Tranmere Rovers are just four games away from a Wembley final, and they will be hoping that by 10pm on Tuesday evening, they are 90 minutes closer to the Johnstone Paints Trophy final.

Rovers take on Bury in the area Quarter-Final of the competition, with Les Parry hoping that he can pick up his third away win in cup competitions, having played four away cup matches (before this match).

However, beating Bury would be no mean feat, with the Shakers one of League Two's strongest sides who look likely to push on for a promotion challange come the end of the season.

They too will be hoping for progression in this competition, but Rovers will be hopeful of showing their one division advantage as they look to pick up their fourth away win of the season.

Bury Factfile:

Ground: Gigg Lane
Formed: 1885
Nickname:  The Shakers
Manager:  Alan Knill
League Finish 2009/10: 9th (League Two)
Kit Colours: White shirt with blue trim, blue shorts and shirt (home), Maroon shirt, shorts and socks (away)

Previous Meetings:

The last time these two sides met was also in the Johnstone Paints Trophy, when Rovers were beaten 2-1 by the League Two side, a defeat that spelled the end of John Barnes' time in charge of the club.

This time in the second round of the competition, Rovers took the lead early on as striker Craig Curran burst down the right before smashing home under the Bury goalkeeper after just four minutes.

Tranmere had several chances to increase their lead, but after half-time, Bury mounted a come-back which would see them go on to win the game.

The Shakers levelled after 54 minutes, David Worrall rushing on to a through ball as he beat the Tranmere offside trap, before taking the ball round Luke Daniels and finishing into the empty net.

The introduction of Thomas-Moore and Fraughan for Tranmere failed to see them gain any kind of advantage however, as with nine minutes late, former Tranmere man Mike Jones sealed the win for Bury, finishing from inside the area after running on to Racchi's excellent cut back.

Vital Stats:

Tranmere have played 30 previous away games against Bury, with the Shakers picking up nineteen wins to Rovers' four

Ahead of this fixture, three of Tranmere's last four matches against Bury have been in the Football League Trophy, with Rovers winning just one of these fixtures

Tranmere have scored just 24 goals away from home against Bury, conceding on 71 occasions

Tranmere have won two of their six games against Bury when the two sides have met in November

These two sides have met a staggering 12 times in cup competitions in the past, with Rovers winning on five occasions

On This Day:

2004:  Brian Little's Tranmere are hammered 4-0 at Ashton Gate by Bristol City

2002:  A late equaliser from Gary Jones secures Tranmere a point in a 1-1 draw away to Swindon Town in Division Two

1994:  John King's side Tranmere are beaten 4-2 at Carrow Road by Norwich City

Tranmere Rovers have played eleven previous games on this day, picking up two wins, four draws and five defeats.  They have scored twenty goals and conceded 24 times in these eleven matches. 

Rovers have however never won a game away from home on this day, losing four out of six matches played, whilst they are without a win on this day since a 4-2 win over Torquay in 1985.

The Form Book:

Bury last six home games:  WLWWDD
Tranmere Rovers last six away games:  LLWLWL

Bury have had a strong start to the season and come into this game with just one defeat at home since the opening day of the season, showing that they will be a tough test for Tranmere this Tuesday.

Alan Knill's side started their six match sequence with successive draws, firstly drew 1-1 with promotion rivals Rotherham United before defeating Shrewsbury Town on penalties in the second round of this competition, following a 0-0 draw in normal time.

Successive wins follwoed, firstly beat Accrington Stanley 3-0, Ryan Lowe netting twice along with a goal from Ajose, before the Shakers beat Southend United 1-0 on home soil.

Bury then lost at home for the first time since the opening day of the season, with Bradford City beating the Shakers 1-0 at Gigg Lane, before Alan Knill's side knocked League One side Exeter City out of the F.A. Cup with Sodje and Lees scoring in a 2-0 win.

Other notable home results for Bury this season include a win over Gillingham (5-4) and a 1-1 draw with Northampton Town.

The Shakers have played eight home league games this season, picking up 12 of an available 24 points thanks to three wins, three draws and two defeats, whilst they have picked up a further win from their sole home cup game this season.

Notable away results for Bury this season include wins over Aldershot (3-1), Torquay (4-3), Morecambe (4-1) and Cheltenham Town (2-0), whilst in their only away cup game this season, Bury lost 1-0 to League One side Sheffield Wednesday.

Bury have had a solid start to the season and come into this game in third place in League Two, having picked up 28 of an available 45 points thanks to eight wins, four draws and three defeats.

Tranmere Rovers come into this game hopeful of ending a run of two successive away defeats, though in both games Tranmere have shown they have what it takes to compete on the road.

Rovers started their six match sequence with a disappointing defeat, losing 3-1 against Colchester United before picking up their first away league win of the season thanks to a superb strike from Dale Jennings as they beat Bristol Rovers 1-0.

