Huddersfield Town vs. Tranmere Rovers match preview

Davies could start against Huddersfield

With a new caretaker manager in charge after the sacking of Andy Ritchie, and with Gerry Murphy off to such a great start thanks to a 1-0 win for Huddersfield against Leeds United on Tuesday night, Huddersfield will come into this game on a high and although they do have very little to play for.

That result though of course left the play-off race wide open, and Tranmere Rovers will be hoping that they can at least pull back some of the five point gap between them and Leeds, who occupy the final play-off spot, this weekend.

Should Tranmere lose and Leeds pick up at least a point away to Millwall, Rovers' play-off chase will be over for another season, as Leeds would have a six point gap over Ronnie Moore's side, with two games left to play, and due to Leeds' far superior goal difference, it would be very unlikely that Tranmere would grab sixth spot.

Huddersfield Town team profile:

Formed: 1895

Ground: The Galpharm Stadium

Manager: Gerry Murphy (caretaker)

Nickname: The Terriers

Season Finish 2006/07: 15th (Coca-Cola League One)

Previous Meetings:

The previous league meeting between these two sides this season came in late October when Rovers ended a poor run of home form to beat the Terriers 3-0 at Prenton Park on a Friday night.

Indeed, the win for Tranmere ended a run of three successive draws on home soil, but the victory never looked in doubt from the kick off, as a very poor Huddersfield side showed up on the night.

Rovers opened the scoring in the first half, as, after Greenacre had already missed a chance for Tranmere McLaren smashed the ball home from Goodison's long ball forward before Glennon made terrific saves from firstly Antony Kay and then an even better save from Greenacre's first time shot.

On 53-minutes though, Tranmere did double their lead as Shane Sherriff nodded the ball into the empty net after Paul McLaren's free-kick had been expertly flicked over the goalkeeper by Gareth Taylor.

There were a couple of chances at either end, with the best of them falling to Kay who blasted over, before Tranmere did get a deserved third goal as Gareth Taylor turned scorer this time, as he headed another perfect Paul McLaren corner into the net.

Vital Stats:

Apart from the 03/04 season, when Huddersfield were in League Two, these two sides have been in the same division every season since 1995/96

In 18 trips to Huddersfield, Tranmere have picked up just four wins, with the Terriers collecting nine home victories

In Yorkshire, these two sides rarely provide goals, with the 18 meetings at Huddersfield providing just 34 goals, of which Tranmere have scored just 13

Tranmere have recorded the double over Huddersfield twice this century (2002/03 and 2004/05)

The two teams have met just twice before in April, but not since the 1970s, with Tranmere picking up a home 3-0 win and an away 0-0 draw

On This Day:

2003: Simon Haworth scores a second half goal to secure Ray Mathias' Tranmere a 1-0 win over Notts County

1997: John Aldridge's Rovers side draw 1-1 at home to Sheffield United in Division One

1977: A game in Division Three sees Tranmere amazingly win 3-0 away to Portsmouth

Tranmere have played sixteen previous fixtures on April 19^th, picking up six wins, three draws and seven defeats. In those sixteen games they have scored 24 times whilst letting in 26 goals at the other end.

The Form Book:

Huddersfield Town last 6 home games: WDWLLW
Tranmere last 6 away games: LLDLDD

Huddersfield Town's home form through-out the season has certainly been somewhat indifferent and inconsistent, as they have picked up unlikely wins and suffered improbable defeats through-out the season.

The Terriers started their six match sequence with a useful 1-0 home win over struggling Millwall, with a Luke Beckett penalty securing the three points for the side, before the former F.A. Cup winners slipped to defeat against league leaders Swansea City a week and a half later as they lost 1-0.

In form Southend United then travelled to the Galpharm Stadium and picked up an impressive 2-1 win before three days later goals from Holdsworth and Beckett (another penalty) came either side of a Forster penalty for Town and secured Huddersfield a 2-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion.

