Tranmere Rovers vs. Carlisle United match preview
By Matthew Jones
January 2 2011
Total Tranmere bring you all the stats, facts and team news ahead of Monday's League One game
After a disappointing and perhaps harsh 3-2 defeat to Rochdale on Saturday, Tranmere take on Carlisle United in League One at Prenton Park on Monday afternoon.
A big Bank Holiday game for Rovers, Les Parry's side are now three games without a victory and are desperate to record three vital points and turn around their form as they look to push a way from the relegation zone.
Victory over Carlisle however will be no mean feat, the Cumbrians are a decent side with a strong strike force, and after a 2-2 draw with Huddersfield on Saturday, they've shown that they are a side capable of challanging with the top teams in the division this season.
Carlisle United Factfile:
Ground: Brunton Park
Formed: 1904
Nickname: The Blues
Manager: Greg Abbott
League Finish 2009/10: 14th
Kit Colours: Blue shirt with white and black stripe, white shorts and socks (home), all red shirt, shorts and socks (away)
Previous Meetings:
Tranmere Rovers and Carlisle United have already met once this season, with Rovers handed an undeserved 2-0 defeat at Blundell Park in early November.
The game, played on a Tuesday night, saw both sides miss penalties in the first half, firstly Ian Thomas-Moore for Rovers after John Welsh had been fouled before Gulacsi saved Madine's spot kick with nine minutes of the half left, this after both sides had missed chances.
Carlisle United took the lead however three minutes before the break when James Berrett, a former Tranmere transfer target, lashed the ball home after good work from Zoko, before Tranmere were hit with another blow just four minutes after the interval as Carlisle made it 2-0 with Murphy heading home Berrett's corner.
Rovers rallied and had some chances to get back in the game, Akins, Jennings, Broomes, Showunmi and Goodison all coming close, but Rovers weren't able to breach Carlisle's back line, losing the game 2-0.
Vital Stats:
In 39 home games against Carlisle, Tranmere have picked up an impressive 21 victories, losing on just eleven occasions
Rovers have scored 84 goals to Carlisle's 41 in their 39 meetings at Prenton Park
The away team has failed to score in the last four meetings between these two teams
If Tranmere lose this fixture, it'll be the first time Rovers have lost four home games in a row since John Barnes was in charge of the club last season
Tranmere have won two and drawn three of six games against Carlisle in January
On This Day:
2010: Terry Gornell misses an open goal as Tranmere suffer an undeserved 1-0 F.A. Cup third round defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers
2005: Eugene Dadi, Jason McAteer, Gary Jones and Paul Hall score for Rovers as Brian Little's side beat Torquay United 4-1 at Prenton Park
2004: Simon Haworth gives Tranmere the lead before Kevin Nolan equalises as Tranmere hold PRemier League side Bolton to a 1-1 draw at Prenton Park
Tranmere Rovers have played fourteen previous game on this day, picking up five wins, three draws and six defeats. In these fourteen games, they have scored 23 times, conceding on 25 occasions.
The Form Book:
Carlisle United last six away games: LDLWLW
Tranmere Rovers last six home games: LLLWWD
Having had three away games postponed, Carlisle United are playing their first away game since November 20th today, whilst they have played only one of their last ten matches on the road, giving Tranmere perhaps a chance to pounce on The Blues' lack of recent games in foreign territory.
They started their six match sequence with an excellent 1-0 success over Sheffield Wednesday on September 11th, ex-Tranmere man Craig Curran scoring the Carlisle winner, before following this up with a defeat in their next away game as they lost 2-0 at Bournemouth.
Three days later in their next away game, Carlisle turned picked up their second away win of their six match sequence, beating Hartlepool United 4-0 thanks to strikes from Michalik and a Madine hatrick, but they are without a win on the road since, starting with a 2-1 defeat to Exeter City.
The Blues then drew 1-1 with Bristol Rovers, Grella scoring a late equaliser for the club, before in their most recent away game, Carlisle suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of currently bottom of the table side Walsall.
Other notable results away from home this season for Greg Abbott's side include draws with Plymouth Argyle (1-1) and Colchester United (1-1), though they are yet to win another away game.
Carlisle have picked up nine of an available 24 points from eight away games so far this season, this thanks to two wins, three draws and three defeats.
Impressive results at home for Carlisle this season include successes over Tranmere Rovers (2-0), Southampton (3-2) and MK Dons (4-1), whilst a 3-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday in November saw them progress to the area final of the Johnstone Paints Trophy.