Next time out however, Tranmere returned to losing ways, suffering a 2-0 loss at St. Marys against Southampton, before two strikes from John Welsh helped Tranmere secure their second win of the campaign against Walsall, with Rovers beating the Saddlers 4-1 at The Bescott Stadium.

Tranmere however have suffered successive defeats on the road since the Walsall fixture, firstly losing 2-0 against Carlisle, with Ian Thomas-Moore missing an early penalty in the match, before they suffered a 5-3 defeat to Bournemouth, this after being 3-0 down within seven minutes.

In their only away cup match this season, Tranmere defeated Walsall 1-0 in the League Cup first round thanks to a goal from Ian Goodison, whilst they have also drawn games against Huddersfield Town (0-0) and Dagenham and Redbridge (2-2).

So far this season Tranmere have played eight away league games and picked up eight of an available 24 points, thanks to two win, two draws and four defeats, whilst they have won three, lost five and lost two of their ten away games in all competitions.

Notable results at home for Tranmere include a 1-0 win over Peterborough  and a 4-2 victory over MK Dons, as well as 1-1 draws with Charlton Athletic and Brighton and Hove Albion.

Tranmere Rovers have played four cup games this season ahead of this match, picking up one win, two draws and one defeat.

Les Parry's side currently lie in 21st place in League One, having picked up 16 of an available 45 points from 15 games, thanks to four wins, four draws and seven defeats.

Double Hit: 

However, a horrendous leg break in 2001 ended his career at Tranmere and he was barely picked again by then manager Dave Watson, who sold the player in 2002 for £120,000, having made 170 appearances for the club and scored six goals.

Upon his release, Challinor joined Stockport County, where he would remain for two seasons.  He could never recover the form from his Tranmere days though, and 91 appearances down the line, he joined local rivals Bury on a free-transfer after a successful loan spell with the club.
 
Over four years with Bury, Challinor went on to become a key player for the Shakers, captaining the side for a number of seasons and making 191 appearances for the club (including his loan spell).
 
In 2008, Challinor was released by Bury, joining Welsh side Colwyn Bay, who play in the English non-league system.  He initially joined the club as a player, but is now player/manager of the Seagulls. 

Challinor is also studying for a degree in physiotherapy at Salford University.

One To Watch:

Ex-Tranmere man Michael Jones is a key man for the Shakers, posing plenty of attacking threat from midfield and weighing in with several goals and assists.

Birkenhead born Jones started his career on the Wirral, coming through the youth ranks at Prenton Park and making his debut for the club on the final day of the 2005/06 season as Tranmere lost 2-0 at home to Doncaster Rovers.

However, despite his talent and good form for the reserves, Jones struggled to cement his place in the first team at Prenton Park.

A three month loan spell at Shrewsbury Town during 2006/07 saw Jones make fourteen first team appearances, scoring once, but this failed to kick-start his Tranmere career.

On his return to Prenton Park, he continued to struggle to get in the first team, and in 2008 he was released by manager Ronnie Moore, having made thirteen appearances for the club, scoring just once.

Upon his release by Rovers, Jones joined Bury and has not looked back since, making himself a hugely threatening League Two winger.

In two years at Gigg Lane, Jones has already made 112 and scored sixteen goals, five of which have already come this season.

A threatening wide man, Jones has pace and skill in abundance, whilst he is also a very strong finisher and crosser.

Now aged 23, Jones wears the 14 shirt for Bury.

F.A. Cup first round action:

All four of the Johnstone Paints Trophy northern section quarter-final matches take place this week, with three games on Tuesday night and one on Wednesday.

Bury v Tranmere
Carlisle v Crewe
Rotherham v Huddersfield
Sheffield Wednesday v Hartlepool (Wednesday)

Team News:

Jones' Prediction:  Bury 1-2 Tranmere Rovers

Bury may be a division below Tranmere, but they are still a strong side, as they showed last season when Alan Knill's side beat John Barnes' Tranmere in his final game in charge of the club.

However, I believe Tranmere have shown enough in the last few games, despite losing, to believe they can win this game, with Rovers creating plenty of chances against Carlisle, despite not scoring, and then netting three times against Bournemouth on Saturday.

The big thing for Rovers is sorting out their defence.  Silly mistakes in recent weeks have led to goals, something Tranmere must cut out, both if they want to progress in this competition and move up the league table.

A key to that happening may be the performance of Max Blanchard.  The Frenchman has struggled in the last couple of games, and that has shown in Tranmere's game, with Rovers conceeding seven times in two matches.

If Blanchard can get back to form and start covering the back four better, then Rovers should be able to hold stronger in defence, with Blanchard breaking up a number of threatening attacks and sweeping up in front of the back four.