Tranmere Rovers
Walsall v Tranmere Rovers Match Preview
By Matthew Jones
October 21 2010
Total Tranmere brings you all the stats, facts and team news you need to know in this indepth preview ahead of Saturday's League One game away to Walsall
Copyright Historical Football Kits and reproduced by kind permission.
Tranmere will be hopeful of repeating the 1-0 win they picked up in that match, as a win would lift them two points above Walsall and could lift them out of the relegation zone if results elsewhere go their way.
Now with the worst goal difference in League One, though not, it must be stressed, the worst defensive record, the emphasis for Tranmere this weekend must surely be on scoring, as having netted just once in their last three games, it is clear where their problem lies.
Walsall meanwhile will be hopeful of pulling away from the drop zone, with Chris Hutchin's side just one point above Rovers and only one point away from Leyton Orient who lie in 20th place.
Walsall Factfile:
Ground: The Bescot Stadium
Formed: 1888
Nickname: The Saddlers
Manager: Chris Hutchins
League Finish 2009/10: 10th
Kit
Colours: Red shirt with black trim, red shorts and socks (home), aqua
blue shirt with red trim, aqua blue shorts and dark blue socks (away)
Previous Meetings:
Tranmere Rovers picked up their first win of the season against Walsall in August when they defeated the Saddlers 1-0 at the Bescott Stadium in the First Round of this season's League Cup.
In a tight game, Ian Goodison scored the only goal of the game to secure the win for Rovers as he smashed home from inside the area after Labadie had flicked on McLaren's free-kick at the near post.
Before then, Tranmere had had very few chances down the Walsall end, whilst the home side had arguably looked the stronger of the two sides, Julian Gray having their best effort in the opening 45, but Joe Collister was equal to his effort.
Collister, replacing Gunnar Nielsen who was on international duty, would win the Man of the Match award in his first League Cup match as in the second half he made a number of strong saves to keep Rovers ahead, including a superb save from Nichols.
Rovers were the better team though in the second half, and had strikers Gornell and Thomas-Moore not been so wasteful, Tranmere could have won the game by a much larger margin.
Vital Stats:
In 32 trips to Walsall, Tranmere have picked up just seven wins, losing on 20 occasions
Tranmere have netted just 29 times in their 32 trips to Walsall, conceding on 56 occasions
Their has been just four home wins in the last 13 meetings between these two sides
Rovers have won four of eight October meetings between the sides
Tranmere have notched up two consecutive away wins against Walsall just once before after victories in the 1999/2000 and 2004/05 seasons
On This Day:
2004: Chris Dagnall and Calvin Zola score as Tranmere defeat Colchester United 2-1 at Layer Road under Brian Little
2001: Dave Watson's Rovers side are defeated 2-1 by promotion chasing Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium
1967: Tranmere beat Walsall 2-0 at Prenton Park in Division Three
Tranmere Rovers have played sixteen previous games on this day, picking up five wins, five draws and six defeats. They have scored 26 goals and conceded 28 in these sixteen games. Two of their five wins on this day have come away from home, as have four of their six defeats.
The Form Book:
Walsall last six home games: WLLLW
Tranmere Rovers last six away games: LWLLDD
Walsall have had a poor start to the season, with just two league wins to their name leaving them in the relegation zone after twelve games in the League One season so far.
The Saddlers started their six match sequence with their first win of the season, a 2-1 success over Plymouth thanks to goals from Marshall and Reid, but this was followed by four successive defeats, starting with a 2-1 defeat in the Football League Trophy to Chesterfield.
Walsall then lost 1-0 to Colchester and 2-1 against Swindon Town, two sides both chasing promotion this season, before making it four straight losses at home after being beaten 1-0 by Yeovil Town.
However, Walsall picked up their second win of the season in their next and most recent home game as they beat Exeter City 2-1 thanks to goals from Reid and Richards.
Other results for Walsall at home this season include two more defeats, 1-0 against Tranmere in the League Cup and 2-1 against Walsall in the League.
Chris Hutchins' side have played six home league games so far this season, picking up six of an available 18 points after two wins and six defeats.
The Saddlers have won once on the road so far this season, beating Brentford 2-1, whilst other notable results include draws with Dagenham and Redbridge (1-1) and Leyton Orient (0-0).
