Tranmere Rovers will play their final home game of the season on Saturday as they take on promotion hopefulls Southend United at Prenton Park.
The season is now effectively over for Ronnie Moore's side, and they will be playing only for pride after their push for the play-offs got ended last weekend at Huddersfield Town, but for Southend the promotion push is well and truely on, with a play-off place already secured and the slim chance of picking up an automatic promotion spot.
Formed: 1906
Ground: Roots Hall
Manager: Steve Tilson
Nickname: The Shrimpers
Season Finish 2006/07: 22nd (Coca-Cola Championship)
Tranmere produced arguably their best away performance of the season at Roots Hall in October, as they beat Southend United 2-1.
Rovers put in a stunning display defensively and passed the ball brilliantly around midfield, with their first goal coming after a move containing about 30 passes led to a Tranmere corner. Paul McLaren swung the corner in towards the near post, where Ben Chorley smashed the dipping ball into the goal on the half-volley.
However, just before half-time, Southend equalised, as Adam Barrett, close friend of Tranmere striker Chris Greenacre, headed home a Hunt cross from the left.
John Achterberg in the Tranmere goal had already made a number of fine stops for Rovers, as he played ahead of Danny Coyne who was out injured, saving from Richards for Rovers before Gareth Taylor gave Tranmere the lead.
Rovers won a free-kick on the Southend left, and Paul McLaren swung the ball into the area from where striker Gareth Taylor headed the ball home, sending the Tranmere fans mad.
Ronnie Moore's side should have had a third as Ian Goodison squeezed the ball over the line, although the assistant-referee judged that the ball hadn't crossed the line (though it clearly had), but it didn't matter in the end as Tranmere won the match 2-1.
The 2-1 win, which was wildly celebrated by the Tranmere Rovers fans who were in terrific voice all afternoon, especially after England beat Australia in the Rugby World Cup, which got all four corners of the ground chanting, put Tranmere on top of the League One table for the first time after all the weekends fixtures for many a year.
Vital Stats:
In twenty-one home fixtures against Southend United, Tranmere have picked up eleven wins, with the Shrimpers victorious on four occasions
Rovers have scored 36 times at home against Southend, conceding just nineteen times
Tranmere have played and beat Southend United at Prenton Park twice before on April 26th
Rovers last did the double over Southend in the 1992/93 season, a year when they also won 2-1 at Roots Hall
On six occasions, Tranmere have scored three or more goals in one match at home to Southend
On This Day:
1997: Queens Park Rangers comfortably beat John Aldridge's Tranmere side 2-0 at Loftus Road
1985: Tranmere beat Southend United 2-0 at Prenton Park in Division Four
1937: Rovers hammer Gateshead 6-1 at Prenton Park in Division Three North
Amazingly, Tranmere haven't played a match on April 26th since 1997, although they have in total played eighteen games on this day, winning seven, drawing five and losing six. In these eighteen games, Tranmere's backline has been breached on twenty-five occasions, but Rovers have scored twenty-seven times themselves.
The Form Book:
Southend United last 6 away games: WWWWDW
Tranmere last 6 home games: LWWWLW
Southend's away record is one of the most impressive in the division as they come into this game having picking up sixteen points from the last available eighteen away from Roots Hall.
They started their six match sequence with a 3-0 drubbing of Yeovil Town thanks to goals from Barnard, Clarke and Gower before six days later, struggling Cheltenham earned a 1-1 draw against Steve Tilson's side.
However, Southend returned to winning ways in their next away outing, and indeed they have won all four of their away matches since that Cheltenham fixture.
Firstly, the Essex side picked up a 2-1 win at Huddersfield Town thanks to a last minute strike from McCormack before they travelled to Swindon nine days later and picked up a 1-0 win.
Crewe Alexandra were then soundly beaten at Gresty Road by the Shrimpers as Southend won 3-1, before in their most recent away game, Southend beat Carlisle United 2-1 away from home, with Barnard getting a 90th minute winner that left Southend just four points behind Carlisle who occupy the final automatic promotion spot.
Other impressive away results for Southend this season include victories over Oldham Athletic (1-0), Walsall (2-0), Northampton Town (1-0) and Bournemouth (4-1).
This season, Southend United have played twenty-two away games, picking up 34 points from an available 66 thanks to ten wins, four draws and eight defeats.
Notable home results for Southend this season include wins over Leeds United (1-0), Huddersfield Town (4-1), Brighton and Hove Albion (2-0) and a 2-0 League Cup second round success over Championship side Watford.
Tranmere Rovers come into this game with four wins and two defeats from their last six games at Prenton Park.
They started their six match sequence with a comfortable 2-0 win over Millwall in League One, but in their next home match a dissapointing defensive error from Antony Kay led to a stunning Jamie Coppinger striker that gave Doncaster Rovers a 1-0 win on the Wirral
Three consecutive wins then followed for the Rovers, as firstly they somewhat fortuitously dispatched of Hartlepool United at Prenton Park (3-1) before beating Port Vale (2-0) and Swindon Town (2-1).
