Tranmere Rovers
Colchester United v Tranmere Rovers Match Preview
By Matthew Jones
April 22 2010
It's another big weekend in Coca Cola League One for Tranmere Rovers, and ahead of their trip to Colchester United, Matthew Jones brings you all the stats, facts and team news you need to know.......
Saturday 24th April 2010 - Coca-Cola League One
Colchester U v Tranmere
Kick Off 3.00pm at Weston Homes Community Stadium
An unlucky defeat at Griffin Park on Tuesday night left Tranmere Rovers dangerously close to their first relegation for ten years, as they now lie two points inside the drop zone with three games remaining this season.
Many questions will be asked as to why Rovers find themselves in this position, and many fingers will be pointed, but for now it's important that everybody gets behind the team and supports them vocally until there is no longer any hope of staying up (personally I think we'll stay up but this is niether the right time or place for that).
Les Parry will set his side out to attack and win in this crucial match, knowing a win could have them out of the drop zone come 5pm, whilst a defeat could leave them almost certainly relegated. The team will be fired up and still have some confidence after a promising display on Tuesday night, whilst Tranmere's excellent support will be vocally behind their team as always, hopefully chearing their side on to an important victory.
Previous Meetings:
One of John Barnes' seven league points as Tranmere manager was picked up against Colchester in September when the two sides drew 1-1 at Prenton Park.
In a very even game that niether side particularly deserved to win, Tranmere had two early claims for penalties that were both turned down, with referee Mr. Bratt first ignoring appeals from Aaron Cresswell and then Paul McLaren within the first ten minutes.
Thomas-Moore and Ricketts both had chances for Tranmere whilst Daniels made a couple of saves at the other end before Rovers took the lead on 35-minutes, when John Welsh tapped the ball home from close range after Williams had saved from Broomes.
Tranmere's lead lasted only two minutes though as former Watford player John Joe O'Toole netted from close range as he latched on to Odejayi's cross following good work from the former Cheltenham player in side the area.
The half ended 1-1 and the second period started with several chances, Daniels saving from Platt whilst Thomas-Moore had a shot on target again for Tranmere, whilst Cresswell did well to clear off the line from Lisbie's effort at the other end.
Niether side though could find the break through and the game ended a deserved draw, with each side happy to take a point.
Vital Stats:
Tranmere have a 100% record at Colchester's new home, winning 1-0 in their first visit to the Weston Communities Stadium thanks to a header from on-loan defender Ryan Shotton last season
In the last 22 meetings between the two sides, there has only been two home wins
In 23 trips to Colchester, Tranmere have picked up seven wins, seven draws and nine defeats
Tranmere have scored 26 goals in 23 trips to Colchester, conceding 34 times
All three April meetings between these two sides have ended 1-0, with two wins for Colchester and one win for Tranmere
On This Day:
2004: Second half goals from Iain Hume and Ryan Taylor secure Tranmere a 2-0 home win over Barnsley
2001: A week after having their relegation from Divsion One confirmed, Tranmere lose 2-1 to Burnley at Turf Moor
2000: John Aldridge's Tranmere draw 1-1 with QPR at Prenton Park
Tranmere Rovers have played 22 previous games on this day, picking up six wins, six defeats and ten draws. In these 22 games, they have scored 26 goals and conceded 24. They have won three of eleven away games on this day.
The Form Book:
Colchester Last Six Home Games: WLDDDW
Tranmere Last Six Away Games: LLLLDD
There is indeed a glimmer of hope for Tranmere going into this game, as Colchester, who have been challanging for the play-offs all season, have seen their form dip of late and won just one of the last five at home and one of their last eleven at all venues, losing seven!
They did however start their six match sequence with a win, beating Oldham Athletic 1-0 thanks to a strike from Batth, before drawing 0-0 with Brighton in their next home match.The U's then extended their run of successive draws to three games as firstly a thrilling game with Brentford ended 3-3, before a late strike from Henderson secured a 1-1 draw with Wycombe.
Their unbeaten run at home though, which stretched back seven games, came to an end in their next outing on home soil when Millwall defeated the U's 1-0, before in their most recent home outing Colchester won for the first time in five against Swindon Town, Wadsworth (x2) and Vincent scoring in a 3-0 win.
Other impressive results for the U's at home this season include victories over Huddersfield Town (1-0), Southampton (2-1), MK Dons (2-0) and Charlton Athletic (3-0).
Colchester come into this game having played 21 home games so far this season and picked up 46 of an available 63 points, thanks to fourteen wins, four draws and three defeats.
Notable results on the road for the U's this season include wins over Norwich City (7-1), Leyton Orient (1-0), Southend United (2-1) and Brighton and Hove Albion (2-1).
Ahead of this fixture, Colchester are seventh in the League One table, six points adrift of sixth placed Huddersfield Town, having played 43 game and picked up 68 of an avalable 129 points, thanks to nineteen wins, thirteen defeats and eleven draws.
There is no doubt that it's Tranmere's form on the road this season that is the reason as to why they are in the League One relegation zone, with the Prenton Park side having won just two league games on their travels all season, and having lost four straight away games coming into this this fixture.
Les Parry's side started their six match sequence in decent form, firstly drawing 1-1 with relegation threatened Southend thanks to a second half equaliser from Ian Goodison, and then drawing 0-0 in a dull game with Bristol Rovers, a result that meant they stretched their run to four matches unbeaten on the road.However, that run came a dramatic ending in their next outing at they lost 3-0 to relegation rivals Brighton and Hove Albion, before losing by the same scoreline nine days later at the County Ground against promotion chasing Swindon Town, with Rovers having players sent off in each match.
