Tranmere Rovers vs. Rotherham United match preview

Last updated : 31 December 2006 By Matthew Jones
Moore looking for first win over Rotherham as a manager
2007 kicks off with a meeting between Tranmere Rovers and Rotherham United at Prenton Park for the second successive season, with Rovers looking for a first win since November after a torrid December.

After starting the season on -10 points due to financial difficulties, Alan Knill's Rotherham have pushed up the table into 20th place, just outside the relegation zone, and are most certainlly one of the best teams in the division.

Rotherham United team profile:

Formed: 1870

Ground: Millmoor

Manager: Allan Knill

Nickname: The Millers

Season Finish 2005/06: 20th (Coca-Cola League One)

Previous Meetings:

When the two sides met at Millmoor earlier this season on Tuesday 12th September, Rovers went down 2-1 despite a 25-yard strike from Kevin Ellison.

Lee Williamson scored the first for The Millers from a Ritchie Partridge cross which was not cleared by any of Ward, Goodison or McCready.

Kevin Ellison then equalised with his thunderous right-footed strike before Rovers conceeded another sloppy goal. Will Hoskins was allowed to run right across the Rovers defence untackled before netting low past Gavin Ward.

Last season, Rotherham won 2-0 at Millmoor thanks to goals from Barker and Shaw despite stand in goalkeeper Steve Wilson making a number of fantastic saves, including one from a penalty.

At Prenton Park, Rovers won 3-2 on January 2nd, a result they'll be looking to repeat this time round. An inform Danny Harrison scored Rovers third goal after Greenacre and Zola had also netted for Brian Little's team after they had been 1-0. Steve Davies was also sent off in the match, Rovers first of three dismissals in the season.

Vital Stats:

Rovers have won 15 out of 31 games at Prenton Park between the two sides

Tranmere have only one win in the last six meetings at all venues between the two sides

The last time Tranmere lost three consecutive home games was the end of last season under Brian Little and Jason McAteer, when Rovers were defeated by Nottingham Forest, Bristol City and Doncaster Rovers

In 31 games at Prenton Park, the two sides have served up 100 goals (60 to Tranmere)

Ronnie Moore has never beaten Rotherham United as a manager (with Tranmere or Oldham)


The Form Book:

Tranmere last 6 home games: LLWWLW
Rotherham last 6 away games: DLLLDW

Rotherham started the season with -10 points after going into administration, and it didn't take them long to get back onto 0 points, with their 2-1 victory over Tranmere taking them on to -1 points.

However, it's been a real struggle for The Millers away from home this season, with just tfour away wins from 12 away games - a record not unlike Tranmere's.

Those wins have come against Blackpool (1-0), Leyton Orient (3-2) - the result which took them over the 0 point mark, Port Vale (3-1) and Bournemouth (3-1).

Along with those four wins, they have picked up three draws, meaning they have 15 points away from home in total. Interestingly enough, all those draws have ended in the same result, as the games with Bradford City, Carlisle United and Swansea City all ended 1-1.

The five away defeats have come against four struggling teams and one team currently tipped for promotion from League One as champions.

Huddersfield Town defeated the Millers 3-0 at The Galpharm Stadium in their opening away game of the season, whilst Chesterfield and Oldham both defeated Oldham 2-1. The other defeats have come against Cheltenham (2-0) and Carlisle United (1-0).

In the cup competitions away from home, Rotherham have lost 3-1 in the opening round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy to Hartlepool and they were then dispatched 3-0 by Peterborough in the opening round of the F.A. Cup, who went on to beat Tranmere in the next round.

For Tranmere, things have been difficult at home of late, with only one home league game since November 24th, when Blackpool were defeated 2-0.

Since, they have lost 2-1 to Peteborough United in the F.A. Cup after leading 1-0 and lost 3-2 to Gillingham after leading 2-0.

The other three games in that six match sequence have seen them beat Millwall (3-1) and Woking (4-2) after a dissapointing 1-0 defeat to Darlington in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Second Round.

Double Hit:

There are currently five players on the books at Rotherham and Tranmere who have played for both sides, with Robbie Stockdale, John Mullin and Paul McLaren having represented the Millers before coming to Tranmere whilst Ian Sharps and Delroy Facey left the Wirral for Yorkshire last summer.

However, we will focus on Ronnie Moore and his managerial success at both Rotherham and Tranmere, to avoid any of the players feeling left out!

Moore started his career as a central-defender before being turned in to an attacker by then manager John King during his playing days at Prenton Park. He went on to play for Cardiff, Rotherham and Rochdale before re-joining Tranmere and finishing his playing days with the club.

Next he tried his hand a coaching and was assistant manager to John King when Rovers reached the First Division Play-Off's on three consecutive occassions.

He had a brief spell as caretaker manager at Tranmere aswell when Frank Worthington was sacked, winning three, losing five and drawing four out of 12 games during this period.

In May 1997 Moore was appointed Rotherham manager and went on to achieve great success on a shoestring budget at Millmoor, getting the Millers promoted in consecutive seasons as they rose from a Third Division club to one in Division One.

However, after 398 games as Rotherham manager and with the Millers bottom of The Championship, looking destined for relegation, Moore was sacked as Rotherham manager. Out of those 398 games at Millmoor, Rotherham won 143, lost 134 and drew 121.

After one month out of the game, Moore was appointed Oldham manager and saved them from relegation in his first season at Boundary Park. Last season, The Latics finished just outside the play-offs under his leadership but he was removed in June due to financial reasons. He won 23, lost 24 and drew 18 out of 65 games in Lancashire.

Again, Moore wasn't out of the game long as within eight days of his sacking, he was appointed as Brian Little's successor by Tranmere chairman Lorraine Rogers.

Since arriving at Prenton Park, Moore has signed nine new players and transformed Tranmere's fortunes from a relegation threatened club to one chasing promotion. Rovers have won 12, lost nine and drawn eight out of 29 games under Moore.


One To Watch:

You can look no further than Will Hoskins when looking out for an exciting prospect who will almost certainlly worry the Rovers defence, especially with Chris McCready out injured.

Hoskins has a fierce turn of pace and is clearly very accurate with his shooting, as is shown by his return of 16 goals in 26 games for Rotherham thisseason, including two against Leyton Orient on Saturday.

Since breaking onto the seen in the 2002/03 season, Hoskins faded away somewhat as a player for a couple of years, but has come back with a bang over the last 12 months.

In all, Hoskins has scored 25 goals for Rotherham in 80 games, including 23 goals from 72 league games (38 appearances as a substitute).

As one of League One's leading scorers, Hoskins is obviously chased by clubs from higher leagues and has been heavily linked with a move away from Millmoor in the January transfer window.

Team News:

Rovers injury list doubled after their 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday, as Les Parry ruled both John Achterberg (ankle)and Chris McCready (eye) out of the New Years Day game with Rotherham.

Also unavailble for selection will be midfielder Jason McAteer who remains on the sidelines with a knee injury and Ollie James who has a foot injury.

With Gavin Ward doubtful, Ronnie Moore is expected to bring in an emergancy loan goalkeeper after John Achterberg limped off on Saturday.

Jones' Prediction: Tranmere 3-2 Rotherham