Yeovil Town vs. Tranmere Rovers match preview

Last updated : 21 November 2008 By Matthew Jones
Ian Moore, a number of players Ronnie Moore is hoping can recover from flu to play on Saturday
Tranmere play their first away league game since November 1st this weekend, as they make the long trip south to take on struggling Yeovil Town.

Rovers, who have a number of injury and illness worries ahead of this fixture, have never lost at Huish Park and they will be hoping they can pick up their fourth away win of the season as they look to push themselves up towards the play-off places.


Yeovil Town team profile:

Formed: 1895

Ground: Huish Park

Manager: Russell Slade

Nickname: The Glovers

Season Finish 2006/07: 18th (Coca-Cola League One)

Previous Meetings:

The first meeting between these two sides last season came on September 1st, the day after the transfer window had closed, and Tranmere picked up a dramatic point thanks to a 1-1 draw.

After a terrible journey down to the ground which saw lots of Tranmere fans get caught in traffic, both sets of fans watched an exciting first half draw to a surprising 0-0 close, before Marcus Stewart handed Yeovil the lead after the break, the former Charlton man picking up a poor Ian Goodison header and running across the face of the penalty area unchallanged before smashing home a 22-yard effort.

Tranmere didn't really look like getting back into the game from there, that is until the 96th minute, when Steve Davies crashed home a quite superb free-kick to earn Tranmere a 1-1 draw and send the Rovers fans home happy.

The sides met at Prenton Park on January 26th, and this time Tranmere won 2-1 thanks to goals from Zola and Myrie-Williams.

It took Tranmere just four minutes to open the scoring as Zola netted from just inside the area with an excellent finish, this after beating his man outside the box having collected the ball from Shane Sherriff.

Despite Ronnie Moore's side having many chances to double their lead, it was Yeovil who scored next, equalising on 51-minutes as Andy Kirk shot under Danny Coyne after Lloyd Owusu had displayed godo strength to hold off Rovers defender Ian Goodison.

Rovers though got the win thanks to a Myrie-Williams penalty, netting just after the hour after Zola had been brought down inside the penalty area.


Vital Stats:

In their six previous meetings, Tranmere have never lost against Yeovil

Six matches between the two sides have seen nineteen goals scored

Rovers have scored two or more goals in all but one of their matches against Yeovil

Tranmere have picked up five points in their three visits to Huish Park, thanks to two draws and a win, coming from behind in both the matches which were drawn

In three away trips to Yeovil, Tranmere have used four different goalkeepers - Matt Murray, John Achterberg, Gavin Ward and Danny Coyne


On This Day:

2005: Rovers pick up a 3-2 win over Rochdale in the Johnstone's Paints Trophy

2003: Iain Hume scores the only goal in a 1-0 win over Port Vale for Tranmere at Prenton Park

1989: Tranmere draw 2-2 in the League Cup with Spurs

On November 22nd, Tranmere have played nineteen previous fixtures, picking up eleven wins, five draws and three defeats. In these nineteen games, they have scored 39 goals and conceded 24, whilst they are unbeaten on this day since 1983, playing eight fixtures since a defeat to Bolton Wanderers in the F.A. Cup.


The Form Book:

Yeovil last 6 home games: LDDWLD
Tranmere last 6 away games: DLDWWD

Yeovil have been in poor form this season, their 21st place position in the table ahead of this game mirroring their dreadful results, with just one home win to their name all season.

Russell Slade's side started their six match sequence with a 2-2 draw at home to Bristol Rovers before losing 2-1 against Southend.

Yeovil then picked up their only home win of the season so far, a 3-2 success against Crewe as Way scored an 85th minute winner for the Glovers, before they drew 0-0 at against Leyton Orient at Huish Park.

Another draw followed in their next home game, a eighth draw of the season for Yeovil, as Stockport managed to earn a replay with a 1-1 stalemate in the F.A. Cup first round, before Peterborough beat Yeovil 1-0 in their most recent home game.

Other noteable results at home this season for Yeovil include 1-1 draws with Walsall, on the opening day of the season, and Leeds United.

Yeovil's home record this season has seen them play eight league games, from which they have picked up eight points thanks to five draws, one win and two defeats.

Impressive away results for The Glovers this season include league wins away to Oldham Athletic (2-0) and Hereford United (2-1), as well as a 1-0 League Cup first round win over Charlton.

Yeovil Town are in 21st place in the League One table before this match, picking up just fifteen points from an available 48 in their opening 16 games, thanks to three wins, six draws and seven defeats.

Tranmere's recent away form has been good, with a defeat to MK Dons the only blemish in their last seven away matches.

In the first match of their six match sequence, Tranmere surrendered a 2-0 lead against Peterborough, eventually drawing the match 2-2, before beating Carlisle United 2-1 thanks to goals from Ian Moore and Ryan Shotton.

