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Rovers have not won an away match since October 20th and have just three away victories to their name all season, when they defefeated Leyton Orient 1-0 at Brisbane Road. Boss Ronnie Moore will therefore see this as the perfect chance for Tranmere to begin to turn their poor away form around as they start their assault on the play-off places.
Crewe Alexandra team profile:
Formed: 1877
Ground:
Manager: Gudjon Thordarson
Nickname: The Alex/The Railwaymen
Season Finish 2006/07: 20th (Coca-Cola League One)
Previous Meetings
Tranmere and Crewe have already met twice this season, once in the league and once in the Johnstone's Paints Trophy, with both matches played at Prenton Park.
The first meeting of the season between the two teams was that Johnstone's Paints match, a second round fixture, in which Tranmere secured their progress to the third round with their second successive 1-0 win in the competition.
Tranmere edged out their opposition on the night in what was a very poor match, with niether sides having too many chances to win the game as both 'keepers had reasonably easy games.
The only goal of the game was scored late in the match as Chris Shuker saw his shot from just inside the area heavily deflected over the goalkeeper and into the net.
Less than two weeks later, the two sides met again, this time in the league, and Tranmere came through with a much more comfortable victory.
After a poor first half ended 0-0, Tranmere took the upper hand in the second period, with Steve Jennings netting his first of the season on 51 minutes as he got on the end of Chris Shuker's cross and netted from close range.
Shuker himself then sealed the game on 74 minutes as he got his second of the season against Crewe. Shuker ran on to a hoofed clearance by Ian Goodison and after sprinting clear of the defender, Shuker calmly took the ball round the 'keeper and slotted home into the empty net.
To make things worse for the visiters, they had defender Billy Jones sent off late on after a foul on Eddy Sonko, although the dismissal was later over turned.
The 2-0 Friday night win lifted Rovers into the play-off positions for the first and only time this season, and Ronnie Moore will be hoping his side can pick up another victory this weekend can pull his team closer to that much coveted top six.
Vital Stats:
Tranmere haven't won in any of their last four trips to Gresty Road
In 63 trips to Crewe, Tramnere have picked up sixteen wins and lost 30 times
Rovers have had players sent off in their last two trips to Crewe, Gavin Ward in April 2007 and Ian Goodison last season
Tranmere last did the double over Crewe in the 1999/2000 season, a season when they also beat the Alex 2-0 at Prenton Park in the League
The two sides haven't played out a 0-0 draw since the 1987/88 season, with 24 fixtures since that result
On This Day:
2004: Brian Little's Tranmere draw 1-1 at Colchester, with Eugene Dadi netting for Rovers in a game with the Wirral side led for 62 minutes before Kemmy Izzet struck an 89th minute equaliser
1998: In Division One, Tranmere draw 0-0 with Manchester City at Prenton Park
1987: A day Tranmere fans will want to forget as their team lost 6-0 at Scunthorpe
Tranmere have played sixteen fixtures on January 31st, picking up six wins, six draws and four defeats. They have scored 24 and conceded 26 goals on this day, although they have netted just once in their last four games on January 31st.
The Form Book:
Crewe last six home games: WLLWLL
Tranmere last six away games:
Crewe's form this season, both at Gresty Road and away from home, has been poor, and that is why they find themselves in a real relegation battle this season.
They started their six match sequence with consecutive defeats, firstly against Leyton Orient, another struggling team, who beat the Alex 2-0, before Stockport County then beat the Railway Men 3-0 at Gresty Road.
Crewe then beat Swindon Town 1-0 thanks to a strike by Miller on the stroke of half time, but a 3-0 defeat to Oldham in their next home game bought the Alex back down to earth with a bump.
An F.A. Cup Third Round replay against Millwall came next for the Alex, and they lost the game 3-2, before winning their most recent home match against Scunthorpe, O'Donnell scoring a 90th minute winner for the Alex.
Other notable results at Gresty Road for Crewe this season include wins over Colchester (2-0) and Walsall (2-1) and cup wins over Barnsley (2-0) and Macclesfield Town (3-0).
Crewe's home form this season sees them having picked up fourteen of an available 36 points so far, having won four, drawn two and lost six of their twelve matches.
Impressive away results for Crewe include a 2-0 win at Carlisle (F.A. Cup) and a 4-1 win at Hartlepool, their only two away wins of the campaign to date.
The Alex come into this game in 24th place in League One having picked up just 19 of an available 78 points in 26 games. They have achieved this thanks to five wins, four draws and seventeen defeats.
Tranmere's away form of late has been nothing short of disasterous, with Rovers coming into this game without a win in their last nine games on their travels.
Their six match sequence started with a drab 1-0 defeat at Yeovil Town, as Ronnie Moore's side struggled with injury, illness and suspsension, before they drew 0-0 at Peterborough in the F.A. Cup a week later.
Their away form didn't pick up on their next outing either, a 2-0 defeat at Bristol Rovers before in their Johnstone's Paints Trophy northern section semi final at Glanford Park, Tranmere lost 2-1 at Scunthorpe United, with John Johnstone scoring a last minute own goal to put Tranmere out of the cup, a game they certainly didn't deserve to lose.
Rovers then lead against Hereford through Eddie Sonko goals, but were twice pegged back as they drew 2-2 at Edgar Street on Boxing Day before in their most recent away game Tranmere were unlucky to lose 1-0 at Millwall.
