Tranmere Rovers
Match Preview: Tranmere Rovers v Chester
By Deadly Submarine
September 10 2015
As Tranmere prepare for their first local derby of the season as they host Chester, Louise Formston returns with her match preview ahead of the game.....
This Saturday sees two important events; the visit of Chester to Prenton Park and my birthday! Brabin has already expressed his excitement at the upcoming derby game and there’s a sense of anticipation amongst the fans so all that’s left is for the players to do their bit. Rovers head into this game after a 1-1 draw away at Welling last weekend, a result that sees them sit tenth, five points off the playoffs. Chester on the other hand faced league leaders Forest Green and despite fighting bravely went on to lose the game 2-1 and sit just behind Tranmere in 11th, also on 12 points.
Previous Meetings:
The two sides have met 80 times over the years with the last meeting coming before I was born in 1991 when Rovers played in the 3rd Division (Old). The team’s first meeting was in 1931 and finished in a 2-2 draw. Games between the two sides are always full of goals with the highest scoring game finishing 6-2 to Rovers in October 1978 (250/1 with SkyBet for a repeat this Saturday if you’re interested). Although their last competitive meeting was almost 25 years ago, Rovers have met Chester in friendlies as recently as last summer. Eliot Richards provided the goal for Tranmere whilst Chester’s equaliser came courtesy of an Antonie Boland own goal.
Injuries and Suspensions:
Both Mekki and Riley missed out on last week’s trip to Welling through injury but are expected to return this weekend. Everyone appeared to come through the game injury free, with Norwood picking up his first 90 minutes of the season. Ritchie Sutton was sent off in the second half of the televised game against Welling but has since had his red card overturned thanks to a successful appeal by the club and is available for selection on Saturday. On a side note, Sahr Kabba – the player responsible for Sutton’s sending off – has been charged by the FA for feigning an injury that led to a players’ dismissal. At the time of writing Chester have no real injuries to be concerned about ahead of Saturday, nor are any of their players suspended.
The Opposition Dugout:
55-year old Steve Burr is Chester’s current manager, having taken the job in January 2014 following the departure of Neil Young. Burr failed to save them from relegation that season and Chester were relegated on goal difference. However, they were handed a lifeline in summer 2014 when Hereford United were expelled from the Conference Premier due to financial irregularities and Chester were reinstated. Last season, Burr’s first full season in charge, saw Chester start poorly, before picking up a bit of form finally finishing in 12th place with 63 points.
Prior to managing Chester, Burr was in charge of Kidderminster Harriers were he stayed for four years and experienced a fair amount of success winning Manager of the Month twice as well as manager of the season in 2013 and being linked with vacancies at Forest Green and Grimsby before Burr eventually left Kidderminster in January 2014. Other names on his CV include Stalybridge Celtic and England C.
One to Watch:
John Rooney (24) - English
With all the fuss around one member of the Rooney family this week, it seems a little unfair to leave out youngest brother John who is currently Chester’s top scorer with two goals. Although a part of the Everton academy, Rooney joined Macclesfield Town, making his professional debut against Barnet in March 2008 following that up a year later with first senior goal. After leaving Macclesfield, Rooney headed to America playing for both the New York Red Bulls and Orlando City in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Eventually Rooney returned to England and signed for Barnsley, then Bury and finally Chester after a loan move was made permanent in January 2014. His goals this season have come against Woking and Guiseley but neither have proved match winning.
Chester have a number of former Rovers’ players amongst their squad this season. Firstly, Ian Sharps is currently captain at the Deva Stadium having moved to Chester in July this year. Sharps played for Rovers as a teenager between 1998 and 2006 making over 150 appearances. Fellow defender Michael Kay is another former Tranmere man now part of the Chester squad. Kay signed for Chester straight from leaving Rovers in 2013 and scored his first goal for the Blues in their one nil win over Halifax last month. Kay also gets a special mention as we share a birthday (this Saturday!) although we’ll be celebrating different ages.
Current Tranmere player Jay Harris has gone the other way. After signing for Chester in 2008, Harris was left without a club after the side were liquidated and so signed for Wrexham. He has, however now seen the light and is making a name for himself at Prenton Park.
Around the League:
Forest Green vs Southport: Forest Green broke records last weekend as they won for the eighth game in a row. Southport however, sit just inside the relegation zone despite their form starting to pick up. Will FGR set a new record this weekend and how will Rovers’ next opponents fare against the record breakers?
Grimsby vs Aldershot: Grimsby (9th) are the third team (with Rovers and Chester) to be sitting on twelve points so far this season and will host 11th placed Aldershot as both teams aim to close the gap between themselves and the playoffs.
My Starting XI:
Davies
Sutton Hogan Hill
Jackson/Mekki Harris Jennings Ridehalgh
Maynard
Norwood Mangan
Davies saved us last Saturday pulling off a fantastic display in front of the cameras and has rightly earned the number one spot this season. Having watched both the Bank Holiday and the Welling game and I think a back three can work providing Brabin doesn’t attempt to switch it 75 minutes in when he’s scared we’ll cock up again. Instead of Riley I’d bring in Hill for that back three. His experience and calm aura could be what we need to see out games.
Neither Mekki nor Jackson can defend to save their lives (nor are they 100% fit) but they offer a lot going forward so my new plan is for us to just outscore the opposition – with both Norwood and Mangan on the pitch I think that’s possible. Jennings needs to stay in his protecting the back three role and just stick to that, Harris can work on going box to box bringing the ball forward.
I think it’s too early to write off Maynard just yet but he’s yet to impress me. Halifax were upset to lose him so there has to be something there and I think moving him centrally could work. Between Norwood and Mangan we have a really strong strike force and they need to start showing it.
Score prediction – a scrappy 1-0 to the Rovers but we’re going to celebrate it like we’ve won the League and Brabin is our God.
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10/09/2015 13:39
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