Walsall come into this game in 22nd place in the League One table, having picked up 11 of an available 36 points from 12 games this season, this thanks to three wins, two draws and seven defeats.
Tranmere Rovers' disappointing start to the season continued on Saturday as they slipped to the foot of the League One table for the first time this season after a 3-0 defeat at home to Brentford.
Their form has been hugely frustrating so far this season, and inconsistency coupled with a long injury list, which seems to finally be relinquishing, is what has resulted in this form, though on the road Rovers have been reasonably strong this season.
Rovers started their six match sequence with a strong 0-0 draw against Huddersfield Town before coming from behind to draw 2-2 against Dagenham and Redbridge in their next away game.
Les Parry's side then lost for the first time on the road though as they were defeated 3-1 after a dismal display against Yeovil Town, before losing by the same scoreline two weeks later against Colchester United, with Ian Thomas-Moore and Enoch Showunmi grabbing a later consolation goal in each match.
However, Rovers' form took a sudden up turn in their next game as a superb strike from Dale Jennings, his first goal for the club, secured Tranmere's first away league win of the season as they defeated Bristol Rovers 1-0, but it was back to losing ways next time out as Tranmere were humbled by big spending Southampton, losing 2-0 at St. Marys.
In their only other away match this season, Tranmere defeated Walsall 1-0 in the League Cup first round thanks to a goal from Ian Goodison.
So far this season Tranmere have played six away games and picked up five of an available 18 points, thanks to one win, two draws and three defeats.
Notable results at home for Tranmere include a 1-0 win over Peterborough as well as 1-1 draws with Charlton Athletic and Brighton and Hove Albion.
Tranmere
Rovers come into this game in 24nd place in Npower League One,
having picked up ten of an available 36 points from twelve games, thanks
to two wins, four draws and five defeats.
Double Hit:
Tranmere Rovers legend David Kelly started his career with Walsall and became a firm fan favourite with the Saddlers fans during his five year stint with the club. The Birmingham born striker scored 80 goals for the club in 190 appearances for the club, form that earned him a big money move to West Ham in 1988.
Over the next nine years, Kelly made regular big money transfers, as he played for Sunderland, Newcastle, Leicester City and Wolves, transfering for a total of £2,800,000 (including his move to West Ham) and scoring 116 goals for the five clubs, becoming a renowned goalscoring in English football.
At Sunderland however, the goals dried up. After moving to the club for £900,000 in September 1995, he played 40 games for the club and scored just two goals, leading to him leaving the club for Tranmere Rovers in 1997 for £350,000.
Kelly's move to Tranmere, then managed by John Aldridge, who knew Kelly from his days as an Ireland international, was a masterstroke. The striker became a firm fan favourite at Prenton Park and he cemented his place in Tranmere history thanks to his strike against Leicester City in the Worthington Cup final at Wembley.
Kelly stayed at Prenton Park for three years, making 112 appearances for the club and scoring 35 goals, thirteen of which came in seventeen League Cup appearances!
After his contract expired on the Wirral, he moved to Sheffield United on a free-transfer, and later had spells with Motherwell and Mansfield at a player, before retiring and moving into coaching, when he rejoined Tranmere as assistant manager and has since spent time at Sheffield United, Preston and Derby, before moving to Nottingham Forest, where he is currently assistant to Billy Davis.
One To Watch:
Striker Darren Byfield has played for several clubs at this level, but he appears to have settled at Walsall and has been named the clubs captain for this season.
The striker is currently in his second spell with the club, having played at the Bescott Stadium between 2000 and 2002.
He joined the club from Aston Villa, where he had progressed through the youth ranks but failed to ever make an impression on the first team, and moved to the Bescott after loan spells at Preston, Northampton, Cambridge and Blackpool.
He played 92 times for Walsall in his first spell, scoring seventeen goals, before moving on to Rotherham for £50,000 in 2002.
Managed by Ronnie Moore whilst at the Millers, Byfield stayed with Rotherham for two years, scoring 23 goals in 74 games, his most profitable goal scoring period at any club (in one spell).