Carlisle come into this fixture in fourteenth place in the League One table, having picked up 28 of an available 60 points from 20 games, this thanks to seven wins, seven draws and six defeats.
Coming into this fixture, Tranmere Rovers will be hoping to halt a run of three successive home defeats, a hugely worrying run of fixtures that must be halted if Tranmere are to start pulling away from the relegation zone.
Rovers started their six match sequence with a 0-0 draw against Stockport in the Johnstone Paints Trophy, a game they eventually won on penalties thanks to the heroics of Peter Gulacsi in goal, before Tranmere won their next home game 4-2 against MK Dons thanks to two goals each from Dale Jennings and Ian Thomas-Moore.
A second successive win followed the MK Dons success, as Dale Jennings was again on target in a 1-0 win over Plymouth, but Les Parry's side lost their next home game 1-0 against Hartlepool, the first of three successive defeats at home.
Tranmere were then knocked out of the Johnstone Paints Trophy at the area semi-final stage against Huddersfield Town (2-0) in their next home game before slipping to a 2-1 home defeat against Leyton Orient in their most recent game at Prenton Park, with a goal from Scott Wootton not enough to secure Tranmere a point.
Tranmere have had only one other home win this season, defeating Peterborough United 1-0 thanks to a goal from Arnaud Mendy, whilst they've also drawn 1-1 with Charlton and Brighton.
Notable results away from home include wins over Bristol Rovers (1-0), Walsall (4-1) and Notts County (1-0), plus a 1-0 success over Walsall in the League Cup.
Tranmere currently lie in 20th place in the League One table, having picked up 22 of an available 60 points from twenty games, this thanks to six wins, four draws and ten defeats.
Double Hit:
Current Carlisle United striker Craig Curran came through the youth ranks at Tranmere Rovers and was a hugely promising striker at Prenton Park.
The Merseyside born youngster signed his first professional contract shortly before Brian Little left the club in April 2006 after a superb goalscoring season for the youth and reserve teams.
He had to wait nine months to make his Tranmere debut, coming off the substitutes bench to make a brief appearance during a 3-2 defeat at Bristol City under Ronnie Moore, but when he made his home debut three months later, he burst on to the scene with a bang, scoring with his first touch as he helped Tranmere to defeat Brighton 2-1.
Curran then started for Rovers against Scunthorpe before two weeks later, in the final game of the season against already relegated Brentford, Curran played the full 90 minutes and scored a stunning hatrick.
Expectations for the youngster were high and the pressure was on him to produce week in week out following his early career exploits.
However, a succession of injuries, some niggling and some serious, set back his career and after making a number of appearances, mainly from the bench but rarely scoring or impressing, during the 07/08 season, he played just seventeen times during the 08/09 campaign, though did score a crucial goal for Rovers on the final day of the season away to Scunthorpe, though it wasn't enough to secure Tranmere a play-off spot.
Curran was a regular for Tranmere during the 2009/10 season, but he rarely scored and at the end of the season, with his contract at Prenton Park having expired, he moved to Carlisle, rejecting a deal from Tranmere and leaving the club having made 112 appearances, scoring just sixteen times.
Upon joining Carlisle, Curran initially impressed, with manager Greg Abbott raving about the player's work rate, but in the last couple of months, he has been relegated to the substitutes bench. Having now made 24 appearances for the club, Curran has scored just twice.
The striker is expected to be on the bench against for the Cumbrians on Monday, though should he come on, he will be wearing the number fifteen shirt.
One To Watch:
Striker Gary Madine has been heavily linked with a move away from Carlisle United during the January transfer window after a hugely impression first half of the season.
The 20-year old came through the youth ranks at Carlisle United, making his debut during the 2007/08 season.
A loan spell with Rochdale at the start of the end of the 2008/09 season, this after Madine had scored his first Carlisle goal but struggled to cement a first team place, saw Madine impress during three appearances, though he failed to score, whilst only a few months later, in October 2009, he moved to Coventry City on a three month loan deal after impressing at the start of the season for Carlisle.
Madine made nine appearances for Coventry, but returned to Carlisle at the end of his loan spell with the Sky Blues ending their interest in the player.
On his return for Carlisle, Madine spent a month on loan at Chesterfield, playing four times without scoring, before returning again to Brunton Park and scored a Johnstone Paints Trophy final goal at Wembley against Southampton, though the Cumbrians lost the game 4-1 in his third game back for the club.