Since, two feisty Yorkshire derby's have followed, and neither passed without incident. An average crowd of over 13,000 for the two games firstly saw former Tranmere played Gareth Taylor score in a 2-2 draw for Doncaster Rovers at Huddersfield, before Town did Tranmere a massive favour on Tuesday night as Holdsworth again scored in a 1-0 win for The Terriers over Leeds United, a match which saw Douglas dismissed for Leeds and Worthington sent off for Huddersfield.

Other notable results for Huddersfield Town at the Galpharm Stadium this season include wins over Yeovil Town (1-0), Luton Town (2-0), Port Vale (3-1) and a brilliant F.A. Cup win over Birmingham City (1-0).

This season, Huddersfield have played twenty-one home matches and picked up ten wins, four draws and seven defeats, meaning they have a total of 34 points from an available 63.

Impressive away results for the team this season include victories away to Bournemouth (1-0), Millwall (2-1), Swansea City (1-0) and Leyton Orient (1-0).

It is, without doubt, Tranmere's away form that has been their downfall this season, with just five away league wins to date in their campaign, and non in their last six matches. Oddly enough of course, as we all know oh so well, Tranmere picked up three of those five wins in their first five away games of the season.

Rovers started their six match sequence comfortably enough, as they picked up two consecutive draws, firstly drawing 0-0 at the Withdean Stadium against Brighton and Hove Albion on a Tuesday night, before battling hard to earn a 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers, despite playing over half the game with just ten men after the dismissal of Steven Jennings.

Since though, Tranmere have picked up just one point in four games, the despite scoring in all four matches. Firstly, Rovers lost 3-1 away to Oldham as an injury to Ian Goodison saw Tranmere's performance severely hampered, before Tranmere then picked up an excellent 1-1 draw at the Liberty Stadium three days later against Swansea City, with Chris Greenacre scoring a 90^th minute equaliser for Tranmere.

Ronnie Moore's side have lost their two games since though, firstly putting in a dire first half display and slipping to a 2-1 defeat to lowly Bournemouth, who scored within 40 seconds of the match kicking off, whilst in their most recent away game, Tranmere led early on thanks to a Jennison Myrie-Williams header, but the sending off of Ben Chorley signalled another collapse for Tranmere as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat.

Other important away results for Tranmere this season include wins over Carlisle United (1-0), Gillingham (2-0) and Southend United (2-1), as well as a 3-0 F.A. Cup second round victory away to Bradford.

Tranmere have played twenty-one away games so far this season, picking up 22 points from an available 63 in the process thanks to five wins, seven draws and nine defeats.

Notable home results for Tranmere include wins over Bournemouth (3-1), Carlisle United (2-0), Huddersfield (3-0) and Luton Town (2-1).

Double Hit:

Through the years, a number of players who have gone on to become Tranmere legends, including Sir Steve Yates and Wayne Allison have represented Tranmere Rovers and Huddersfield Town, as well as current Chesterfield defender Kevin Gray, who was voted Tranmere's worst ever player.

Another player who has played for both clubs is former Tranmere midfield hero Kenny Irons, who is still involved in the game, playing in the Welsh Premier League.

Irons was a true Tranmere lad, who broke through the club's successful youth system to become an integral part in the Tranmere side that rose up through the divisions, managed by John King and funded by Peter Johnson.

Irons made his debut for Tranmere during the 1989/1990 season, and he would stay with the club as a first team player for nearly a decade.

The midfielder, who was given the profile by Tranmere fans of always being in the pub, became a free-scoring midfielder in John King's Tranmere side, and he went on to make a highly impressive 429 league and cup appearances for Tranmere, scoring a total of 67 goals in the process.

However, with finances a real issue at Prenton Park after Peter Johnson's departure to Everton, and it looking as if the club might have to close its gates for the final time, Rovers were in a situation where they had to sell their assets, of which Irons was one.

Huddersfield Town were the team who came in for the player, and in June 1999 they paid £500,000 for the Liverpool born player.

He would stay at Huddersfield for four years, making 170 appearances in the process, but he was never the same player in front of goal as he hade been for Tranmere, scoring just eleven goals in his time with the club.

In 2003, Irons, by this time 33, left Huddersfield on a free transfer and began playing football in the Welsh Premier League, joining a whole host of other former Rovers players to play in the league, including Alan Morgan and T.N.S. manager Kenny McKenna.

