Luton Town vs. Tranmere Rovers match preview

Last updated : 20 December 2007 By Matthew Jones
Jennings returns as Rovers look to pull one out of the Hatters
The excitement of the Christmas period kicks off this weekend in Coca-Cola League One, as Tranmere Rovers make the trip south to take on Luton Town.

Luton remain in the bottom four places in League One, but this is only due to a ten point deduction for entering administration, and they still hold one of the best home records in League One.

Luton Town team profile:

Formed: 1881

Ground: Kenilworth Road

Manager: Kevin Blackwell

Nickname: The Hatters

Season Finish 2006/07: 23rd (Coca-Cola Championship)

Previous Meetings:

Luton will be the first side Tranmere have played home and away this season, when the two teams meet on Saturday.

The last time the two sides met, Tranmere came from behind to win 2-1 at Prenton Park thanks to two late goals from substitutes Craig Curran and Antony Kay.

The game was played on a Friday night in mid-September, and it saw the away side Luton take the lead in the first half as striker Paul Furlong headed the ball home from close range from a corner, despite appearing to foul Ian Goodison.

It looked as if this would be one of those nights for Rovers, as the likes of Greenacre, Davies and Taylor missed chances to level the game, before Ronnie Moore made a brilliant double substitution on 71 and 76 minutes, replacing Gareth Taylor and Steven Jennings with Craig Curran and Antony Kay.

Rovers immediately looked a better side with Curran on the pitch, and they equalised on 83-minutes as the Rovers striker ran on to a Chris Greenacre flick on and sent the 'keeper the wrong way with his finish from inside the area.

On 86-minutes, Tranmere got the winner, with Antony Kay scoring his first goal for the club with a terrific header.

Rovers won a free-kick on the left and Shane Sherriff chipped the ball deep into the penalty area, where it was met by Kay who placed a brilliant looping header over the 'keeper and the man on the line and into the corner of the goal.

Luton tried to get back in to the game, but Danny Coyne made a good save from Spring's effort to keep Tranmere in front and move Rovers to the top of League One.


Vital Stats:

This will be only the 27th meeting between Tranmere and Luton, despite the sides first meeting on Bonfire Night 1938

Tranmere are unbeaten in their last five meetings against Luton, thanks to three wins and two draws (including one F.A. Cup win)

Tranmere have only won one of their previous 13 away games against Luton, with the Hatters picking up eight home wins

In four previous December meetings, each team has picked up two wins

Rovers have only kept seven clean sheets in 26 games against Luton

On This Day:

1973: Rovers lose 2-1 away to Halifax Town in Division Three

1956: A home game against York City in Division Three North ends in a high-scoring 3-3 draw

1934: Tranmere draw 0-0 against local rivals Chester City in Division Three North

In seven previous games on December 22nd, Tranmere have never won, with three draws and four defeats. They have scored only five goals in this time, whilst they have conceeded 14.

The Form Book:

Luton Town last 6 home games: WWDDLW
Tranmere last 6 away games: DLWDWL

Luton are currently on a good run of form at home, with their only defeat in their six match sequence coming in the Carling Cup against Premiership side Everton, and this coming after extra time as the Hatters lost 1-0 to a late Tim Cahill goal.

Before that defeat to Everton, Luton picked up a very good 2-1 home win against promotion chasing Nottingham Forest and following the Everton game they drew 0-0 at home to another promotion chasing side, Carlisle United.

Luton then returned to cup action with a 1-1 draw against League Two side Brentford before picking up a terrific 1-0 win against Southend United, a game which Luton won with a 74th minute strike from Andrew and came just after Luton had gone into administration.

The Hatters then had a home game against Millwall postponed before Nottingham Forest returned to Kenilworth Road for an F.A. Cup tie which they won 1-0 thanks to another Andrew goal, booking themselves a third round F.A. Cup tie against Liverpool in the process.

Other notable home results for Kevin Blackwell's side include wins over Sunderland (3-0) in the League Cup, Gillingham (3-1) and Northampton Town (4-1).

From nine home league games this season, Luton have managed to pick up 20 points from an available 27, thanks to six wins, two draws and a defeat.

On the road, Luton are yet to pick up a league win, but notable results include a 2-0 away win against Brentford in the F.A. Cup and a 2-1 win away to Dagenham and Redbridge in the League Cup.

Tranmere haven't picked up an away league win since 6th October, but they have picked up two F.A. Cup wins on the road since.

In the first match of their six match sequence, Rovers lost 2-0 away to Nottingham Forest before winning 2-1 away to Chesterfield in the F.A. Cup first round.

They followed this up with a 0-0 draw with Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium, a game which saw them played 43 minutes of the second half with just ten men after defender Carl Tremarco was sent off for a poor two footed tackle.

Following this, Rovers won 3-0 away to Bradford City in the F.A. Cup second round thanks to goals from Jennings and two from Greenacre before Tranmere lost 3-1 away to Hartlepool on a Tuesday night, with Shane Sherriff getting the only Rovers goal. In their most recent away game, Tranmere drew 0-0 away to Port Vale.

Other notable away results for Tranmere this season include wins over Gillingham (2-0), Carlisle United (1-0) and Southend United (2-1).

