Preview: Tranmere (H)

September 24th 2021James Williams

Tranmere Rovers are the next team to head to the Fully Charged New Lawn in League Two, with the two sides locking horns tomorrow at 3pm.

Rovers return to Nailsworth after their impressive 4-0 demolition of Stevenage last weekend while the visitors defeated Salford City 2-0.

WHAT WE SAID:

“I’m excited about this one. It’s going to be a good game and a good challenge for both teams,” stated Rob Edwards.

“Tranmere are going to be a tough nut to crack but we have been lately as well and that’s why I think it makes for a really exciting game.

“I’ve heard there’s a little bit of history and you know about the previous games, but we can only focus on the here and now and what’s happening right in front of us.”

TEAM NEWS:

Rovers have no new injury concerns and Baily Cargill may return. Udoka Godwin-Malife and Elliott Whitehouse are still unavailable due to injury.

KEY PLAYER: CALLUM MCMANAMAN

Callum McManaman signed a one year deal with Tranmere this past summer after being released by Melbourne Victory.

The 30-year-old wide man boasts a heap of experience having played throughout the Football League. Having come through the youth ranks at Everton, he left after eight years to join Wigan Athletic, where he made his senior debut in 2009. Most memorably he was the man-of-the-match in the Latics’ FA Cup final win against Man City.

Spells with West Brom, Sunderland, Luton Town and a return to Wigan followed before he made the switch to Australia.

He found the net for Tranmere against Walsall on the opening weekend of this season.

LAST TIME WE MET:

Forest Green narrowly defeated Tranmere 2-1 in GL6 in the penultimate game of last season as both sides headed toward play-off campaigns.

In a match where all the action came after the break, Rovers had the better of the opening 45 with Ebou Adams’ long range effort being the best of the chances.

The deadlock was broken five minutes after the interval as Josh Davison picked up a Kane Wilson cross at the back post and fired emphatically into the far corner.

An Ebou Adams red card just short of the hour mark put the home side on the back foot but a penalty won and scored by Aaron Collins ten minutes from time all but sealed the win.

The away side pulled one back in injury time through a Kieron Morris rocket, but it was Rovers who got all three points at the New Lawn.

HEAD-TO-HEAD:

Rovers and their namesake have met a total of 11 times in their respective histories.

FGR have won five of the meetings compared to the away sides three as well as three draws between the two teams.

The most memorable of those games came back in 2017, where Rovers defeated Tranmere outfit 3-1 at Wembley to reach the Football League for the first time ever.

COVERAGE:

Full commentary of Saturday’s match will be available via our online streaming service and on BBC Radio Gloucestershire on 1413AM.

Rovers fans abroad (excl. UK and Ireland) can buy an international video match pass on the Match Centre.

Tickets are still available on the day of the match for FGR fans.

Stay up to date on Twitter and Instagram by following @FGRFC_Official, which will have all of the team news before kick-off and updates throughout the game.

There will also be key updates and team news on Facebook. Round-up the clash by checking out the club website where there will be a full report looking back on the encounter.