Huddersfield vs. Tranmere match preview

Last updated : 24 December 2006 By Matthew Jones
Moore wins needed
It's that time of year again, with Tranmere once again playing Huddersfield in their eagerly anticipated Boxing Day fixture this season.

Huddersfield will become the first team Rovers have played twice this season as Rovers reach the half way mark of the season, looking for a win to cement their place in the play-offs after a dissapointing showing against Gillingham on Saturday.


Huddersfield Town team profile:

Formed: 1895

Ground: The Galpharm Stadium

Manager: Peter Jackson

Nickname: The Terriors

Season Finish 2005/06: 4th (Coca-Cola League One)

Previous Meetings:

When Rovers played Huddersfield this season, they relinquished a 2-0 lead at half-time to draw the game 2-2 at Prenton Park, the second of a six game league run without a win.

Calvin Zola gave Rovers the lead early one, starting due to an injury to Gareth Taylor, whilst Chris Greenacre doubled the lead infront of the Cowshed after the half-hour mark thanks to some fine build up play.

On the stroke of half-time, Rovers bemusingly had a goal dissallowed for offside, as Greenacre again netted after turning his man with his first touch.

The second half was a complete shambles from Rovers point a view, as Huddersfield came out and leveled the game. Andy Booth netted one of the easiest goals he'll ever score after a dropped cross from Gavin Ward before Gary Taylor-Fletcher scored the equaliser on 76-minutes and set up a nervy finish.

Vital Stats:

This will be the fifth time the two sides have met on Boxing Day, the fourth time in 10 seasons

Rovers have lost 9 out of 17 games between the two sides in Yorkshire, winning just four times

This will be the 14th consecutive year when Tranmere have played on Boxing Day

Rovers have conceeded 107 goals in 63 Boxing Day matches

Huddesrfield were the last team Tranmere beat on Boxing Day, winning 2-1 in the 2002/03 season with goals from Shane Nicholson and Gareth Roberts at the Alfred MacAlpine Stadium


The Form Book:

Huddersfield last 6 home games: DLLDLL
Tranmere last 6 away games: DDWLWD

Things aren't all rosy at The Galpharm Stadium this season, with Peter Jackson's Huddesfield on a nine game run without a win and a it is six games since their last home win, a complete turn around after they finished fourth but got knocked out of the play-offs by Yorkshire rivals Barnsley last season.

In fact, Huddersfield lie 17th in the League One table after 23 games so far, a position which has seen many fans calling for Jackson to leave, after just three home wins in 11 games and 3 away wins in 12 games.

Their only home wins in the league have come against Rotherham United (3-0), Bristol City (2-1) and Carlisle United (2-1), as they also lost all three of their first round cup matches at the Galpharm, beaten by Doncaster Rovers (2-1) in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, Blackpool (1-0) in the F.A. Cup and Mansfield Town (2-0) in the League Cup.

They have drawn five games at home, against Nottingham Forest (1-1), Doncaster Rovers (0-0), Bournemouth (2-2), Scunthorpe United (1-1) and Northampton Town (1-1), but it has been the defeats which have been so frustrating, with Oldham Athletic and Brighton winning 3-0 at The Galpharm, whilst Yeovil Town won 3-2.

For Tranmere, playing away from home has been a frustrating thing. As soon as they seem to have found some form on the road, they go and throw it away, but they are currently three games unbeaten away from home, after 1-1 draws with Brentford and Scunthorpe and a 1-0 win at Brighton.

Before the win at Brighton, Rovers were three away league games without a win, following a draw at Swansea (0-0) and defeats against Carlisle United (1-0) and Bradford City (2-0).

Ronnie Moore's side opened their form away from home with a defeat against Cheltenham (1-0) and a draw with Doncaster (0-0), whilst they have also beaten Northampton Town (3-1) and Chesterfield. At Millmoor against Rotherham, Rovers lost 2-1 despite a 25-yard strike from Kevin Ellison.

Tranmere have played two away cup games this season, eventually losing 2-1 to Hull City in the Carling Cup after Extra Time, whilst at Gigg Lane against Bury, Rovers won 2-0 in the first round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Double Hit:

There is only one place to start when mentioning players who have played for both Huddersfield and Tranmere, and that is with Rovers midfield legend Kenny Irons.

Irons, famed on the Wirral for the amount of alcohol he drank, came up through the Tranmere acadamy system and made his debut in the 1989/90 season under John King.

The cult hero went on to make over 420 appearances for Tranmere in his favoured central midfield position and weighed in with his fair share of goals to, hitting the back of the net 67 times in his 10 years as a Tranmere player, including 54 goals in 351 league games.

One goal which I fondly remember was a strike away against Sheffield United on November 7th 1998, when Irons' 40-yard effort leveled the game at 2-2 for Tranmere.

Due to a real threat of bankruptcy, Irons was sold to Huddersfield in June 1999 for £500,000 and went on to spend four years with The Terriors.

Whilst in Yorkshire, Irons played 150 league games, scoring 11 goals, along with two goals in 20 cup games for The Terriors.

Irons is now playing in the League of Wales and hasn't played for an English league club since leaving Huddersfield in pre-season 2003.

One To Watch:

The one to watch from Huddersfield, if you're not watching the charasmatic Peter Jackson in the Town duggout that is, is right-winger or attacker Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

The Liverpool born 25-year old started his career with local side Northwhich Victoria where he scored 16 goals in 49 gmaes before moving on to Leyton Orient for £50,000 after an unsuccessful loan spell at Hull City, then managed by Brian Little.

His time with The O's was largely unsuccessful again, as he scored just 2 goals in 24 games, after scoring no goals for Hull in 5 appearances.

An loan spell at Grays, where he failed to play, was followed by two different loan spells with Dagenham and Redbridge, where in total he scored one goal in nine games.

In August 2003, he left Leyton Orient for Keith Alexander's Lincoln City on a free-transfer and his career took off. In 93 games for Lincoln, the 5'11" striker scored 30 goals and left Lincolnshire at the end of his contract for The Galpharm Stadium in the summer of 2005.

So far Taylor-Fletcher has played 73 games in his 18 months in Yorkshire for Huddersfield, scoring 24 goals, including nine goals (one against Tranmere) in 22 games this season.

Team News:

Once again, things are looking OK on the injury front for Rovers. Jason McAteer remains out with a knee injury whilst Steve Jennings lack of mtach practise means he is likely to miss out too. Olly James will also miss the game after he only had the cast from his foot removed on Friday.


Jones' Prediction: Huddersfield 0-1 Tranmere