The tension surrounding the play-offs is ever increasing, and this weekend Tranmere Rovers have a massive fixture at Prenton Park against Nottingham Forest, who have already pretty much cemented their place in the play-offs.
Tranmere will be looking to pick up three points from this game and hope Leeds drop points at home to Carlisle United, whilst Colin Calderwood will be hoping he sees his side pick up the three points which would ensure them of a play-off place come May should results go their way.
Formed: 1865
Ground: The City Ground
Manager: Colin Calderwood
Nickname: The Tricky Trees
Season Finish 2006/07: 4th (Coca-Cola League One)
Previous meetings:
Tranmere travelled to
The opening 45 minutes were very even, with Taylor having the best effort of the early exchanges, although the goalkeeper saved from his effort, whilst Forests' first shot didn't come until the 38th minute when Davies chipped over Danny Coyne's goal.
The second half however saw a lot more goalmouth action, with
Kay volleyed over from a Stockdale cross at the other end, whilst Gareth
With the game opening up and Tranmere throwing men forward, Forest searched for the killer blow, and that came on 78-minutes as Julian Bennett sent in a brilliant cross from the left, again towards the penalty spot, from where Nathan Tyson expertly volleyed the ball home, bouncing in off the underside of the cross-bar.
Vital Stats:
Rovers have won just twice in 21 games against the former European Champions
In ten home games against
Rovers haven't won any of their last nine games against the City Ground side
These two teams have met just once before in April, with Forest picking up a 1-0 win over Rovers at
Tranmere have managed just eighteen goals in twenty-one games against the former European Champions
On This Day
2005: Brian Little's Tranmere, with a play-off place already secured, lose 1-0 to Brentford at
2004: Eugene Dadi scores twice as Tranmere win 2-1 away to Wycombe Wanderers
2003: Ray Mathias and Tranmere Rovers' play-off dreams are kept alive, as Gary Jones scores a 90th minute goal in a 1-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers at
Tranmere have played a total of 23 games on April 12th through the years, picking up nine wins, eight draws and six defeats in the process. In those 23 games, Rovers have scored 22 goals and conceded on fifteen occasions.
The Form Book:
Tranmere last 6 home games: WWWLWD
Nottingham
The Tricky Trees started their six match sequence with an important 1-0 win away at Leyton Orient thanks to a second half strike from Junior Agogo, before Colin Calderwood's side drew their next away game, 0-0 at
A second successive draw then followed, as Forest picked up an important point in the play-off race thanks to a 1-1 draw away at Southend before returning to winning ways and extending their unbeaten run on the road to five games thanks to a 2-1 win against a then inform Northampton Town, with goals coming from Brett Ormerod and Nathan Tyson.
However,
Other impressive results for Forest on the road this season include wins away to Brighton (2-0), Port Vale (2-0),
This season,
Notable results at the City Ground include wins over Tranmere Rovers (2-0),
Since the turn of the year, Tranmere's home form has been pretty exceptional, as they have lost just twice in nine league games, and come into this match with three consecutive wins.
Rovers started their six match sequence with a 1-1 draw against Leyton Orient, despite Calvin Zola giving Tranmere a very early lead, before Ronnie Moore's side returned to winning ways a week later with a 2-0 win over Millwall, completing the double over the
Tranmere then suffered their first defeat after an eight game undefeated run at Prenton Park against Doncaster Rovers, as Jamie Coppinger capitalised on a Antony Kay error to smash home a 25-yard shot and grab the Vikings a 1-0 win, but Tranmere returned to winning ways in their next home game as they picked up a somewhat fortunate 3-1 win over Hartlepool United.
Ronnie Moore's side then picked up a 2-0 Tuesday night win over Port Vale thanks to goals from Chris Greenacre and Ian Moore and that run of wins was extended to three wins eight days later as Tranmere beat Swindon Town 2-1 on home soil.
Other notable home results for Tranmere Rovers this season include wins over Carlisle United (2-0), Brighton and Hove Albion (2-0), Bournemouth (3-1) and
This season, Tranmere have picked up 40 points from an available 63 at
Tranmere have had a number of notable away results this season, including wins away to Carlisle United (1-0), Millwall (1-0), Leeds United (2-0) and Southend United (2-1).