Rovers then beat Leyton Orient 1-0 thanks to a Chris Shuker goal, but since they have failed to score away from Prenton Park, starting with a 0-0 draw on a cold Tuesday night in Stockport.

MK Dons then beat Tranmere 1-0, although a draw would perhaps have been a fairer result, before Ronnie Moore's side drew 0-0 at Accrington Stanley in the F.A. Cup first round.

The only other result of any note for Tranmere away form home so far this season was a 2-1 win at Huddersfield, where goals from Edrissa Sonko and Ryan Shotton pulled Tranmere back from 1-0 down to win the match.

In the league this season, Rovers have picked up a total of ten points form an available twenty-four thanks to three wins, two draws and three defeats from their eight games.

Impressive home successes for Rovers include excellent wins against Northampton Town (4-1), Cheltenham Town (2-0) and Crewe Alexandra (2-0).

Tranmere come into this game in eleventh place in the League One table after sixteen games, picking up 24 of an available 48 points thanks to seven wins, three draws and six defeats.

Double Hit:

Records show that no player has represented both Tranmere Rovers and Yeovil Town.


One To Watch: Lee Peltier

Former Liverpool man Lee Peltier joined Yeovil Town in January after a stint on-loan with the club last season.

Peltier, who is of English nationality, came through the youth ranks at Anfield but made just four appearances for the Merseyside club between 2006 and 2008, with three of those appearances in the League Cup.

After a loan spell with Hull in the 2006/07 season, when Peltier made seven appearances, Peltier joined Yeovil on loan in time for the start of the 2007/08 season.

He made 23 appearances for the Glovers before signing permanently for an undisclosed fee on January 31st 2008.

Since signing permanently, Peliter, who knows Tranmere player Godwin Antwi from his Liverpool days, has made a further 32 appearances for the club, although he is still to score his first career goal.

A central-midfielder, the Yeovil number 27 is quick and has a good eye for a pass, whilst his good engine and tackling ability make him a permanent feature of the Yeovil midfield.

Around League One:

There are several interesting fixtures around League One this weekend, starting at Glanford Park, where argueably the most exciting and important fixture of the League One season so far takes place.

Scunthorpe United, first, entertain second placed Leicester City, with the winner topping the table come 5pm on Saturday evening, whilst a draw would keep Scunthorpe one point clear of Leicester.

However, a draw could see Millwall jump to the top of the table, should they win away to struggling Leyton Orient, with the Lions just one point off first place in third, whilst fourth placed MK Dons are away to Walsall and they could also top the table on Saturday evening.

Leeds United are at home to Hartlepool and they are looking for a win to push themselves back up towards the top of the table, with a four point gap having opened up between themselves and first place, whilst Peterborough, ahead of Leeds on goal difference, are at home to Colchester.

Just outside the play-off race, eighth placed Southend host seventh placed Oldham, the Latics just one point behind sixth placed Peterborough.


Team News:

Ronnie Moore has a number of selection issues ahead of this match as he struggles to find sixteen available players to take with him to Yeovil. Ian Goodison is away on international duty, whilst Ryan Shotton, Antony Kay and Steven Jennings are all suspended.

George O'Callaghan will once again miss out and Craig Curran remains on the sidelines with an injury, whilst Ben Chorley, Ian Moore, Edrissa Sonko and Gareth Edds have all missed training this week with flu.

Andy Taylor could return after missing last weeks match with flu, this despite an excellent performance from youngster Aaron Cresswell, whilst Mark Wilson, on-loan from Doncaster, is set to make his debut.

Any of Godwin Antwi, Luke Waterfall Paul Henry and Danny Holmes could feature for Tranmere, with Holmes and Waterfall yet to have made a league appearance for Rovers.


Jones' Prediction: Yeovil Town 1-2 Tranmere Rovers

Despite having a number of players out with suspsension, injury and illness, this is a game Tranmere are capable of winning against an out of sorts and out of form Yeovil side.


If, as expected, they continue with the 4-5-1 formation that has been successful away from home in recent weeks, then Tranmere could well shut up shop at the back but still go for the win, with Savage and Shuker both capable of scoring goals for Rovers.

The key for Tranmere will be which players are available after having the flu this week. With Kay, Goodison and Shotton already missing, it's vital that Ben Chorley is available for the game, especially as he will most likely captain with Goodison and Kay missing, whilst Rovers also need the experience of Gareth Edds, be it at right back or in midfield.

What Rovers must do though this weekend, especially with so many players out injured, is defend well, with Danny Coyne organising the defence well. They must also take their chances when they come their way up top, with Shuker, as ever, being the most important outlet for Ronnie Moore's side.