However, in their most recent home game, Tranmere Rovers were too easily defeated by Nottingham Forest, as the Tricky Trees beat Ronnie Moore's side 2-0 thanks to two shocking goals defensively, as far as Tranmere were concerned.
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 66 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:
Current Southend United defender Simon Francis played for Tranmere Rovers on-loan during the 2005/06 season, Brian Little's final year as Rovers manager.
Francis started his career with hometown club Bradford City and after a highly impressive debut, the right-back went on to make an impressive 26 league and cup appearances in his first season with the Bantams. He went on to make a total of 57 appearances for the club, scoring once.
After making a huge impression with the fans and management, Francis made a £200,000 move to Sheffield United in March 2004.
However, Francis always failed to break into the first team at Brammall Lane and he made just 15 appearances for the club before a loan move to Grimsby at the start of the 2005/06 season.
Francis' move was only for a month however, and after three appearances he return to Sheffield United. However, come November 18th 2005 Francis was on the move again, this time on loan to Tranmere and as he arrived the day before Rovers' away game at Scunthorpe where he made his debut.
The right back went on to make 17 appearances for Rovers under Brian Little and scored a brilliant goal on his home debut in the 2-2 draw against Swansea City from well outside the box.
After being released by Sheffield United following their promotion in the Summer of 2006, Francis signed a three year contract with Southend United.
Despite Southend's relegation, the right-back stayed with the club and has so far made 76 appearances for them, scoring on four times. He has great pace and a fantastic tackle and remains at Southend today.
One To Watch: Lee Barnard
Lee Barnard is a former Tottenham Hotspurs youth-team graduate who signed for Southend on a free-transfer in January 2008.
The striker played for Spurs from a very young age, but managed just three senior appearances for the team, all as a substitute in the Premier League, in his six years as a professional with the club.
Despite failing to make a place in the side permanent, he did spend time out on loan at a number of clubs between 2002 and 2008.
Between 2002 and 2005, the youngster spent time on loan at Exeter, Stevenage, Leyton Orient and Northampton Town, netting just once (for Stevenage) in 23 appearances, although he did gain some valuable experience.
Barnard started this season on-loan at Crewe, making seven appearances and scoring twice in a two-month loan spell, before returning to the club in December, again on loan, making three more appearances and scoring once.
His season however has flourished since his permanent move to Southend United on January 25th 2008.
The 23 year-old has made fifteen appearances for the club, yet he has netted an impressive nine goals, including five in his last five games. Indeed, the Southend number 19 has netted in eight games for the Shrimpers, and they have not lost any of these matches.
Standing at 5'10, Barnard will not play the target man role for Southend, but he is at last a replacement for Freddy Eastwood and his natural finishing ability has been one of the main reasons to Southend's recent surge up the table.
Around League One:
With just two games lof the 2007/08 season eft to go, there is very little to decide at the top of the League One table.
Assuming Leeds don't get any of their fifteen points back, Swansea City have now claimed the League One title and this weekend they host Leyton Orient at the Liberty Stadium.
The race for the final promotion spot is still on though, with five teams battling it out for the place. Carlisle United, currently in second, take on Millwall at the New Den, whilst Doncaster Rovers, two points behind them, take on already relegated Luton Town at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Nottingham Forest, fourth and three points behind Carlisle are away to mid-table Hartlepool, whilst a win for Southend at Tranmere can lift them up to third, if Forest and Doncaster both lose.
At the other end of the table, Gillingham and Bournemouth currently occupy the final two undecided relegation places. Bournemouth will be relegated regardless of their result at home to Crewe if Cheltenham win at Oldham, although Bournemouth are now six unbeaten and look likely to win.
Gillingham, the other side in the relegation places, are three points behind Cheltenham and a point ahead of Bournemouth, and they are at home to Swindon Town.
Team News:
Steve Davies should return from a niggle in his knee to take some part in this match, whilst Calvin Zola could miss-out again with a hamstring problem. Jennison Myrie-Williams will miss the rest of the season with an ankle problem, whilst Paul McLaren is suspended after picking up ten yellow cards. Ronnie Moore could use fringe players such as Adnan Ahmed and youngsters Danny Holmes, Craig Curran and Terry Gornell in this match.
Jones' Prediction: Tranmere Rovers 1-3 Southend United
Whilst this may be a meaningless game for Tranmere Rovers, Southend United still have a lot to play for, in that they can still grab an automatic promotion spot in League One if results go their way.
Three successive defeats for Tranmere is not acceptable, and no doubt Ronnie Moore, who some believe may be out of job this summer if his side don't pick up good enough results over the final two weekends of the season, will no doubt be telling his team that they are still playing to win, as well as playing for their contracts.
I expect Southend United to come to Prenton Park and play for the win, and, in all likelihood, get it. They will be up for the match and full of confidence thanks to the form their in, whilst they are expected to bring around 1,500 fans to the Wirral.
Should Rovers make the defensive errors they have been recently, then only a defeat is on the cards. As well as this, there just haven't been enough goals. The strikers have had few chances, granted, mainly due to poor wing play, but what chances they have been getting they need to take, and this simply hasn't been done lately.