Other notable results away from home for Tranmere this season include wins at Carlisle United (2-1), Huddersfield Town (2-1) and Leyton Orient (1-0).
Tranmere have so far played twelve away league games this season, picking up twelve of an available 36 points thanks to three wins, three draws and six defeats.
Impressive home results for Tranmere include wins over Leeds United (2-1), Northampton Town (4-1), Carlisle United (4-1) and Scunthorpe (2-0).
Ronnie Moore's side come into this game in eighth place in the League One table, having picked up 43 of an available 78 points from 26 games, thanks to thirteen wins, four draws and nine defeats.
Double Hit:
As well as having Calvin Zola on their books, another player who has played for Tranmere and is currently at Crewe is defender Chris McCready.
The defender started his career with Crewe, where he was a graduate of the ever successful Crewe academy, and after making his debut during the 2000/01 season, McCready spent time out on loan with Hyde United.
After this three month stint away from Gresty Road, McCready finally made the break through into the first team under manager Dario Gradi.
The defender stayed with Crewe until 2006, making eighty appearances for the club, although he always struggled to maintain a place in the side due to a terrible run of injuries.
In July 2006, McCready signed for Tranmere Rovers, becoming one of Ronnie Moore's first signings at the club, joining on a free-transfer with a one-year contract.
The defender was a near ever present for Rovers that season, playing 47 games in total, including 42 league games, and scoring once, the goal coming in a Friday night 3-1 home win over Millwall.
However, after just a year at the club, he left, re-joining Crewe, the place where his heart had always been.
Since re-signing for the Alex, McCready has made a further fourty games, scoring three goals, although injuries have again prevented him from making as many appearances as he should have.
Now aged twenty-seven, McCready is a key part of the Crewe defence, although injury has kept him out of the side since mid-August.
One To Watch: Michael O'Connor
Northern Ireland international midfielder Michael O'Connor is a key part of the Crewe Alexandra midfield, and has been with the club for his entire career.
He was spotted by Crewe scouts playing football in his native Northern Ireland and was quickly signed up by the Alex when he was only a teenager.
O'Connor made his break through to the Crewe first team at the age of just eighteen as he came on as a substitute replacing former Tranmere player Gareth Taylor in a Championship match.
Since making his debut in the 2005/06 season, O'Connor, now 21, has gone on to make 86 appearances for Crewe, of which fifteen have come this season.
As well as this, the youngster made his debut for Northern Ireland earlier this season as he played in his countries 0-0 draw away to Scotland, coming on as a substitute after 58-minutes before making his second appearance for his country against Hungary in November.
Another thing that he has added to his game this season is goals. In his previous seasons with Crewe, O'Connor had scored just once but this year he has netted five goals, three of which have come in the league.
A tidy, creative midfielder, O'Connor, who wears the number eight for shirt, is the stalwart of the Crewe midfield and a central figure in most of their moves. Indeed, most things, attacking or defensive, go through the youngster.
Around League One:
A win for Tranmere this weekend could move them above Leeds United and into seventh place as well as putting them just two points off the play-off places, should results go their way.
Leeds travel to Walsall who have struggled for consistency this season, though new manager Chris Hutchins will be keen to pick up a win against the former English Champions, whilst sixth placed Oldham, five points ahead of Tranmere on 48 points, though they have played two games more, host Swindon Town.
Table topping Leicester City, now ten points clear of the MK Dons, are away to Northampton Town, whilst the Dons take on Cheltenham Town, who Tranmere face on Tuesday night.
Third placed Peterborough have a tough match away at improving Huddersfield Town whilst the biggest match of the day is at the New Den, where fifth placed Millwall host fourth placed Scunthorpe.
Should results go their way, the winner of that fixture could be in second place by 5pm, with just one point seperating the MK Dons in second and Millwall in fifth.
Team News:
Craig Curran and Chris Greenare will once again miss out of Tranmere, though Antony Kay could return to the squad following a back injury. Terry Gornell has returned to training following a knock picked up last week in training whilst Bas Savage is available for selection after making a substitute apperance on Tuesday night.
Jones' Prediction: Crewe 1-2 Tranmere Rovers
If Tranmere are to mount a serious promotion campaign, then they must win more away games, and this fixture gives them the perfect opportunity to start picking up points away from Prenton Park.
Crewe are in a poor run of form, and, going by their last three showings, Tranmere are in a confident mood and have proved in the last two weeks that they are capable of scoring goals.
The result though may entirely depend on what team selection and formation Ronnie Moore goes with. The Tranmere boss has ued a 4-4-1-1 formation in recent weeks, with Chris Shuker playing just behind striker Ian Moore, though the return of Bas Savage could mean Shuker dropping back to the wing, Savage going up front with Moore and Barnett finding a place on the bench.
Gareth Edds has also been in excellent form since coming off the bench at half time against Carlisle a week ago, scoring two important goals and showing that he is capable of replacing Antony Kay in midfield.
So Moore has to ask himself whether or not he brings Kay (if fit) and Savage back into the team. Personally, I think the football has been excellent from Tranmere in the last two games, some of their best in the season, and so why change a winning formula?
Over 1,000 Tranmere fans are expected to make the trip to Gresty Road, so if you're going, get behind the boys, create a superb atmosphere and cheer the Wirral lads on to victory.