Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers v Hartlepool United Match Preview
By Matthew Jones
March 18 2010
As Friday night football returns to Prenton Park for the first time this season, Matthew Jones brings you all the stats, facts and news you need to know ahead of the match in his regular Match Preview.
Friday 19th March 2010 - Coca-Cola League One
Tranmere R v Hartlepool U
Kick-Off 7.45pm at Prenton Park
Coming into this game without a win in their last two, and now lying just one point above the relegation zone, Les Parry and his Tranmere side know this is a huge game in the relegation battle, and a chance for Rovers to put more distance between themselves and the bottom four, as well as putting pressure on the teams below them ahead of Saturday's fixtures.
Parry though no doubt will have his side fired up for this match, and with the fixure being Tranmere's first Friday night match of the season, with one more to follow in two weeks against Norwich, live on Sky TV, the atmosphere at Prenton Park will no doubt be one of excitement and lots of vocal support, as traditionally it always is on Friday nights under the floodlights on the Wirral.
Peter Johnson and co. will also no doubt be hoping that the fixture will see a boost in the attendance, with hopefully some extra fans from Premier League clubs in attendance with their sides not playing until the weekend.
Previous Meetings:
Les Parry's first away game as Tranmere manager was against Hartlepool United in October, with Tranmere suffering a disappointing 1-0 defeat despite a battling, spirited and hard working display.
Naming an unchanged side from the team that beat Brighton, Rovers had plenty of chances in the match, but a solitary first half goal from Peter Hartley was enough to seal the win for the Monkey Hangers at Victoria Park.
The goal came two minutes before the break, as Ritchie Jones' cross deflected off McLaren to Hartley at the far post, who made no mistake as he comfortably slotted the ball past Luke Daniels to score what would ultimately be the match winning goal.
Tranmere had chances in the match though, with Gornell forcing a save out of Flinders with a header early on, whilst Edds also had an effort cleared off the line in the same attack.
Ian Thomas-Moore, Broomes and Welsh all had chances before Hartlepool took the lead, whilst after the break Goodison, Curran and Shuker all came close to scoring, but they couldn't net past Flinders who put in a strong performance in the Hartlepool goal and were unlucky not to at least grab a point in this game.
Vital Stats:
In 58 home games against Hartlepool, Tranmere have picked up an incredible 40 wins, losing just nine times
There hasn't been an away win in this fixture in any of the last nine meetings
Tranmere haven't lost at home to Hartlepool since the 1984/85 season, having played the Monkey Hangers twelve times at Prenton Park since
In 58 home games against Hartlepool, Tranmere have scored 137 goals, conceding just 61
Rovers have won five of nine games against Hartlepool when the two sides have met in March
On This Day:
2002: Tranmere are hammered 5-0 at London Road by Peterborough in Division Two
1994: Rovers lose 1-0 away to Oxford United in Division One
1990: John King's Tranmere secure a 2-0 win over Notts County at Prenton Park in Division Three
Tranmere have played fifteen previous games on March 19th, picking up just two wins, as well as drawing six and losing seven matches. On this day they have scored sixteen goals and conceding 25.The Form Book:
Hartlepool United Last Six Away Games: LLLLLL
Tranmere Last Six Home Games: LWLWLW
Despite having picked up two wins in their last two home games, Hartlepool's away form this season has been abysmal, and the Monkey Hangers come into this game having lost nine successive matches on the road, and without a win in their last ten.
They started their six match sequence with a 3-1 defeat at Elland Road against Leeds United on Boxing Day, before a penalty from Behan wasn't enough to earn anything at the Valley against Charlton, where Hartlepool lost 2-1.
The Monkey Hangers then lost 2-0 at Bristol Rovers, before they lost 2-1 at Carrow Road against table topping Norwich City, despite originally leading the game thanks to a strike from Austin.
Since that game on January 30th though, Hartlepool haven't scored an away goal, though they have only played two games since. Firstly, they lost 1-0 at the New Den against Millwall, before at Huish Park last weekend, they lost resoundingly against fellow relegation strugglers Yeovil Town, with the Glovers winning 4-0, this despite having ten men for nearly half an hour.
Hartlepool's away form so far this season has been very poor, with the Monkey Hangers having picked up just twelve of an available 51 points from 17 away games, thanks to three wins, three draws and eleven defeats.
Impressive results at Victoria Park for Hartlepool this season include wins over Walsall (3-0), Millwall (3-0), Carlisle United (4-1) and Southend United (3-0).
Hartlepool United come into this game in eighteenth place in the League One table, three places and two points clear of the League One relegation zone, having played 35 games and picked up 38 of an available 105 points, thanks to ten wins, eight draws and seventeen defeats.
Les Parry's Tranmere side have been very inconsistent at home of late, having won three and lost three of their last six games on home soil, though Rovers are yet to lose successive home games since Les Parry became manager of the side, ahd they have been picking up crucial points on the road during this run as well.
Les Parry's side started their sequence with a win beating Yeovil Town in their next home game 2-1, thanks to goals from Ian Thomas-Moore and, Ashton Taylor, before Rovers though then suffered a hugely disappointing defeat at home to Oldham Athletic, losing 1-0 at a very foggy Prenton Park.
They returned to form next time out on home soil though, returning to winning ways as Ian Thomas-Moore and Marvin Sordell scored in a 2-1 win over Leyton Orient before the inconsistency continued against high flying Huddersfield Town a few days later, Lee Novak scoring both goals in a 2-0 win for Lee Clark's side over Tranmere.