One To Watch: Luke Beckett

Everybody on the football circuit knows Luke Beckett as a proven goal scorer, and so he has proved to be so far this season, netting twelve goals in the campaign to date.

Beckett started his career as a trainee at Barnsley but failed to make the grade with the Yorkshire club and in 1998 he joined Chester City on a free-transfer.

This is where Beckett's profile really began to grow, as he stayed with the Deva club for just two seasons but netted a highly impressive 33 goals in 85 goals for the club and in 2000 he was on the move again, joining Chesterfield for £75,000.

26 goals, 84 appearances and 18 months later, Beckett was again transferred, as his goal-scoring reputation brought him to Stockport County, then a Division One (Championship) side for £100,000.

The Sheffield born man was to stay with Stockport for three seasons and he became a firm fan favourite with the club. He scored 47-goals in 91 games for the club, although perhaps the stupidest moment of his career came whilst with the Hatters, as he was sent off after scoring a penalty against Tranmere Rovers at Edgely Park, receiving his first yellow card for kicking the ball away and his second for taking his shirt off.

A dream £50,000 move to home town club Sheffield United came in November 2004, but he made just five appearances, without scoring, for the club and it was at this point that he spent his first spell at Huddersfield, scoring six times in seven games between January and February 2005, before moving on loan to Oldham in the same season and netting six times in nine games.

The next season, Beckett joined Oldham on a season-long loan deal as the club, then managed by Ronnie Moore, secured a mid-table finish in League One, with Beckett finishing top scorer thanks to 18 goals in 38 games, and although he was expected to join the club permanently in the summer of 2006, he joined Huddersfield for free.

Since moving to the Galpharm Stadium, Beckett has scored 27 goals in 85 games and furthering his reputation in front of goal.

Standing at 5'11, Beckett wears the number 18 shirt for Huddersfield and it was he who scored the clubs winner in their 1-0 victory over Premier League side Birmingham City in the F.A. Cup this season.

Around League One:

For all the news surrounding teams battling for the play-offs, please click here:

http://www.tranmererovers-mad.co.uk/news/loadroll.asp?cid=ED11&id=387899

Elsewhere in League One this weekend, assuming Leeds United fail in their appeal to receive any of their deducted fifteen points back, Swansea City can ensure they finish the season as Champions of League One if they win at home to lowly Yeovil Town.

Carlisle United take on play-off bound Southend United and Nottingham Forest are at home to lowly Luton, whilst Crewe take on Gillingham in a massive game at the other end of the table.

Team News:

Tranmere Rovers should have no injury worries ahead of this game, assuming Calvin Zola (hamstring) and Jennison Myrie-Williams (knee) have recovered from their slight injuries. Ben Chorley returns from a one-match ban and should start in defence, whilst Chris Shuker and Steve Davies both came through the Nottingham Forest match last Saturday without a reaction to their knee injuries. However, one definite absentee for Ronnie Moore is midfielder Paul McLaren who faces a one-match ban for picking up his tenth yellow card of the season last Saturday.

Jones' Prediction: Huddersfield 1-2 Tranmere Rovers

This will by no means be an easy game for Tranmere, especially after Huddersfield's 1-0 victory over Leeds United in midweek, and let's not forget that Town do have a new manager in charge.

However, Huddersfield have very little to play for and Tranmere are still pushing hard for promotion. Expect Ronnie Moore's side to go all out for the win in this fixture as they look for a win to close in on the play-offs.

Without Paul McLaren, the leading assist man in not only Tranmere's team but the whole of League One, Tranmere might struggle for a good delivery from set-pieces, although if Shuker and Davies are both fit to start, this might not be so much of a problem.

Rovers need to get good quality service into the forwards to get a goal or two, but they also need to keep it tight at the back, something they have really struggled to do in recent weeks, especially on the road. Should Ben Chorley return, Tranmere will be a lot better in the air, whilst if Adnan Ahmed starts in midfield, Tranmere will definitely have more presence there but again, it's a case of cutting out the silly mistakes in front of their own goal, and ensuring Moore and Greenacre take their chances at the other end.