Colchester Utd v Tranmere Rovers Match Preview
By Deadly Submarine
January 2 2009
A detailed look ahead to Saturday’s away trip to the brand new Weston Homes Community Stadium in Essex as Rovers make the long trip to face Colchester United in Coca-Cola League One looking to do better on the road in 2009 than they have managed in 2008.
Saturday 3rd January 2009 - Kick-Off 3.00pm
Colchester U v Tranmere R
Coca-Cola League 1 at Weston Homes Community Stadium
In the first game of 2009, Rovers travel for the first time to Colchester's new Weston Homes Community Stadium in Coca-Cola League One in the hope that 2009 will be a better year on the road than 2008 proved to be.
Despite a spell of three successive wins earlier in the season on the road, they remain Rovers only three wins on their travels with three draws and five defeats in the other eight games away from Prenton Park.
Ronnie Moore's men were perhaps unlucky to not to win in their last away outing at Hereford on Boxing Day when they twice lead through Eddy Sonko but were twice pegged back and had to settle for a point in a 2-2 draw. Since then Rovers have defeated Walsall last Sunday with a 93rd minute goal to win 2-1 and keep then in with faint play-offs going into 2009.
Colchester's Christmas games have brought the same results as Rovers' with two wins and a draw. A 0-0 draw at home to Scunthorpe just before Christmas was followed up by a 2-1 Boxing Day win over Brighton. Last Sunday the U's defeated Leyton Orient 1-0 to move them into 11th place in League One going into 2009.
When the two sides met earlier in the season there was a feast of goals as Colchester gave themselves a 4-1 lead at Prenton Park before two late goals almost saw the home side fight back but their efforts were in vain as they lost 4-3.
The last meeting at Colchester three seasons ago was of course at Colchester's old Layer Road Stadium when the U's won 1-0 and heaped the pressure on then Rovers boss Brian Little as his side slipped closer to the relgation zone before surviving on the last day.
The last time Rovers played on 3rd January they were 4-1 victors at home to Torquay United in League One back in 2005 whilst Colchester played on January 3rd last year, losing 2-1 away at Charlton in the Championship on their way to relegation at the end of last season.
If you are travelling to the game, enjoy the new Stadium and get behind the lads as we hope for some early points in 2009.Rovers Team News
Rovers are without the injured strike pairing of Chris Greenacre and Craig Curran whilst loanees John Johnson and Godwin Antwi have returned to Middlesbrough and liverpool respectively.
Ryan Shotton had been expected to return on loan in time for the Colchester trip but this deal has now hit problems and Shotton will not be available.
Match Officials
Match Referee - Gavin Ward (Surrey)
Twenty eight year old Gavin last season completed his first season as a National List referee, after five seasons as a National List, SG and FIFA assistant referee. He started refereeing at the age of thirteen in Kent and progressed through the Kent and Isthmian Leagues.
Has officiated at the FA Trophy Final, Football League Championship Play Off Final and for the 2007 Carling Cup Final was the first match official to be appointed as ‘reserve assistant' in a major domestic Cup Final.
Assistant Referees:
Richard Beevor (Suffolk)
Ian Bentley (Kent)
Fourth Official:
Adrian Sannerude (Suffolk)
Form Guide
Tranmere Rovers
Last Six Games - WWLWDW
Last Six Away Games - WDLLLD
Season Record - P23 W11 D4 L8 F33 A29
Points 37 Position 8th
Season Record Away - P11 W3 D3 L5 F11 A16
Colchester United
Last Six Games - WLWDWW
Last Six Home Games - WLWLDW
Season Record - P23 W9 D4 L10 F35 A36
Points 31 Position 11th
Season Record Home - P12 W3 D3 L6 F11 A13
Hotshots
Tranmere Rovers - Antony Kay and Edrissa Sonko (6 Goals)
Colchester United - Mark Yeates (8 Goals)
Head to Head
Record Vs Colchester United (League):
All League Games - P44 W15 D15 L14 F69 A69
At Colchester - P22 W6 D7 L9 F25 A34
Earlier This Season
Tranmere Rovers 3 - 4 Colchester United
Kay 12 Perkins 4
Taylor 76 Yeates 15
Shotton 78 Platt 40
Jackson 47
Attendance: 5,713
Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)
Last Time at Colchester
Colchester United 1 - 0 Tranmere Rovers
Brown 63
Attendance: 4,757
Referee: Jarnail Singh (Middlesex)
Stadium Information
External Link: Weston Homes Community Stadium
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:01:04:00:02:16 by Deadly Submarine.