From ten away league games, Tranmere have picked up 12 points from an available 30 thanks to three wins, four draws and three defeats.

Notable home results for Ronnie Moore's side include wins against Bournemouth (3-1), Huddersfield Town (3-0) and Brighton and Hove Albion (2-0).

Double Hit:

Tranmere Rovers midfield Paul McLaren started his professional career with Luton Town in the mid 90's having come through the club's youth system.

The 31 year old played for Luton between 1994 and 2001, making 201 appearances for the club in his seven year stay, as well as netting on six occasions for the Hatters.

On June 8th 2001, McLaren joined Sheffield Wednesday, then a Championship side, and was part of the Owls team that made it to the League Cup Semi-Finals in his first season with the club, helping the team to beat Sunderland and Aston Villa before they lost to Blackburn Rovers in the semi-finals.

McLaren made 106 appearances for the Yorkshire club before leaving to join Rotherham, then managed by current Tranmere boss Ronnie Moore, in July 2004.

The High-Wycombe born midfielder stayed at Rotherham for two years as the club suffered firstly relegation from the Coca-Cola Championship in his first season there before a struggle with finances meant the Millers couldn't renew his contract.

76 appearances and six goals into his career with Rotherham, he left to re-join Ronnie Moore, now at Tranmere Rovers, in June 2006.

McLaren has never looked back and is now a hugely important side of the Rovers side, with his passing ability in the centre of midfield a key to Tranmere's early season success.

He will not play against his former club this weekend however as he is set to serve a one match ban for collecting five yellow cards this season.

One To Watch: Chris Coyne

Defender Chris Coyne is now in his seventh season with Luton Town having joined the club from Dundee in Scotland for £50,000 on September 17th 2001.

Coyne, born in Brisbane, Australia, started his career with West Ham where he only made one appearance having been spotted by the West Ham scouts.

He spent time on loan at Brenford and Southend in the 1998/99 season before leaving West Ham to join Dundee in March 2000 on a free-transfer.

The Australian stayed with the Scottish club for nearly 18 months and made 28 appearances in that time before joining Luton in 2001.

Since, the 26 year old has made 249 appearances for the Hatters, meaning his appearance against Tranmere, should he play, on Saturday, will be his 250th game for the club.

He has netted 17 goals in that time for the club, including one this season in Luton's F.A. Cup win against Brentford, and has become a hugely important figure for the Hatters in his time there.

A tall centre-back, Coyne wears the number six shirt for Town and is a tell, commanding central defender who wins a number of headers in both boxes as well as being a strong tackler.

A popular character around the Luton dressing room, Coyne has already played 22 times this season.


Around League One:

Again there are some tasty looking fixtures around League One this weekend, as all the teams go in search of an important win which would give them plenty of confidence and momentum going in to the Christmas period.

Starting with Tranmere, and a win for Ronnie Moore's side could see them move to within one point of the final play-off place, currently occupied by Southend United, should results go their way.

Luton meanwhile, currently six points adrift of safety and bottom of League One will be looking to pick up three more home points as they look to climb out of the relegation zone.

Should Bournemouth and Port Vale lose this weekend, Luton can move above the two teams. Vale this weekend have a tricky away game with Nottingham Forest who go in search of three points following a 2-2 draw with Northampton at the City Ground last weekend whilst Bournemouth are away to the Cobblers on Friday night.

Undoubtably the biggest fixture of the weekend is in the North of England, where Carlisle United take on Swansea City, a game that see's second play first, with the winner holding top spot over Christmas.

Both teams won without conceeding last time out, Carlisle beating Leyton Orient 1-0 and Swansea beating Southend United 3-0 and this is another big fixture for the two teams.

Leyton Orient this week take on Yeovil Town who won 2-1 away to Doncaster last weekend whilst Leeds United have a home tie against Bristol Rovers. A win for United can see them move in to the top two for the first time this season from fifth place which they currently occupy, should Carlisle, Nottingham Forest and Leyton Orient all lose.

Southend United play Oldham Athletic at Roots Hall and a win for Oldham would put them just one point behind Tranmere whilst Brighton and Hove Albion play struggling Gillingham on Friday night at the Withdean Stadium.

Team News:

Tranmere will be without key players Paul McLaren and Antony Kay for Saturdays game, as both players serve a one match suspension for picking up five yellow cards. Ben Chorley could miss the match also after picking up a knock in training whilst Steve Davies is still out with a knee-ligament injury. However, Steve Jennings returns to the squad after his one-match ban whilst Chris Shuker is rated as 50-50 for the game.


Jones' Prediction: Luton Town 1-1 Tranmere Rovers

This will once again be a very difficult game for Tranmere, even more so without Antony Kay and Paul McLaren who have been integral parts of the Tranmere team this season.

Luton are a team who should not be underestimated, as despite lying in the bottom four of League One, they have a great home record this season and it is only a ten point deduction that has them near the foot of the table.

Tranmre will need to defend well, as they have done on a number of occasions this season, to keep the Luton strikers out, but it has been at the other end of the pitch where the problem has been recently, especially on the road, and therefore it is important that the strikers get enough service from the wings to be able to score a number of goals.