Rovers though then picked up one of their best results of the season with a home win over Southampton, Marlon Broomes and Ian Thomas-Moore scoring in a brilliant 2-1 win for Les Parry's side, but they followed this up with another defeat next time out, as they comfortably lost 4-1 to high flying Leeds United, John Welsh scoring the Tranmere goal.
Other notable results at Prenton Park for Tranmere Rovers this season include wins over Gillingham (4-2), Brentford (1-0), Bristol Rovers (2-0) and Carlisle United (2-0).
Tranmere have played eighteen home games so far this season, picking up 26 of an available 54 points, thanks to eight wins, two draws and eight defeats.
Notable results away from home for Les Parry's side this season include wins over Wycombe Wanderers (1-0) and Gillingham (1-0), as well as a 3-3 draw with Huddersfield Town and an F.A. Cup win over Aldershot (2-1).
Les Parry's side come into this match in 20th place in the League One table, one point and one place above the relegation zone, having played 35 games and picked up 37 of an available 105 points, thanks to ten wins, seven draws and eighteen defeats.
Double Hit:
Tranmere signed current captain Ian Thomas-Moore from Hartlepool United on January transfer window deadline day in 2008, with the player re-joining the club he supported as a boy and made his debut for in the Football League in the 1994/95 season.
Thomas-Moore stayed at Prenton Park for three years before moving on to Nottingham Forest for £1,000,000, and spending time at West Ham on loan after failing to establish himself in the Forest team.
A £800,000 move to Stockport in 1998 revitalised his career, as over two years he made over 100 appearances for the club, before joining Burnley for £1,000,000 in November 2000.
A five year stint at Turf Moor saw Moore spend time out on the wing, as well as in his favoured striker position, but his excellent work rate earned him many fans at Burnley, where he made over 200 appearances and scored fifty goals for the club.
In 2005 he moved on to Leeds United, but was in and out of the first team at Elland Road, and fell out with manager Dennis Wise, before moving to Hartlepool in 2007.
He last only eight months at Hartlepool, as although he was successful, scoring nine goals in 30 games, he didn't enjoy the journey to the North East from his Warrington home ever day, and was snapped up by Tranmere on a free-transfer in January 2008.
Moore has been at Prenton Park ever since, enjoying some of the best form of his career and having taken the captains arm band for the club this season, having signed a two-year extention to his contract last summer.
This season, Moore has scored ten times for Tranmere, whilst since re-joining the club, he's netted 24 times in 108 games.One To Watch: Ritchie Jones
A former Manchester United player who Tranmere were reported to be interested in when Ronnie Moore was manager at the club, Jones is a key man in the centre of the park for the Monkey Hangers, weighing in with some crucial goals and putting in many important tackles and tackles.
The Stockport born man started his career at Manchester United, but only made five appearances for the club, all in cup competitions, over a three year stint as a professional, also spending time out on loan with Colchester, Yeovil and Barnsley, where he made a total of 21 appearances.
In 2008, having been released by Manchester United, Jones joined Hartlepool on a free-transfer, and he has been a key player for the club ever since, already having made 72 appearances for the club and scoring seven goals, four of which have come this season.
Though only 23, Jones, who wears the number eight shirt for Hartlepool, is a hugely important figure in the centre of midfield for the Pools, where he will be harrying Tranmere players all match, as well as doing his best to create as many chances for his team as possible.
League One Fixtures:
Tranmere's fixture against Hartlepool is the only Friday night fixture in League One, whilst Leeds host Millwall on Monday. The other ten fixtures are all on Saturday.
Charlton vs. Gillingham
Leyton Orient vs. Huddersfield
MK Dons vs. Southampton
Oldham vs. Brighton
Southend vs. Carlisle
Stockport vs. Brentford
Swindon vs. Norwich
Walsall vs. Colchester
Wycombe vs. Exeter
Yeovil vs. Bristol Rovers
Team News:
Bas Savage and Ash Taylor both started for Tranmere last Saturday against Bristol Rovers and should do so again in this game, whilst Terry Gornell could be available again after suffering from the mumps, which has kept him out for a few weeks. Les Parry though is likely to name the same side that drew 0-0 with Bristol Rovers, meaning Gareth Edds and Marvin Sordell will be on the bench.
Les Parry is lucky enough to have Aaron Cresswell available, with the left-back starting his three match ban for a red card picked up in a reserve game next week, though Zoumana Bakayogo will sit out the first of a two match ban after he picked up his second red card of the season at Bristol Rovers last weekend.
Jones' Prediction: Tranmere 2-1 Hartlepool United
Inconsistent home form has been a problem for Tranmere of late, but they haven't lost two in a row at home since Les Parry took over as manager and they know that only a win will do in this huge game against fellow relegation strugglers Hartlepool.
With Ash Taylor and Bas Savage now back in the side, Rovers have that extra height and presence from free-kicks and corners, which will help them not only attacking wise but also defensively, and will no doubt disrupt the Hartlepool attackers, whilst Ian-Thomas Moore will be keen to score against one of his former clubs.
Tranmere however must take the game to Hartlepool and attack, as the onus is on them, being the home side. They must get as many men in the box as they can when they attack, pushing forward in numbers and ensuring that they get the ball up to Savage up front as much as possible.
Ash Taylor and John Welsh are also key for Tranmere though, as they give Rovers that drive going forward from midfield, whilst also they help to turn defense into attack very swiftly.
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18/03/2010 11:13
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Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2010:03:22:13:15:13 by Deadly Submarine.
Fingers crossed that the win/lose sequence at home carries on for now!
18/03/2010 22:22
Let's hope for top marks on Friday.
