Tranmere Rovers v Lincoln City Preview
By Deadly Submarine
October 17 2005
Rovers take on Lincoln City at Prenton Park this Tuesday night in a game that gives struggling Rovers a break from their current League misfortunes. Whilst wins in the League are most important, a victory in this competition for Rovers may be the catalyst they need to kick-start their league form.
TRANMERE ROVERS Vs LINCOLN CITY
Tuesday 18th October 2005 Kick Off 7.45pm
Tuesday night sees Rovers get some relief from the recent traumas of League One as they entertain League Two side Lincoln City in the first round of the LDV Vans Trophy.
Whilst fans of many Clubs involved in the competition will see this as being just a minor competition and something of a distraction, it takes on great importance for Rovers due to their current situation.
A win on Tuesday night may just prove to be the catalyst that a downbeat Rovers squad need to get their faltering season going after a run of eight games without a win which also includes the current run of four straight defeats.
Manager Brian Little has to make the decision over whether to give his younger players a chance to prove their worth in this game or to stick with the current first choice eleven in the hope that they can get the morale boosting win they need.
The LDV Vans Trophy is also a welcome distraction for the Imps who are yet to win away from home this season, a statistic that Rovers fans will be hoping does not change on Tuesday night.
The sides have not met each other since the 1988-89 League Season when Rovers beat The Imps 1-0 at Prenton Park but Lincoln hit back to win 2-1 at Sincil Bank in the return game. In all meetings between the sides, Lincoln have one more win than Rovers which included an 8-0 thrasing of Tranmere at Sincil Bank back in 1930.
DEADLYS MATCH PREDICTION: TRANMERE 2 - 1 LINCOLN CITY
Team News
Tranmere Rovers Rovers are without Jason McAteer (knee) and Danny Harrison (broken nose) but Paul Linwood has been recalled early from his loan spell at Wrexham and is therefore available.
Lincoln City The Imps have captain Paul Morgan available again following a four-match suspension but Scott Kerr (back) is unlikely to feature. On loan Richard Butler from Oldham is not eligible to play in this competition as part of the terms of his loan deal.
Probable Rovers Team: Achterberg, Bruce, Sharps, Jackson, Goodison, Roberts, Jennings, Rankine, Zola, Facey, Greenacre.
Referee Lee Mason (Lancashire)
Current Form
Tranmere Rovers:
Last Six Games Home DWWDDL
Last Six Games LDLLLL
Lincoln City:
Last Six Games Away DDLLDD
Last Six Games - LLWDLD
Hotshots
Tranmere Rovers: Chris Greenacre 6 Goals
Lincoln City: Gary Birch 7 Goals
Last Meeting (Season 1988-89)
24th October 1988 League Division 4 Prenton Park
Tranmere Rovers 1-0 Lincoln City
1st March 1989 League Division 4 Sincil Bank
Lincoln City 2-1 Tranmere Rovers
Head to Head
Summary of Past Meetings
All Matches:
Matches Played = 68
Tranmere Wins = 24
Lincoln City Wins = 25
Matches Drawn = 19
Tranmere Goals = 94
Lincoln City Goals = 103
At Prenton Park:
Matches Played = 34
Tranmere Wins = 18
Lincoln City Wins = 4
Matches Drawn = 12
Tranmere Goals = 60
Lincoln City Goals = 31