you all the news and stats ahead of the game as Rovers look to hit form after five games without a win.
NOTTINGHAM FORESTVs TRANMERE ROVERS
Saturday 27th September 2005 – Kick Off 3.00pm
Tranmere are on their travels again for the second time this week as they travel to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest in a much-anticipated game for many Rovers fans.A positive result is all important for Rovers after failing to win in their last five games both home and away.
Despite a somewhat shaky start to life in the unusual surroundings of Football League’s third tier, Gary Megson’s Forest side have since begun to pick up some better results and have moved up the table in recent weeks.Tuesday’s 1-1 home draw with Blackpool saw Forest move ahead of Tranmere in the league table for the first time this season following Rovers 1-0 defeat at Huddersfield on the same night.
With no wins from their last five games and with two straight defeats on their travels, Rovers will be looking to grab a point at worst from this encounter to improve an already bleak looking league position at this early stage of the season.
Despite defending well against a reasonable amount of pressure on Tuesday night at the Galpharm Stadium, Rovers succumbed to a late Danny Schofield strike and left Yorkshire pointless and therefore in need of a boost at Forest on Saturday.
The last time the two sides met was a sad occasion for Rovers as it was their last game to date in the second-tier of English football.The final game of the 2000-01 season saw Rovers entertain Forest having already been confirmed as relegated from the division a month earlier after a dismal season.
Rovers took an early lead through Paul Rideout but a brace of goals from Marlon Harewood in the second half looked to have completed Tranmere’s miserable season until Mickey Mellon scored a last minute equaliser for a 2-2 draw.
Earlier in the same season, the teams had met at the City Ground and Rovers had a dream start when Clint Hill put them in front after just three minutes.However, a Chris Bart-Williams penalty in the first half and second half goals from Foy and Scimeca condemned Rovers to a 3-1 defeat in front of 19,000 fans.
Player Connections:
In August of this year, Rovers striker Eugene Dadi moved to Nottingham Forest but as part of the deal he is ineligible to play against Rovers in either meeting this season.Dadi is yet to start for Forest since his move but he has made three substitute appearances.
Defender Alan Rogers is another ex-Rover playing for Forest and is in his second spell at the Club after an in between spell at Leicester City.Initially after leaving Rovers, Rogers spent four years at the City Ground but this season, having been transfer-listed in the summer he is yet to appear for Forest.
DEADLY’S MATCH PREDICTION: NOTTS FOREST1 - 1TRANMERE
Team News
Nottingham Forest: – Forest are without Scott Dobie (hip), John Curtis and Danny Cullip but Gary Holt and Gino Padula are in contention for Forest after playing in the Reserves this week.Striker Eugene Dadi is unable to play against his former Club as part of the deal that saw him move to the City Ground in August this year.
Tranmere Rovers: –Rovers will be without the services of Danny Harrison (broken nose), Ian Sharps (knee) and Calvin Zola (foot).Rovers are expected to therefore have an unchanged squad.