Tranmere Rovers
Plymouth Argyle vs. Tranmere Rovers match preview
By Matthew Jones
February 11 2011
Total Tranmere brings you all the stats, facts and team news you need to know ahead of Saturday's massive League One fixture between Rovers and Plymouth
Copyright Historical Football Kits and reproduced by kind permission.
Tranmere Rovers face a long trip south this weekend as they make a near 600 mile round trip to Plymouth and back for Saturday's League One fixture.
This is an important game for both sides as the Pilgrims, managed by ex-Everton player Peter Reid, continue to slip down the league table as their financial difficulties have a negative impact on the pitch, with the club under a transfer embargo and forced to sell their best players, such as Bradley Wright-Phillips.
Rovers then will be hoping to capitalise on the negative attitude surrounding the South West club then this Saturday as they go in search of three vital points which could lift them as high as seventeenth in the table and would take them above Plymouth.
Plymouth Argyle Factfile:
Ground: Home Park
Formed: 1886
Nickname: The Pilgrims
Manager: Peter Reid
League Finish 2009/10: 23rd (The Championship)
Kit
Colours: Green and black striped shirt, white shorts and white socks
(home), White shirt with single black stripe, black shorts and socks
with white trim
(away)
Previous Meetings:
A magnificent solo goal by Dale Jennings was enough to earn Tranmere three vital points when these two sides last met on November 13th at Prenton Park.
A slow first half saw few chances for either side as in a tense game both teams struggled with their final ball and in front of goal.
A first chance for Rovers saw Showunmi's heavy touch when presented with a golden opening leave the ball rolling straight to Plymouth goalkeeper Larrieu, whilst the dangerous Craig Noone, a former Southport player, came closest for the Pilgrims as he fired wide of Gulacsi's goal.
Noone was constantly threatening for Plymouth and came close again in the first half, whilst a brilliant lob from Thomas-Moore dropped just over the bar, whilst Jennings and Cathalina also came close as the first half drew to an end.
Neither side had tested the 'keeper enough, but come 60 minutes, Dale Jennings was to not only test but beat Larrieu as he scored the goal which was voted Tranmere's best of 2010.
The electric striker netted a wonderful solo that has been likened to Michael Owen's brilliant goal against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup.
Jennings picked the ball up just yards inside his own half before racing towards the Plymouth goal. He twisted and turned his way past several defenders before curling a brilliant effort into the bottom corner from inside the area.
That strike deserved to win any game, and so it proved to be as though Fallon came close for Plymouth and Morrow shot wide for Tranmere, neither side could add to the scoring as Rovers won 1-0.
Vital Stats:
In fourteen previous meetings between the two sides in Plymouth, Tranmere have picked up four wins, losing on eight occasions
In these fourteen games, Tranmere have scored just 11 goals to Plymouth's 27
One side has managed to keep a clean sheet in six of the last seven meetings between the two teams
Tranmere have won two, drawn one and last one of four games between the two sides in February
There has been just one away win in the last 11 meetings between these two sides, though it has been Tranmere who have caused the last two away wins in this fixture
On This Day:
2008: A long Tuesday night trip ends in a 0-0 draw for Ronnie Moore's Tranmere against Brighton and Hove Albion
2005: Eugene Dadi's early strike isn't enough for Tranmere as Brian Little's promotion chasing side draw 1-1 with Colchester at Prenton Park
2002: Second half goals from Jason Price and Wayne Allison secure Tranmere a 2-0 win over Northampton in Division Two
The Form Book:
Plymouth Argyle last six home games: LLDDWW
Tranmere Rovers last six away games: DLLWWL
Coming into this game with just one win in their last eight, Plymouth have suffered a demoralising run of results, especially at Home Park, something that they will be hoping to turn around this weekend.
