Tranmere Preview
By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 27/11/2003
AFTER an impressive 3-1 away win at Brentford last Saturday, it’s back to Blundell Park this weekend against lowly Tranmere Rovers - yet another "winnable" game - though I said that about the Stockport match.....!!
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Home > 2003-2004 Season > Previews > Tranmere (h) |
Tranmere have had a somewhat torrid start to their third consecutive season in division two. This saw their manager, Ray Mathias sacked at the start of October after getting only three wins in Rovers first 15 matches - culminating in a 6-0 capitulation to Plymouth. They were in the bottom four at that stage in the season, and though only a few places higher now, they have improved since the appointment of Brian Little. Wins over Port Vale, Oldham, Swindon and Chesterfield have created a bit of stability for the Prenton Park side, who were expected to be challenging for the play offs at the start of the year.
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Brian Little. (left) Vastly experienced manager who needs no introduction. Has managed Leicester City and Aston Villa at the very highest level and of course was in charge of Town rivals Hull City. Has taken a couple of years out of management since then, concentrating on working for Sky Sports. Will be looking to resurrect his managerial career, after he failed to take Hull City out of the third division. Has steadied the ship at Tranmere, and will be looking to take them one step further from last seasons 7th place finish.
In goal for Tranmere is still the Dutch giant, John Achteberg who got squashed by Steve Livingstone in the 2000/01 season game at Blundell Park where Town won 3-1. Generally thought of as one of the most improved players at the club, Achteberg won the player of the year award last season. Former Everton defender Graham Allen will play in the centre of defence, whilst the much-travelled Micky Mellon (left) controls the centre of midfield. Up front, Rovers have one of the most prolific scorers in the lower leagues in the shape of Simon Haworth, who scored 20 goals for Tranmere last season and 55 goals in a four year spell with Wigan.
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Danny Coyne started his career with Tranmere until he moved to Town on a bosman transfer in 1999. Georges Santos began his career in England with Tranmere, where he made 45 appearances before a £250,000 switch to WBA. Current Town midfielder Iain Anderson had a loan spell with Rovers last season where he scored 2 goals in seven games at the end of last season. No doubt the Tranmere full backs will be fully aware of his ability from both flanks!
| Last Time Out
| The last time the two sides came face to face was over two years ago when the two sides were battling it out at the foot of the division one table, when Town won 3-1. The Mariners found themselves 1-0 down at half time when Tranmere scored through Jason Koumas, until Lennie Lawrence threw on Luke Cornwall and Steve Livingstone with devastating effect. In 8 mad moments, Cornwall grabbed a brace and Livvo scored too, a win that greatly helped Towns survival hopes.
Town Team: Coyne, McDermott, Gallimore, Groves, Handyside, Coldicott, Pouton (Willems), Campbell, Clare (Cornwall), Jeffrey (Livingstone), Donovan.
Tranmere Team: : Achteberg (Murphy), Kenna, Roberts, Allen, Osborn, Yates, Flynn, Koumas, Mellon, Parkinson (Barlow), N’Diaye (Taylor)
Attendance: 5,816 Report Tranmere Head-to-Head (19th on The Opposition Ladder).
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Click on the link for directions to Blundell Park (left).
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Brian Little. (left) Vastly experienced manager who needs no introduction. Has managed Leicester City and Aston Villa at the very highest level and of course was in charge of Town rivals Hull City. Has taken a couple of years out of management since then, concentrating on working for Sky Sports. Will be looking to resurrect his managerial career, after he failed to take Hull City out of the third division. Has steadied the ship at Tranmere, and will be looking to take them one step further from last seasons 7th place finish.
In goal for Tranmere is still the Dutch giant, John Achteberg who got squashed by Steve Livingstone in the 2000/01 season game at Blundell Park where Town won 3-1. Generally thought of as one of the most improved players at the club, Achteberg won the player of the year award last season. Former Everton defender Graham Allen will play in the centre of defence, whilst the much-travelled Micky Mellon (left) controls the centre of midfield. Up front, Rovers have one of the most prolific scorers in the lower leagues in the shape of Simon Haworth, who scored 20 goals for Tranmere last season and 55 goals in a four year spell with Wigan.
There are many ex Town heroes who have played for Tranmere as well, none bigger than Italian Ivano Bonetti who played for Town in the 1995/96 season, where his appearances for the Mariners coincided with Town sitting in second place in the division one table in November that year. Then came the "flying chicken incident" and the rest, as they say, is history! The season after that he signed for Tranmere before a brief spell with Crystal Palace before he took over as player/manager of Dundee.
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