Tranmere have since looked better in their most recent two away games though, despite winning niether, as they firstly lost 2-1 at the Bescott Stadium against Walsall, before on Tuesday losing 2-1 to Brentford despite an excellent strike from on-loan Joss Labadie, his second goal in two games.
Tranmere's only other notable results on the road this season were a 1-0 win at Wycombe courtesy of a Ian Thomas-Moore goal when John Barnes was still in charge of the club, a 1-0 win against Gillingham, a 1-0 F.A. Cup win at Leyton Orient and a 3-3 draw with Huddersfield Town.
Rovers come into this game having picked up just 11 of an available 63 points on the road this season, having won two, drawn five and lost fourteen of their 21 games on the road, scoring just eleven goals in the process.
Notable results at Prenton Park for Tranmere this season include wins over Gillingham (4-2), Norwich City (3-1), Southampton (2-1) and Southend United (2-0).
Les Parry's side come into this match in 21st place in the League One table, lying two points inside the relegation zone behind Exeter City, having played 43 games and picked up 44 of an available 129 points, thanks to twelve wins, eight draws and 23 defeats.
Double Hit:
The only link that could be found between the two teams is a striker named Brian Westlake. Westlake joined Tranmere in 1966 from Halifax Town, playing fourteen games for the club and scoring three goals over the course of the season before joining Colchester.
Whilst at Colchester, Westlake played sixteen games and scored a further five goals before moving to Belgium to play for Royal Daring.
One To Watch: David Prutton
Former Southampton and Leeds United midfielder David Prutton has been an influential figure for Colchester United after joining the club from Leeds on a free transfer at the end of the January transfer window.
Prutton started his career with Nottingham Forest, playing the Premier League for the club and making over 150 appearances for the City Ground side between 1998 and 2003.
In January 2003, he joined Southampton for £2.5 million, but Prutton could never recapture his Forest form once he moved to St. Marys. In four years with the club, he played just under 100 games but also spent time back out on loan at Nottingham Forest before signing for Leeds in August 2007.
Now in League One, Prutton became a very important player for Leeds, and was nicknamed Jesus due to his long, messy hair and unshaven face.
Two and a half years with the Elland Road side saw Prutton make 78 appearances and score four goals, but this season under Simon Grayson the player found himself on the fringes of the first team.
As such, he moved to Colchester United, initially on loan, in January 2010 before making the move permanent a week later.
Since joining the U's, Prutton has made seventeen appearances and scored three goals.
A hugely influential player, Prutton has bags of experience and is a talented set piece taker. Wearing the number 26 shirt for the U's, Prutton is also strong at defending in the middle of the park as well as adding that creative touch to the Colchester midfield.
League One Fixtures:
There is a full list of fixtures in Coca Cola League One this weekend as the season draws towards it's exciting and nail biting climax.
Brentford vs. Yeovil
Brighton vs. Bristol Rovers
Colchester vs. Tranmere
Exeter vs. Charlton
Leeds vs. MK Dons
Millwall vs. Leyton Orient
Norwich vs. Gillingham
Oldham vs. Southend
Southampton vs. Carlisle
Stockport vs. Huddersfield
Walsall vs. Hartlepool
Wycombe vs. Swindon
The League Table:
This just three games left for each team in Coca Cola League One, this weekend could be pivitol in the race for relegation and promotion.
At the bottom of the table, Southend will be relegated if they fail to win, whilst if Wycombe fail to match or better Exeter's result, they will also be down. Tranmere could be left five points adrift at the bottom if results go against them, but victory for Les Parry's side and defeat for Exeter would lift Rovers out of the drop zone.
At the top of the table, if Colchester and Southampton don't better Huddersfield's result, then niether side will be able to make the play-offs, whilst a point for Norwich would secure them the league title.
Team News:
Tranmere Rovers had not yet announced whether 'keepers Luke Daniels and Joe Collister will be fit for the game, and as such they may well extend the stay of loan signing Peter Gulacsi, who arrived from Liverpool last week and started against Exeter and Brentford.
Jones' Prediction: Colchester 1-2 Tranmere Rovers
It's do or die time for Les Parry and his team now, and there is no doubt that Rovers will travel south this weekend intending to win this match. There is, of course, many would say, no other choice. Two points adrift with three games left, Tranmere need to pick up as many points as they can, hopefully starting with at least a point at Colchester.
I believe they can win this game though. Tuesday provided that spark, that glimmer of hope, that we needed and despite losing, Tranmere can take confidence out of the game having been the better side for long periods.
At the end of the day though it all comes down to taking chances, and through-out the season Tranmere have failed to do this enough, scoring just eleven goals away from home all season (and two of these were own goals!).
To combat this problem, Tranmere will hopefully start with loan signing Andy Robinson who looked bright after coming on as a substitute on Tuesday. He will add an extra attacking dimension to Rovers' side, who have relied on the goalscoring of Ian Thomas-Moore far too much this season.
Rovers though must be strong at the back and can't forget that they need to keep hopefully a clean sheet in order to win. Taking the game to the home side though is the key, and being confident whilst doing so. Hopefully this would lead towards Tranmere picking up a vital three points.
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22/04/2010 12:25
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:04:23:16:49:41 by Deadly Submarine.
23/04/2010 15:35
Loving the optimism, but I cant see it, plus I'm making the trip an I'm yet to see us win away from home, out of 8 attempts, so its not looking good, ha!
23/04/2010 16:39
