This Saturday, Tranmere travel to Millwall in search of a crucial away win after a run of six away games without a victory since their 3-0 success at
Millwall have struggled to find any form so far this season and Tranmere boss Ronnie Moore must surely see it as important that Rovers pick up not only their away form but their form in general as they come into this game having not won in five and without a victory in 2008.
Millwall team profile:
Formed: 1885
Ground: The New Den
Manager: Kenny Jackett
Nickname: The Lions
Season Finish 2005/06: 10th (Coca-Cola League One)
Previous Meetings:
Last season Tranmere managed to take four points off the 2004 F.A. Cup finalists who were playing their first season in League One following relegation from the Coca Cola Championship.
At
Gareth Taylor opened the scoring for Tranmere with a header from a Chris Shuker cross on 20-minutes before eight minutes later Tranmere doubled their advantage Chris McCready scored his only goal for the club, netting after a bit of penalty area pinball following Chris Shuker's corner.
Three minutes before half-time, Millwall were back in the game as Chris Hackett chipped Gavin Ward but Tranmere secured the win just before the final whistle as a Richard Shaw slip allowed Chris Shuker to run through and slot under the 'keeper.
Back at The New Den in April, Tranmere picked up a useful 2-2 draw, with Shane Sherriff opening the scoring for Tranmere on nine minutes as the defender ran unmarked round the back of the defence and volleyed a Paul McLaren free-kick home.
Two goals after half time from Dunne, as he drilled his first home from 16-yards after Smith's cross before he gave the home side the lead on 67-minutes with another effort from the edge of the area from another Smith cross.
However, on 69-minutes Tranmere levelled the game as striker Calvin Zola scored from 12-yards after receiving Paul McLaren's pass.
Vital Stats:
In ten previous away trips to Millwall, Tranmere have won just once, with the Lions picking up five home wins
The last three games between these two teams in London have been drawn (one 0-0 draw and two 2-2 draws)
In the 21 meetings between these two teams, there have only ever been two away wins
These two have never previously played each other in January
Tranmere average a goal a game away to Millwall, whilst the Lions have netted 15 times in 10 home games against Tranmere
On This Day:
2007: Tranmere draw at home to Bradford on a Friday night at Prenton Park, with Gareth Taylor getting the Rovers goal
2002: A first half Jason Koumas goal secures a 1-0 win over Bury
1982: Rovers win 3-0 at home to Crewe in Division Four
Tranmere have played eleven previous fixtures on January 19th, picking up six wins to go with three draws and two defeats. They are unbeaten in their last six fixtures on the date and have scored nineteen goals whilst conceding eleven goals in games on this date.
The Form Book:
Millwall last 6 home games: WWWLWW
Tranmere last 6 away games: LLLLDL
Despite their lowly league position, Millwall have a decent record at the intimidating New Den this season, especially in their last six game their when they have picked up five wins.
In the first match of their six match sequence, the Lions won 2-1 at home to Yeovil Town before beating Bournemouth by the same score line in the second round of the F.A. Cup, with on-loan Watford striker Will Hoskins getting the winner in the 55th minute.
Millwall then lost 3-2 at home to Oldham, who have been in great form away from home, before returning to form with a 3-0 win at home to high-flying Brighton.
Since, Kenny Jackett's side have picked up two more home wins, firstly beating Crewe 2-0 at the New Den before beating Walsall 2-1 on Tuesday night in an F.A. Cup third round replay, booking their place in the fourth round where a match with Coventry awaits.
Other notable home results for Millwall this season include wins over Cheltenham Town (1-0), Bournemouth (2-1) and Northampton Town (2-0).
From twelve home games this season, Millwall have picked up six wins, five defeats and one draw, meaning they have a total of 19 points from an available 36.
Important away results for the Lions include their solitary away league win against Leyton Orient (1-0) as well as an opening day draw with Doncaster (0-0) and a draw by the same score line against Walsall in the F.A. Cup third round, forcing the tie to a replay.
Not only do Tranmere come into this game without a win in 2008, but they have also lost their last four away games and are on their worst run on the road in the league since 2003 when they also went eight league games on the road without a win, although they did at least pick up four draws.
In the first match of their six match sequence, Rovers lost 3-1 to Hartlepool before drawing 0-0 away to struggling Port Vale, the only time they have not lost in their last six games away from Prenton Park.
In the match before Christmas, Tranmere were unlucky to lose 1-0 to Luton Town with a Danny Coyne error costing Rovers the game before they lost a thrilling encounter with Crewe Alexandra 4-3 at Gresty Road, with the home side snatching the winner late on.
Rovers followed the Crewe defeat with an undeserved 3-0 defeat to Leyton Orient before they somehow lost 1-0 to Hereford United in an F.A. Cup third round replay last night at Edgar Street.
Other notable results for Tranmere on the road this season include wins over Gillingham (2-0), Carlisle (1-0) and Southend United (2-1) as well as a 3-0 win over Bradford in the F.A. Cup.