This season, Madine has gone from strength to strength and has already netted thirteen goals for the club, including his first senior hatrick in a 4-1 win over Hartlepool United and four in a 6-0 F.A. Cup win over Tipton.
He is now in his fourth season as a professional with the club and has scored 22 goals in 83 appearances for the club.
Should Madine play for a Premier League club during the next season, he will become the youngster player to have ever played in all four divisions in England.
A strong, bullish striker, Madine, who has pace and power to boot, wears the number 19 shirt for Carlisle and will bully and battle hard against Tranmere's defence all game long.
Around League One:
There are eleven League One fixtures on Monday afternoon, with the twelfth fixture taking place on Tuesday when Bristol Rovers host Plymouth Argyle
Huddersfield vs. Sheffield Wednesday (12.15)
Bournemouth vs. Brentford
Dagenham and Redbridge vs. Southampton
Exeter vs. Brighton
Leyton Orient vs. Colchester
Notts County vs. Hartlepool
Oldham vs. Rochdale
Peterborough vs. Walsall
Tranmere vs. Carlisle
Yeovil vs. MK Dons
Charlton vs. Swindon (17.05)
Team News:
Tranmere will be without Marlon Broomes who sits out a one match ban after his red card for a senseless rugby tackle at Rochdale on Saturday.
On loan defender Jermaine Grandison is likely to replace him in the starting line up, playing the final game of his loan spell, whilst Lateef Elford-Alliyu and Scott Wootton will also play the final game of their loan deals.
This game again comes too early for Alan Mahon who needs reserve games for match fitness, but Ash Taylor should start again, despite coming off after 26 minutes after Rochdale in Tranmere's most recent game.
Gunnar Nielsen and Liam Darville will miss out for Rovers, meaning a likely start for Joe Collister once again in goal, whilst Dale Jennings is most likely to be on the bench again.
Jones' Prediction: Tranmere Rovers 2-0 Carlisle United
Tranmere Rovers are very capable of winning this game and I believe that they can pick up the three points after what they displayed against Rochdale on Saturday.
Despite losing the game, Tranmere were the better side for a long period in the second half, though they only had ten men, and if they can continue that form, and cut out the terrible concentration lapses they suffered after scoring both their goals, then they are well capable of winning this game.
What is important for Tranmere is that they take their chances. At Rochdale on Saturday, Ian Thomas-Moore, Scott Wootton and Dale Jennings both missed golden opportunities to bring Rovers level in the second half when they were losing 2-1.
If they are to take something from Carlisle, they must take what chances come their way, as United's defence is a mean one, having conceded just nine times in eight away games this season.
For me, it's important that Joss Labadie and John Welsh continue to push forward, as they did so well at Rochdale on Saturday, whilst Lateef Elford-Alliyu, if he starts, must find an end product to his mazy, threatening runs which could cause so much more trouble if he could finish them off.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:01:07:00:36:44 by Deadly Submarine.
We deserved the win and were unlucky not to get another. We deserved to get at least a third when pushing forwards last fifteen.
As it is, it's great to see us actually smashing forward in search of more goals in the last five minutes of games.
We were so much more attacking today and it was great to see. Alliyu was very threatening and Jennings looked much better second half when we got the ball to him more.
Goodison's volley was stunning, masterful, genious, whilst Ian Thomas-Moore, as ever, was in the right place at the right time for the second.
Both penalties were at a nice height but right in the corner so great saves by the keeper.
Joss and Collister MOTM for me. Both excellent.
We started poorly and were lucky not to be behind a missed penalty and free header missed after a stupid handball from cathalina. We gradually got back into the game and enoch should have scored with a header but put it over then goodison scored a cracking goal.
The 2nd half we played a lot better and at times we got the ball down and passed it around well creating several chances but 2 missed penalties looked like might cost us when they equalised but this team we scored quickly after conceding and hung on to a big win.
Collister made a couple of really good saves and dale in the 2nd half played really well and joss had really impressive game.
cathalina wasnt very impressve and got injured again and we looked shaky at the back but important win & we need to follow it up on saturday.
He is occasionally a little less clinical than might be preffered, but nobody can doubt his worth to the team, especially when he got the Notts County winner. Great signing in the financial climate at Tranmere.
NICE ONE LES.
