Tranmere Rovers vs. Huddersfield Town match preview

Last updated : 25 September 2006 By Matthew Jones
Rovers could be without key defender for Tuesday night match
This Tuesday, Tranmere Rovers once again have the chance to go top of Coca-Cola League One, as they play host to Huddersfield Town at Prenton Park whilst Nottingham Forest travel to Vale Park, home of Port Vale.

The scenario is simple, Tranmere must win and hope that Nottingham Forest fail to win to go atleast one point clear at the top of the League One table until Saturday at least.

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)


Past Meetings:

In recent years, Tranmere have had the edge over The Terriors when the sides have met at Prenton Park.

Last season at Prenton Park, ten man Tranmere beat Huddersfield 2-1. After Carl Tremarco had given Rovers the lead with his first professional goal, Calvin Zola got himself sent off for a stupid two-footed lunge. David Graham equalised for Town in the second half, however, with just minutes left on the clock, Delroy Facey earned Rovers the win with a brilliant solo effort.

At The Galpharm Stadium in the same season, Huddersfield beat Rovers 1-0 thanks to a Danny Schofield goal, despite John Achterberg saving a penalty from Pawel Abbott.

Two seasons ago, Rovers did the double over Town, with Theo Whitmore netting twice along with a Chris Dagnall goal at The Galpharm Stadium in a 3-1 win before Rovers hammered Huddersfield 3-0 at Prenton Park in February, thanks to goals from Dadi, Hume and Roberts.


Vital Stats:

Tranmere have won six games in a row against Huddersfield at Prenton Park

Huddersfield have only won three out of 18 games against Tranmere at Prenton Park

Tranmere have won four games in a row and not lost in their last seven games on 26th September

This is the second season when both Tranmere's meetings with Huddersfield will have been on the 26th day of the month, with the two sides meeting again on Boxing Day. The other was the 2002/03 season

On 26th September 1931, Tranmere beat Accrington Stanley 8-1

The Form Book:

Tranmere Rovers last 5 home games: WWWWD
Huddersfield Town last 5 away games: LDLLW

Huddersfield Town arrive at Prenton Park, not the place they like to visit most at the best of times, with just one away win to their name all season, picked up this Saturday against Swansea.

Peter Jackson's side have had a rough ride since failing the in play-offs last season, losing their opening game 2-1 at Gillingham before winning their opening two home games against Rotherham United (3-0) and Bristol City (2-1).

However, these two wins were to be their last until last Saturday, as they went on a run of seven league and cup games without a victory, including four defeats.

Away from home, The Terriors drew 2-2 with Brentford before losing consecutive games to Crewe (2-0) and Cheltenham Town (2-1). However, they turned their form around against promotion chasing Swansea on Saturday with a 2-1 win at The Liberty Stadium.

At The Galpharm Stadium (formerly the Alfred McAlpine Stadium), Mansfield Town of League Town beat Town 2-0, before Huddersfield drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest, 2-2 with Rotherham, and then lost a thriller with Yeovil Town 3-2.

Nottingham Forest put an end to Tranmere's 100% home record on Saturday, as the top two played out a 0-0 draw at Prenton Park.

Before this, Tranmere had won four in a row at Prenton Park, beating Bristol City (1-0), Leyton Orient (3-0), Yeovil Town (2-1) and Oldham Athletic (1-0).

In five games and 450 minutes of football at Prenton Park, Tranmere have still only conceeded one goal (to Yeovil), whilst in all 10 of their league games, they have only conceeded five goals, one in the 1-0 defeat at Cheltenham, two against Rotherham in a 2-1 defeat and one in the 3-1 win at Northampton four days later.

Team News:

Huddersfield Town are expected to name exactly the same side that beat Swansea at the weekend, when Gary Taylor-Fletcher scored twice.

For Tranmere, Ronnie Moore has a number of injury worries. Jason McAteer and Danny Harrison are once again expected to miss out with cartilage and ankle injuries, whilst the boys who played on Saturday have picked up a few knocks.

Gareth Taylor got elbowed in the face and is a doubt, whilst Chris McCready is feeling his hamstring and Ian Goodison is feeling his back. Calvin Zola has a worry after playing with an injection on Saturday whilst Carl Tremarco got a shin injury.

However, Greenacre and Shane Sherriff are now fit and raring to go, should they get the nod to start in this vital league game.


Jones' Prediction: Tranmere 2-0 Hudderfield