Tranmere Rovers v Stockport County Match Preview

Total Tranmere brings you all the stats, facts and team news you need to know ahead of Tuesday's Johnstone Paints Trophy game

This belatedly played Northern Section Second Round fixture has had to be re-arranged after Tranmere were reinstated into the competition.  This happened due to Accrington Stanley's expulsion from the competition after they played a suspended player against Rovers in the First Round match between the two sides at Prenton Park.

After being given a second chance in the competition and with a trip to Wembley only five games away, Les Parry will be keen for his side to progress to the Northern Section Quarter Final, with the winner of this match taking on Bury at Gigg Lane in November.

Stockport County Factfile:

Ground: Edgely Park
Formed: 1883
Nickname:  The Hatters
Manager:  Paul Simpson
League Finish 2009/10: 24th (relegated to League Two)
Kit Colours: Blue shirt, white shorts and blue socks (home),yellow shirt, black shorts and yellow socks (away), white shirt, shorts and socks (third)

Previous Meetings:

Les Parry will never forget the two meetings between these two sides last season, as one marked his first game in charge of the club, whilst the other was the game that saw Tranmere pick up the points that secured their League One place for the 2010/11 season.

The home game against County was Parry's first in charge of the club, as the game, live on Sky TV, saw the Rovers boss in the caretakers position following the sacking of John Barnes and his assistant Jason McAteer.

In a drab game, where the only positive could really be an impressive debut for Zoumana Bakayogo, Tranmere lost 1-0, with Stockport securing the three points thanks to a strike from the penalty spot.

The penalty came shortly after the hour mark when Luke Daniels was judged to have fouled the Stockport striker and sent off by the referee.

Joe Collister came on in goal, making just his third appearance for the club, but his first touch was to pick the ball out from the back of the net as he could do nothing to save Baker's penalty.

The reverse fixture at Edgely Park on the final day of the season however was something else, as over 3,000 Tranmere fans descended on Stockport to help cheer their team on to victory and to pick up the three points they needed to give themselves a chance of staying up.

Fortunately for Tranmere, the result was never in doubt, as Rovers put in a sublime stay, leaving their fans, who created a wonderful atmosphere all afternoon, in party mood.

Tranmere opened the scoring on 38 minutes when Stockport failed to clear a corner, with the ball falling to Ian Goodison who hammered the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

After the break, Tranmere secured the points as Ian Thomas-Moore dived in to stab home Zoumana Bakayogo's cross, before Rovers made it three goals in an away game for the first time in the second with fourteen minutes left when on loan midfielder Joss Labadie capitalised on a mistake by the goalkeeper to stab home.

Vital Stats:

Tranmere have picked up 33 wins in 59 home games against Stockport, losing on just eight occasions

Rovers have netted 113 goals in their 59 home games against the Hatters, conceding 59 times

The away side has kept a clean sheet in three of the last four meetings between these two sides

Tranmere have won four or seven cup matches against County, drawing twice and losing twice

Rovers have only two of twelve October meetings between the two sides

On This Day:

2007:  A 3-0 win over Huddersfield Town lifts Tranmere into first place in League One

2002:  Tranmere are hammered 4-0 by Cardiff City in Division Two

1999:  John Aldridge's Rovers side lose 3-2 against Charlton in Division One

Tranmere Rovers have played sixteen previous games on this day, picking up eight wins, three draws and five defeats.  They have scored 28 goals and conceded 18 times in their sixteen games on this day.  Tranmere have played two previous cup games on this day, picking up one win and one draw, whilst they have lost just one of nine home games on this day, picking up seven wins in the process.

The Form Book:

Stockport last six away games:  DLLWWL
Tranmere Rovers last six home games:  LDDWDL

Since relegation in May, Stockport have hardly set League Two alight, with just two away wins and just three wins in total in all competitions so far this season.

They started their six match sequence with a defeat, losing 3-1 to Stevenage, Donnelly grabbing a late concelation goal for the Hatters, before they picked up the first of successive away league wins thanks to a 2-0 victory over Macclesfield Town, Donnelly again on the scoresheet along with Assoumani.

Paul Simpson's side followed this up with a 1-0 success over Oxford, Donnelly scoring his fourth goal in five games, before they went on a run of three away games without a win, starting with a 2-1 defeat at Burton.

Stockport then lost 2-1 against Gillingham, another side relegated to League Two last season, before in their most recent away game, on Saturday, they picked up a first away point in three games thanks to a 0-0 draw against Lincoln.

In their only other away game this season, Stockport picked up an opening day point thanks to a 1-1 draw with Southend.

The Hatters have played seven away games so far this season, all of them in the league, picking up two wins, two draws and three defeats, whilst they have only played one cup game this season, losing 5-0 to Preston North End in the first round of the Carling Cup.

Notable home results for Stockport include their solitary home win, a 2-1 success over Barnet in their most recent home game, and draws with Accrington Stanley (2-2) and Aldershot Town (2-2).

Stockport County come into this game in 16th place in League Two, having played thirteen games and picked up fifteen of an available 39 points thanks to three wins, six draws and four defeats.

A recent positive run of form at home for Tranmere came to an abrupt end in their most recent game at Prenton Park, as they were hammered by lowly Brentford on home soil.

This confirmed just how tough a season this would be for Rovers, as they ahave, as yet, managed just one home win all campaign, with three home league defeats already behind them.

In the first game of Tranmere's six match sequence, Les Parry's side put in a spirited, battling display against Championship side, but lost their Carling Cup Second Round fixture 3-1, despite leading at half time thanks to an Enoch Showunmi goal.

Rovers then drew 1-1 with Accrington Stanley in the Johnstones Paints Trophy, losing the game on penalties, in their next home game, but they have of course since been reinstated into the competition due to Accrington playing a suspended player in the game.