The Pilgrims started their run of form with successive wins, beating Dagenham and Redbridge 2-1 thanks to goals from Noone and Patterson before defeating Exeter 2-0 thanks to a brace from Bradley Wright-Phillips,
This, however, is their most recent home win, as they next drew 0-0 with Yeovil Town before being held to a 1-1 stalemate with with Notts County, this despite taking a fourth minute lead thanks to a goal from Zubar.
Successive home defeats have since followed for Peter Reid's side, firstly to Oldham Athletic (2-0) before in their most recent home game a goal from Fallon wasn't enough as the club suffered a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth.
Other notable results at Home Park for Plymouth this season include victories against Bristol Rovers (3-1), Huddersfield Town (2-1) and Sheffield Wednesday (3-2).
The Pilgrims have played 15 home games so far this season and picked up 19 of an available 45 points, this thanks to five wins, four draws and six defeats.
Impressive
results away from home for Peter Reid's side this season include victories over MK Dons (3-1), Bristol Rovers (3-2) and Swindon Town (3-2).
Plymouth come into this fixture in eighteenth place in the League One table, two places and two points above Tranmere Rovers, having played 30 games and
picked up 33 of an available 90 points, this thanks to nine wins, six
draws and 15 defeats.
Rovers did however start their six match sequnece with a defeat as they lost 5-3 in the F.A. Cup against Bournemouth, this despite coming back from 3-0 down to make it 3-3 at one point, but they picked up a big away win in their next fixture, beating League Two side Bury 1-0 in the Johnstone Paints Trophy thanks to a strike from Ian Thomas-Moore .
Tranmere then lost 2-0 to MK Dons at Stadium:MK in their next away game, having just 26% of the possession in the match, before in their most recent away game Tranmere drew 0-0 at the County Ground against Swindon Town.
Other
impressive results away from home for Tranmere this season include wins
over Bristol Rovers (1-0) and Walsall (4-1) and another win over Walsall, this time 1-0 in the League Cup.
Les
Parry's
side have played 12 away league games this season and picked up 12 of an available 36 points, this thanks to three wins, three draws and six
defeats.
Notable
results at Prenton Park for Tranmere this season include victories over
Southampton (2-0), MK Dons (4-2), Carlisle (2-1) and Peterborough
United (1-0).
Les
Parry's side currently lie in 20th place in League One, having picked
up 31 of an available 78 points from 26 games, thanks to eight wins, seven
draws and eleven defeats.
Double Hit:
As
well as current Tranmere assistant-manager Kevin Summerfield, and
former Rovers winger Paul Hall, another player to have represented both
clubs is minature midfielder David Beresford.
Beresford was a
successful lower league winger with Oldham Athletic, making his debut
for the club in the 1994/95 season. He made 75 appearances for the club
over a three year spell with the Latics, though many of these came from
the bench, whilst he also spent time on loan at Swansea before leaving
for Huddersfield in 1997 for £350,000.
At Huddersfield however,
Beresford, just 21, never really cemented his place in the side. He
made just 42 appearances over four years with the club, netting three
goals, and spent time out on loan at Preston and Port Vale, before being
released and joining Hull City in 2001.
It was at Hull where
Beresford first teamed up with Brian Little, and possibly where he was
most successful, as in just a year at the club, he made 47 appearances,
missing just five league games, before joining Plymouth on a free
transfer at the end of the season.
Beresford however struggled at
Plymouth too, and despite staying with the Pilgrims for 15 months, he
played just 19 times for the club, eleven times for the bench, and
eventually left in November 2003 for Tranmere, this after a loan spell
with Macclesfield.
At
Tranmere, Beresford was very much a bit part player and never got a
consistent run in the team. Despite this though, he still scored some
crucial goals, including one in the play-offs, and played in some big
matches for the club, helping them to the F.A. Cup quarter finals in his
first season at the club and to the play-off semi-finals in his next.
However, he was released in July 2005, having made 65 appearances for the club, joining Macclesfield Town on a free-transfer.