Double Hit:
Over the past few years, a number of players have played for both Tranmere Rovers and
Another player who has "done them both" is Gary Jones, who is now playing for League Two side
Jones, a lifelong
A versatile player, Jones played at centre-back, centre-midfield and centre-forward (his favoured position) for Tranmere under John King, making 212 appearances for the club in a seven year stint, during which time he scored 34 goals.
The Welshman was part of the successful Tranmere Rovers side under King that reached the play-offs between 1993 and 1995 on three occasions to be promoted from Division One to the Premier League, whilst he was also an integral part of the John Aldridge Tranmere team that reached the 2000 Worthington Cup final, eventually losing 2-1 to
However, at the end of the 1999/200 season, Jones, along with a number of other stars including David Kelly and Alan Mahon, left Tranmere on a free-transfer. He signed for
In August 2002, Jones returned to Tranmere, now in Division Two and managed by Dave Watson, on an initial loan spell. He made seven appearances for the club, enough to convince them to sign the player permanently, again on a free-transfer.
Now in his second spell with Tranmere, Jones, would go on to play a further 104 appearances for the club and score another 21 goals in a two-year stay.
Indeed, in total, Jones played 316 games and scored 55 goals for Tranmere in nine years at the club, playing under, impressively, six different managers - John King, John Aldridge, Brian Little, Dave Watson, Ray Mathias and John McMahon, who was caretaker manager of Tranmere following the dismissal of Mathias in early 2003.
Following Tranmere's unsuccessful play-off campaign under Brian Little in the 2004/05 season, Gary Jones was released, joining
Since, the 32-year old has gone on to make 134 appearances in nearly three seasons with the club, scoring 30 goals and picking up a Football League Trophy runners up medal this season as Grimsby lost the final 1-0 to MK Dons.
The tall target man, who scores a number of goals with his head, has also had an unsuccessful play-off campaign with
One to Watch:
Somebody who has been a threat to Tranmere over recent years, and is almost certain to be in the future, is superb midfielder
Englishman Commons is in his fourth season with Nottingham Forest having joined his hometown club in a dream move from Stoke City, of the Coca-Cola Championship, in 2004, where he was beginning to make a name for himself as a trainee, scoring five times in 46 appearances for the club over a four year stint before joining Forest for a money-spinning £300,000 fee.
Since joining the Tricky Trees, Commons has gone on to play a pivotal role for the club. Playing mainly on the left of midfield, Commons has a superb crossing ability, providing a number of assists throughout each season, as well as always managing to chip up with goals, both from open play and free-kicks.
Now 24, Commons has made 155 appearances for the Tricky Trees, scoring 37 goals in the process, of which nine have come this season, although he is currently on a run of twelve games without a goal.
Believed to have one of the best left-foots outside the Premier League, Commons was voted into last seasons P.F.A League One team of the year, whilst in the 2005/06 league meeting between Tranmere and Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, it was Commons who provided the cross from which Gareth Taylor scored the only goal in a 1-0 win for Forest.
Around League One:
For this weeks around League One, please see the following link:
http://www.tranmererovers-mad.co.uk/news/loadroll.asp?cid=ED11&id=386916
Team News:
Having finally made his return to action after a six-month absense because of a knee ligament injury for the reserves midweek against Carlisle, Steve Davies is in the manager's plans for this game, as is winger Chris Shuker. Ben Chorley will miss the game through suspension after getting sent off against
Jones' Prediction: Tranmere Rovers 1-0
Perhaps this is just blind optimism, but I genuinely think Tranmere have a chance of keeping their play-off hopes alive this weekend with what would be an excellent win against tough opposition.
If Tranmere are to win this game, there fans will have to be in full voice to spur their team on, whilst Rovers will have to go out and attack the opposition.
At the same time though, Ronnie Moore will want his side to keep the game tight and not allow
Jennison Myrie-Williams could be key in this game, as he has been in other big games for Tranmere this season (include Leeds, Walsall and Millwall), with his pace able to expose the Forest defence, whilst the aerial prowess of Antony Kay, at both ends of the field, will be important for Tranmere in this game, if he starts.
Should Rovers manage to nick a goal, they should be able to defend their lead, whilst with the form Greenacre is in a goal would not be unexpected.
If Leeds lose at home to Carlisle this weekend, and Tranmere beat