Les Parry's side then went on a three match unbeaten streak in the league at home, starting with an excellent 1-0 win over Peterborough thanks to an Arnaud Mendy goal, before the Wirral outfit came from 1-0 down to draw 1-1 with Charlton Athletic on home soil.

Tranmere next came from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Brighton and Hove Albion, Scott Wootton getting his name on the score sheet, before in their most recent game, Tranmere were hugely disappointing as they lost 3-0 to relegation threatened Brentford at Prenton Park.

In their only other two games on home soil this season, Tranmere were defeated 2-1 by Oldham Athletic on the opening day of the season and also lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth.

The Prenton Park side come into this game having played eight home league games so far this season, winning once, drawing three times and losing on four occasions.

Notable results away from home for Les Parry's side include a 1-0 victory over Bristol Rovers, a 4-1 hammering of Walsall and draws with Huddersfield Town (0-0) and Dagenham and Redbridge (2-2).

Rovers have so far played three cup games this season, picking up one win, one draw (lost on penalties) and one defeat.

Tranmere Rovers come into this game in 22nd place in Npower League One, having picked up thirteen of an available 39 points from thirteen games, thanks to three wins, four draws and five defeats.

Double Hit: 

Former Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Sean Connelly started his career at Sheffield-based Non-League side Hallam, before moving into League Football with Stockport County in 1992.

Connelly stayed with Stockport for nine years and became a firm favourite at Edgely Park, playing for the club whilst they were in Division One.

He racked up 353 appearances for the Hatters in his nine years with the club, scoring eight goals in the process and becoming one of Stockport's favourite ever players.

In 2001, Connelly finally left Edgely Park, as the Sheffield born full-back joined Wolves in March 2001, initially on loan, before making the deal permanent in the summer.

Playing at right-back, Connelly made only fifteen appearances for Wolves in eighteen months with the club, before Tranmere manager Ray Mathias offered him a lifeline and a move back into First Team football at Prenton Park.

In October 2002, Connelly joined Tranmere Rovers and he stayed with the club for two years, playing under two different managers; firstly Mathias and then latterly Brian Little.

He made an impressive 82 appearances for the Prenton Park side in two years with the club, playing mainly at right-full back and wing-back, whilst also making a handful of appearances at centre-back.

Always a solid performer, Connelly may not have scored during his time at Prenton Park, but he impressed the Tranmere fans with his professionalism and consistent performances.

However, the emergance of youngster Ryan Taylor eventually meant that Connelly struggled to get into the Tranmere team, and in June 2004 he joined Rushden and Diamonds, with Shane Nicholson and Alex Hay also leaving Tranmere for the League Two club.

Connelly played 46 games for Rushden but only remained at the club for one season before retiring, aged 35, and joining Cardiff City as the clubs Physio.

One To Watch:

Striker George Donnelly is currently in his second spell on loan at Edgely Park, having rejoined the club on a six month loan spell in July.

Born in Liverpool, 22-year old Donnelly started his career with Skelmersdale, playing 45 games for the club between 2007 and 2009 and netting an impressive tally of 37 goals.

His impressive form earned him plenty of interest, with Southport and Scunthorpe both making offers for the player, but he chose to move to Plymouth Argyle, making his debut for the club during April 2009.

A brief spell on loan at Luton Town last season saw the player make four appearances for the substitutes bench before he joined Stockport for the first time on loan last season, making nineteen appearances and scoring four goals.

His form then may not have been anything special, but Stockport saw something in him and brought him back to the club this year on a six month loan spell.

Since rejoining the club, Donnelly has barely looked back.  Now a talisman for the club, Donnelly has played fourteen games for the club, netting seven times this season, with his most recent goal coming in the clubs 2-1 win over Barnet.

The 22-year old, who wears the number 10 shirt for Stockport, is a player who will have to be watched carefully by Tranmere's defenders as he clearly has an eye for goals, especially inside the area, and is a definite match winner for the Hatters.

Johnstones Paints Trophy:

There are no other fixtures in the competition tonight

Team News:

Les Parry does have a few options available to him however, should he wish to change the starting XI in order to rest a few players and give a couple more some first team match time.  Tim Cathalina, Sam Morrow, Marlon Broomes and Ryan Fraughan will all be pushing for a starting place.

Les Parry still has a few injury worries though, with Gunnar Nielsen, Ash Taylor and Alan Mahon set to miss the game through injury, whilst Paul McLaren is doubful.
 

Jones' Prediction:  Tranmere 2-0 Stockport

With first team players such as Joss Labadie and Ian Thomas-Moore beginning to return to the starting XI, Tranmere fans are finally beginning to see close their first choice side take to the pitch, and a 4-1 win at Walsall on Saturday showed just what Rovers might be capable of this season once the likes of Marlon Broomes and Ash Taylor turn to the side too.

Tonight, if Tranmere play anything like they did at Walsall, they should be well capable of picking up a victory in todays match against The Hatters.

Stockport have hardly set League Two alight this season, and though Rovers have struggled for wins too, they have the players capable of turning over Stockport and booking their place in the Area Quarter Final.

What is important for Tranmere is that their midfield continues to work energetically, with Blanchard sweeping up in front of the defence whilst Welsh and Labadie do a lot of the donkey work in midfield, as well as getting forward to support the front three.

The pace of Dale Jennings will no doubt scare the Stockport defence, whilst Showunmi and Thomas-Moore should also be key players for Tranmere, who I'm confident will be able to secure back to back wins for just the third time under Les Parry.

Don't forget that if you can't get to the game, you can follow regular updates of the match on our Twitter page, www.twitter.com/totaltranmere