Bury vs. Tranmere Rovers match preview

John Achterberg, set to make his first appearence since November 26th 2005

This Tuesday night, Tranmere kick-off their Johnstone's Paint Trophy campaign with a trip to Lancashire to play Coca-Cola League Two side Bury.

The game will be both sides first ever match in the trophy under its new format. This season the trophy is drawn into four regions for the first two rounds, instead of two, with these being North-West, North-East, South-West and South-East.

The trophy has also been renamed for the new season, thanks to a new sponsor. After former sponsor LDV Vans went bankrupt, the trophy has been renamed thanks to its new sponsor, “The Johnstone's Paint Trophy”.

Bury Team Profile:

Formed: 1885

Ground: Gigg Lane

Manager: Chris Casper

Nickname: The Shakers

Season Finish 2005/06: 19^th (Coca-Cola League Two)

Past Meetings:

It has in fact been five seasons since Tranmere and Bury last met, with the two sides not meeting since 19^th January 2002 due to Bury's relegation from what was then Division Two in the 2001/02 season with just 44 points after finished 22^nd.

The last time the two sides met at Gigg Lane, Tranmere came out on top, thanks to a handy 1-0 win for Dave Watson's men.

Jason Koumas scored the solitary goal on that day, sliding in to score from inside the six yard box after 27-minutes, with the win being Watson's penultimate away win as Tranmere manager.

Earlier in the season, Tranmere lost 2-1 to Bury at Prenton Park, the game being Dave Watson's first as Tranmere manager. Seyni N'Diaye scored Rovers goal on the stroke of half time, after ex-Liverpool striker Jon Newby had given the Manchester side the lead after four minutes. Phil Parkinson earned his side the win on 74 minutes, when he netted Bury's second goal.

Vital Stats:

Bury Football Club's biggest ever win was an 8-0 demolition of Tranmere on 10^th January 1970

In 27 meetings at Gigg Lane, Tranmere have only won twice, with Bury winning 18 times

The last time Tranmere and Bury met in the Football League Trophy, Bury won 2-0 (10th December 2002)

The two sides have previously met three times in October, with each side winning one match 3-1 and Bury winning the other 7-1

Tranmere have conceeded 30 goals in 14 matches on October 17th

The Form Book:

Bury Last 6 Home Games: DDLWLL
Tranmere Last 6 Away Games: DLWLWL

Under the management of Chris Casper, Bury have really struggled to find any kind of form so far this season, which is why they find themselves 21st in League Two.

So far this season, they have picked up just five points at Gigg Lane from a possible 18, yet they still managed to defeat Sunderland 2-0 in the Carling Cup.

Their most recent home games have both ended in draws, as most recently Accrington Stanley made the short trip to Gigg Lane and four days earlier Barnet, who find themselves one place and two points below Bury in the League Two table, travelled to Gigg Lane and came away with a valuable 2-2 draw.

Before that, Torquay United travelled to Lancashire and claimed a valuable 1-0 win, whilst Bury's only home league win this season came against Grimsby Town, as Young's (x2) and Adams scored the goals in a valuable 3-0 win.

However, prior to this, Bury had suffered two straight home defeats, to Chester and Shrewsbury Town, with Chester grabbing a 3-1 win and Shrewsbury earning a 2-1 victory.

The infamous victory over Sunderland was odd for the reason that before the game, each side had played four matches and each side had a 100% record - they had lost all their matches.

In this game, watched by 2,930, Bury's biggest attendance of the season, Fitzgerald scored in the 82nd minute to give Bury the lead, before Bishop double the Shakers advantage in the 88th minute, securing the win.

However, Tranmere should beware, as Bury have won their last two games, both away from home, defeating high-flying Lincoln City 2-0 at Cincil Bank before beating Macclesfield Town on Saturday 3-2, after trailing 1-0.

Bury also grabbed a 1-0 away win at Peterborough, but then went on a three game losing streak away from home, as Darlington, Hereford and Sheffield United all defeated Chris Casper's side 1-0 in the space of eight days.

On the opening day of the season, Martin Allan's new side, The MK Dons beat Bury 2-1 at the National Hockey Stadium, with Wycombe Wanderers defeating Bury 3-0 two weeks later.

For Tranmere, it has been a mixed bag on the road. So far this season, they are yet to lose two consecutive away games, picking up eight points from an available 21 in the league, whilst also unluckily losing in the Carling Cup first round to Hull City, 2-1 after Extra-Time.

Rovers have lost to Cheltenham Town (1-0), Rotherham United (2-1) and Bradford City (2-1) in the league, whilst Chesterfield and Northampton have been defeated, 2-0 and 3-1 respectively, and Ronnie Moore's side have picked up valuable points at Swansea City and Doncaster Rovers, as both games ended in 0-0 draws.

Double Hit:

Down the years, there have been a number of players who have represented both Tranmere Rovers and Bury FC.

One of these is somebody known well to Tranmere fans, who will be remembered for his ability to launch a ball over 40 metres when taking a throw in.

Dave Challinor was signed by John King for Tranmere from local non-league side Brombrough Pool on 18th July 1994.

Challinor went on to spend eight seasons at Prenton Park, making 170 appearances in league and cup, mostly under the management of John Aldridge, scoring six goals in the league.

He will be most known for the part he played with Clint Hill in defence in the team that reached the F.A. Cup Quarter Final twice in two seasons and the League Cup Final in the 1999/2000 season.

With his weapon of that massive throw-in, Challinor was nearly always on the team sheet, and it was only a broken leg that ended his time at Tranmere when Dave Watson sold him to Stockport County.

If one thinks back, they can remember Nicky Henry's goal in the League Cup Semi-Final second leg against Bolton in January 2000. It was a Dave Challinor missile that caused all the problems in the first place, as the Bolton defence failed to clear the ball.

Since leaving Tranmere, Challinor played for Stockport before joining Bury, firstly on loan before making the switch permanent, in September 2004.

Challinor, who turned 31 earlier this month, is now the Bury Club Captain and has made over 100 league appearances for the League Two club, but is yet to score a goal.

Team News:

Ronnie Moore is expected to make a number of changes to his Tranmere side, with fringe players such as club legend John Achterberg and two of Jason McAteer, Danny Harrison and Steven Jennings expected to be given a game. The likes of Carl Tremarco, Olly James and Mike Jones could also feature.

The Rovers boss however is without two strikers Gareth Taylor and Calvin Zola, who remain out of action with jaw and foot injuries.

Jones' Prediction: Bury 0-2 Tranmere