After one-year at Macclesfield, in which time he scored once in 22 games, Beresford retired from football and is now a PE teacher in Rochdale. One To Watch:
Currently under a transfer embargo due to their financial position, and having lost a number of key players during the transfer window, including Bradley Wright-Phillips, Reda Johnson, Craig Noone and Sean Kinsella, it is clear to see that Plymouth's squad is one being sold off in order to pay off the debts they owe.
They do however still have a number of influential players, including 30-year old experienced midfielder Carl Fletcher.
The Welshman started his career with Bournemouth, coming through the youth ranks with the Cherries before making his debut during the 1997/98 season aged seventeen.
He stayed with the club for seven years and became a key player, making 226 appearances for the club and netting 23 goals before joining West Ham United in August 2004 for £275,000.
In his first of two seasons with the Hammers, Fletcher helped Alan Pardew's side win promotion back to the Premier League, but he failed to make an impact in his second season at Upton Park, making only 17 appearances.
He did however pick up an F.A. Cup runners up medal as West Ham lost on penalties in the final of the competition to Liverpool after the game had finished 3-3, whilst he also spent a month on loan at Watford in September, playing three times for the club.
In July 2006, Fletcher made the move to Crystal Palace for £400,000, and he remained with the Selhurst Park club for three seasons.
Again, though, he struggled to hold down a regular first team place, and made just 74 appearances over three years with the club, with 39 of these coming in his first season with the club.
He was, indeed, captain at Selhurst Park until Neil Warnock took charge of the club, shortly after which he was placed on the transfer list.
After a one month loan spell at Nottingham Forest in October 2008, Fletcher joined Plymouth for the first time on loan in February 2009.
He made thirteen appearances, scoring once, up until the end of the season, at which point Plymouth signed the Wales international on a permanent deal.
Since then, he has become an integral part of the Pilgrims side, being made captain of the team and playing 68 times for the club, scoring five times.
Named player of the year last season, Fletcher, who has won 36 caps for his country, is a combative, hard working midfielder who also gets himself forward and scores plenty of goals.
He will be a key player for the Pilgrims on Saturday who Tranmere will need to handle carefully and watch closely.
Around League One:
There is a full round of 12 fixtures in League One this Saturday, all kicking off at 3pm:
Brighton vs. Hartlepool
Charlton vs. Peterborough
Colchesteter vs. Swindon
Dagenham and Redbridge vs. Yeovil
Huddersfield vs. Oldham
Leyton Orient vs. Bristol Rovers
MK Dons vs. Brentford
Notts County vs. Exeter
Plymouth vs. Tranmere
Rochdale vs. Sheffield Wednesday
Southampton vs. Carlisle
Walsall vs. Bournemouth
Team News:
Injury concerns are beginning to lift for Tranmere, with Tim Cathalina, Alan Mahon and Zoumana Bakayogo both playing 90 minutes for a Rovers reserve side against Liverpool on Tuesday.
All three are likely to be on the bench for Saturday's game, whilst Andy Robinson, who came off with a slight muscle strain in the match against Liverpool, should still be fit enough for the Plymouth match.
Tranmere will however be without Ryan Fraughan and Marlon Broomes who will both be out for some time with knee ligament injuries, whilst this game comes too early for Max Blanchard who only returned to training this week.
Les Parry also has to decide which two wingers he will start with out of Andy Robinson, Dale Jennings and Lateef Elford-Alliyu.
Jones' Prediction: Plymouth 1-2 Tranmere
Plymouth are on a disasterous run of form having lost seven of their last eight matches, and Tranmere should be capable of capitalising on this when the two sides meet at Home Park on Saturday.
It will be interesting to see what formation Les Parry goes in to this fixture with, however. Having played 4-4-2 against the Pilgrims in November, Tranmere have also played 4-3-3 regularly since, and it could be that choice which decides the game for Rovers.
For me, Tranmere should once again go 4-4-2, starting with Elford-Alliyu and Robinson on the wings and with Showunmi and Jennings up front.