From 13 away games this season, Tranmere have picked up three wins, four draws and six defeats, picking up 13 points from an available 39 in the league.
Double Hit:
Striker Chris Malkin, who became a terrace hero at Prenton Park for his goal against Bolton at Wembley, played for Millwall during the mid 1990's.
Starting his career at non-League club AFC Stork, Malkin joined Tranmere, then managed by John King, in 1987 on a free transfer.
Although not a natural goal scorer, Malkin was a workman like player who would always give 110% for his club, and this was what made many Tranmere fans fond of him.
He stayed on the Wirral for eight years and made 303 appearances for the club as they rose from a Division Four side to a successful Division One side, challenging for promotion to the Premiership.
Malkin scored 76 goals for Tranmere before moving to Millwall for £400,000 in July 1995, where he stayed for 15 months, making 59 appearances for the club and scoring 15 goals.
From Millwall, Malkin joined Blackpool for £275,000, where he was to stay for three years. After scoring just seven goals in 78 games for the club, he went on to join Telford, Chester and Oswestry on free-transfers before retiring in 2003.
In his career, Malkin scored 108 league and cup goals in 503 appearances for the five clubs who he represented in the Football League and National Conference division.
One To Watch: Ahmet Brkovic
Tricky midfielder Ahmet Brkovic recently made his move from Luton to Millwall permanent, as he left the League One club in their terrible financial crisis.
The Croat started his career with HNK Dubrovnik, his home town club, and after spending two years as a professional with the club, he made the switch to England, signing for London club Leyton Orient on a free transfer in 1999.
Brkovic was stay with the O's for nearly two years, as he made 82 league and cup appearances for the club, netting nine goals in the process, before signing for Luton Town in October 2001, again on a free-transfer.
The Croatian went on to become a terrace legend at Luton and he was part of Mike Newell's successful side that won promotion to the Coca-Cola Championship as League One winners in the 2004/05 season.
In total, he stayed at Kenilworth Road for six years and three months as he made 223 appearances for the club and scored 38 goals from midfield.
However, due to the clubs financial crisis, he joined Millwall, initially on loan, on October 25th, before making his transfer to the club permanent on January 10th.
The 33-year old has now made nine appearances for Millwall and scored three goals for the club, including one goal in the sides 2-0 win over Crewe on December 29th.
Although only 5'08, Brkovic is a tricky customer to handle. He has skill and a pin point accuracy passing ability, whilst he has some pace to help him beat his man.
His record regarding goals also speaks for itself, as the Croat weighs in with his own amount of goals from midfield, so far netting 50 goals in English club football.
Around League One:
Yet again there are some big games around Coca-Cola League One this weekend, as a number of teams look to kick-start their season following dissapointing F.A. Cup exits in the last couple of weeks.
The biggest game of the weekend in League One is undoubtedly the Yorkshire derby between two teams in the play-offs, Doncaster Rovers and Leeds United.
The game is at Elland Road and Leeds will be looking to kick on from their 1-0 win over Crewe live on Sky TV last weekend. Should Nottingham Forest slip up against Swindon Town at the County Ground, Leeds would move into the automatic promotion spots with a win, although they will have played two games more than The Tricky Tree's.
Doncaster meanwhile have quietly pushed their way up the table in to fifth place, and now lie just three points behind Nottm Forest who are second.
League leaders Swansea City should win their home game against Port Vale as they look to maintain their three point lead at the top of the table whilst Port Vale would slip to the bottom of the table should Bournemouth better their result at home to struggling Southend, who have fallen alarmingly down the table in recent weeks.
Should Tranmere beat Millwall, they can close the six point gap between themselves and Walsall who occupy the final play-off place and had their 18 match unbeaten run ended by Millwall in the F.A. Cup in midweek.
Carlisle United are at home to Crewe with an automatic promotion spot back in their view whilst Leyton Orient, who are now seventh in the table, are at home to cash-strapped Luton Town.
Team News:
Ronnie Moore has some good team news this weekend as captain Ian Goodison returns from a four match ban, with Rovers badly in need of their captains services in central defence. Chris Greenacre could return from a hamstring strain whilst wingers Steve Davies and Chris Shuker are out for the remainder of the season with knee-ligament injuries.
Jones' Prediction: Millwall 1-2 Tranmere Rovers
With Ian Goodison at the heart of the defence, Tranmere are a much better side. They have been leaking goals since his absense (ten in just over four games compared to two in the five previous games), and his return should lift the side.
If Calvin Zola plays like he did against Hereford, a goal shouldn't be too far away for him whilst the same can be said for Jennison Myrie-Williams who looked dangerous again on Wednesday.
Millwall are down at the bottom of the table and Rovers will be looking to win this as they go into the game on their worst away league run since 2003.
However, the Lions should not be underestimated, but Ronnie Moore will see this as a game Tranmere should win to push them back up towards the play-offs.