In 2004 Byfield left Rotherham in a swap deal with Sunderland and six months later was on the move again, joining Gillingham, where he netted twenty times in 71 games, and then joining Millwall two years later.
He lasted at Millwall for a year, before joining Bristol City, and then had unsuccessful spells with Doncaster Rovers and Oldham before joining Walsall on a free-transfer last summer.
He
was Walsall's second top scorer last season as he had a profitable
year, netting ten times in 40 games as he helped Walsall to tenth place
in League One.
So far this season, the striker had scored once in six games before picking up a knee injury a month ago. He could make his return this weekend against Rovers.
Nearly 34, Byfield is now the man leading Walsall's strike force, and has the extra responsability of being the club captain this season.
Pace may not be his forte these days, but the Walsall number nine still has a keen eye for goals and is a definite player to mark closely in the penalty area.
Around League One:
There
is a full round of twelve fixtures in NPower League One this weekend,
with all the games kicking off at 3pm on Saturday afternoon
Brentford vs. Peterborough
Brighton vs. Yeovil
Carlisle vs. Charlton
Colchester vs. Notts County
Hartlepool vs. Bristol Rovers
MK Dons vs. Exeter
Plymouth vs. Huddersfield
Rochdale vs. Dagenham and Redbridge
Sheffield Wednesday vs. Bournemouth
Southampton vs. Oldham
Swindon vs. Leyton Orient
Walsall vs. Tranmere
Team News:
This game could come too soon for Broomes, but McGurk is back in contention for a place in the Rovers squad, as is Ian Thomas-Moore who is expected to be fit to at least take a place on the bench for this match.
Jones' Prediction: Walsall 0-1 Tranmere Rovers
I'll keep the faith with Rovers and predict that we'll pick up another win at the Bescott Stadium this Saturday. Les Parry will have his side up for the match after Saturday's dismal 3-0 defeat against Brentford and there's no doubt that they will come out fighting and trying to prove a point.
Rovers managed to beat Walsall at the Bescott in August in the League Cup, and they should be able to repeat that victory on Saturday afternoon if they defend resolutely and pose more of a threat up front.
The return of one, or both, of Ian Thomas-Moore and Adam McGurk could have a hugely positive effect on the Rovers attack, with both players having been sorely missed in recent weeks, as they both offer something different up front - though Tranmere obviously cannot drop the impressive Dale Jennings, who has been one of the best performers lately.
For me, the most important thing that Tranmere can do it change their midfield around. Ryan Fraughan adds something new in midfield, with his creative touch often making a difference when he has come on as late, whilst he also puts himself about well in midfield, so it would be good to see him come in to the Tranmere starting XI.
Don't
forget that if you can't get to the game, you can follow regular
updates of the match on our Twitter page, www.twitter.com/totaltranmere
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Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2010:10:23:21:13:04 by Deadly Submarine.
Mclaren got injured in training so maybe out got hope ITM is fit but we will stick with 4-3-3. If we concede the first goal we will lose im going for a 1 1 draw.
An attacking formation!
Have you been watching Rovers lately?
Les will be playing a formation for us not to lose!
A point is good enough for Les!
I've put it back now until kick-off
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:10:23:09:28:53 by Deadly Submarine.
Quote:DevonExile
I have.I was not predicting what will happen but what should happen.At times I think Parry's approach shows his lack of confidence in himself rather than in the squad.After a draw you can always argue that you could have won but he should be looking for the approach most likely to produce most points over a season. One of the frustrating features is that he is defensive even when playing matches in which 3 points are realistic.
So he should have lack of confidence in himself. he knows @#$%& all about football. He 'learned his trade' under KIng mostly, who played 4-5-1 away ,with Aldo saying he didn't get a kick . To my astonishment, he played it at home too.
Lennie Lawrence, MIddlesborough ,,after Tranmere's first visit. " they play a game which is foreign to this division"
Shaun Teale after signing for $450,000. "I have never been to a club where it is so laid back " which I read as less than professional in trainng.
KIng wasn't up to it at a higher level .and this level is far too high for Parry. Why does he not insist on the ball being on the ground ? How does he expect Jennings to progress with the **** ball over his head ?
I wonder how many of Aldo's goals were scored away ?
I am still backing Les and the lads ! c'mon rovers