This gives Tranmere fantastic attacking options, and although it would probably mean dropping Ashton Taylor, it would give Rovers frightening pace up front that Plymouth may not be able to deal with.
Rovers need to create plenty of chances for their attacking players, and it's important they get the ball down the channels for the wingers, whilst Welsh and Labadie must continue to push forward and help the likes of Showunmi up front.
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11/02/2011 10:38
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:02:13:22:12:24 by Deadly Submarine.
However as well as losing key players at Christmas, their form is poor and they have one or two injuries I think to players they do use, as opoosed ot ccasional ones, so more headaches
Les on the site identified about 4 players he recalls from the 1-0 win Tranmer had over thme last time.
However fate may not smile on Tranmere, as their last defeat was a few games ago, so just the time for the omens to deliver a sucker punch.
However I think either a 2-0 or a 3-1, or at worst a 2-1. A win being a 90% certainty.
If we win it could push them even nearer taking the administration options.Games are often called six pointers. This could be a 16 pointer!
in the starting line up and Robbo on the bench why Akins in front of these two is Jennings injured as far as Akins is concerned he`s done nothing.
Even Robbo with a knock(calf)would be better than Akins or perhaps Akins is going to give us a performance of the season today with a couple of goals(but I will not hold my breath)
keep it tight lads or ref 
blow up now and we will call it full time come on you whites. 
scored but it did not count still it`s 1 - 0 at half time keep it tight and lets take the three points today, 
pity they fell asleep to let in one
but we will take a 3-1 win any time again starting on Tuesday against Sheff Wed come on Les we need back to back wins here seeing we have so many away games coming up,but well done to day
come on you whites just what we needed today. Southend are another team it seems, but frankly being offered the chance to move down south to a League 2 team, wouldn't be as good as staying up north with a league one team.
Depending on where he lives, he wouldn't have to move.
Just need McGurk to take his chance when he gets one now.
Hopefully all will get some kind of chance though.
Akins may well have skills that could be useful in league 1, but it's a question of how much he's got and how regularly he could show it.
Morrow could be good with a run of 5-6 games. After all, he might have only scored 3 in 30 for Hibs, but that was in a higher division, with a lot of starts from the bench and doesn't include assists.
If he played more full games at a level one step down, he could logically do better, but unfortunately in the early season, he was competing mainly with Enoch, Ian Moore and Dale, but now the main competition is Enoch, Dale, Robbo and Lateef, which is more than before and he doesn't get bums on seats, becasue nobody comes to see him warm the bench.
For probably around the same cost over 12 months, someone like Macken at around £78,000 without bonuses, could have come, scored some goals and gotten more fans in, because he's more experienced, more well known and would have looked like a more positive signing, so less fans would have deserted.
Even 650 less fans a week on average is better than 700.
Tranmere needed to get players in you could believe in and apart from Labadie and Enoch, none of the fresh crop looked like that, though some like Blanchard did.
Plus if Macken had played for Tranmere, he couldn't have scored in the 3-3, so Tranmere would be 2 points better off
I'm more than willing to accept Akins and McGurk have something to offer, but they haven't really shown it and whatever game Akins had against Plymouth, some fans, (not me), could use the comeback that Akins looked better than usual against a very poor team.
Some fans wouldn't give him any creedence, because they'd say a team with less issues and a bit more confidence would play better and therefore Akins would only look as good as usual.
He might have improved, but being on a 1yr deal like McGurk is I think, when it comes to the transfer list, out of Akins, McGurk, Cathalina and Wood, I doubt all of those will get extensions if any, because if there were extended deals to be made, Robbo and Warner would be much more up the pecking order.
It would take far more evidence for me to think that he was worth another contract.
For me one of the most striking thinks was the way Warner inspires confidence in the defenders (despite one cock up).He may not be a better shot stopper than other options this season but this his experience adds something to the defence
Defensively it's more solid, because McChrystal is a good replacement for Broomes and Kay is the best right back this season.