Ian Moore scores again and I think is on 9 in all competitions now, so anyone still doubting his proffessionalism, needs to take a long hard look at the way they assess Tranmere players, because Tranmere in my opinion have a very useful player, that should get another season at Prenton Park, but I think ultimately is a 90% certinty to leave in the Summer.
Typical Johnson confused attitude. On the one hand he is appearing to baulk speculative offers for Jennings, but on the other had has proven experience and quality whose simple contractual requests he baulks as well.
I'm not comparing Moore to Jennings, but if Moore leaves, Tranmere had better find that sort of experience and quality again, which might happen if they have an increased budget via the sale of Jennings, because come summer, if Moore leaves, they won't have a Curran scenario, where a few fans think bit of a shame he's gone but hey never mind.
I wonder if Les, Kevin, the backroom boys and all the players, could stump up half of what they've earned on their current contracts, whether they could buy part or all of Johnsons 40%?
Then the club could be run in a similar fashion to FC United with assistance from people like Mick Horton and cut out increasingly irrelevant people like Johnson.
Yeah, probably wishful thinking though
.and is the controlling shareholder and will be until somebody buys him out but until that happens and seeing he has not called in his loan of £5,137.777 we can still carry on not an ideal situtation and if I was owed that ammount I do not think I could put any more in and with out Peter investing in the earlier years after coming in after the Yank
when we went into administration we would have folded then..
When Peter came in those years with his investment with John King incharge and we went all most to the moon(one ofJohn King`s quotes) the only trouble when we heading on wards and upwards the Birkenhead public failed to turn up at Prenton Park in numbers and that was one reason we headed back down the leagues to arrive were we are now a team made up of loan players and bargin basement signings.
Still I will be still there on Saturday and will allways be there as long as the superwhites are still playing mind you some of the performances last season and this leaves you
hitting a brickwall any way
good result for today on wards and upwards
and lets get three points on Saturday against Walsall,any thats my
rant for today.COME ON YOU MIGHTY WHITES
After we went 1-1 you could see Showumni shouting at his team mates and got straight back in there and attacked them. It was no surprise he set up the winning goal. I think he's been a revelation for us this season.
Cathalane looked unconfortable but other than that I think it was a great performance by the team.
Cathalina was poor, he looks to be a liability at right back. Welsh and Joss worked hard and 442 at home is the way forward for me.
enoch what can you say he runs round like he is 5 ft 10 the pace he has the strenght that enoch has i would quite happly say he is among the best strickers in this league he is consistant and gives 110 percent every game that what you want anyone who ever doubts les needs to take a look at enoch a think what a signing he actually was.
moore and dale both had great matches they put themselves about they both had a real go at the defenders and the both work well feeding off enoch we have a strong team on our day lets hope its a great year ahead
we may have got beat on new years day but we still looked good and were unlucky. lets hope 2011 is a good year
COMMON YOU WHITES
Collister (great save and very good display, progressing well but still not quite number 1 imo)
Tim Cat (don't like ripping players but he was shocking, diving in for tackles, slow and poor in the air! Not the answer at right back and we need a good player in this position!)
Cresswell (thought did very well, gets some flack for some reason but had a good game tackling/positioning top class and still young is only going to get better with games)
Goodison (Legend, at 38 still a rock and awesome goal)
Welsh (captains performance again covers the ground fights/block/tackles a valuable player and a great game)
Labadie (big presence in midfield for us great game)
Lateef (got the tricks and did great out of position on right wing, really like to see him here till end of season)
Dale (maybe not upto the fans high expectations of him now, but a real threat, great to see how well he managed himself after constantly getting hacked down)
ITM (doesn't look like a man who wants to leave, surprised he didn't step up to 2nd penalty. Good poachers goal and work rate fantastic as ever, GIVE HIM THE CONTRACT HE DESERVES!!!)
Enoch (great workrate as ever, first touch a little heavy and looking in need of a goal but getting into the positions well)
MOTM for me was Welsh who does the un noticed leg work in the middle.
Every ball is a white ball............TRFC
Every ball is a white ball............TRFC
After all Crouch scored 6 assists in his first 9 or Liverpool and they were about 3rd, despite some people moaning he couldn't score. Then he got a goal in his 10th game, helping Liverpool get 7 in 10.
Makes you wonder why some fans moaned with a ratio like that.
The only issue Enoch has is when he heads the ball it's like his head is a cube or something. He just can't nail a header into the net. It must be at least the 6th time he's binned one this seaason. Great player, but perplexing skull.