Source: FOOTYMAD
The S24 Preview: Southend United v Tranmere Rovers
Love is in the air over Valentines weekend, but maybe not at Roots Hall on Saturday, February 13th with so much at stake! Kick-off 15.00. v SHRIMPERS The trouble is so much significance is being put on this match it must get through to both sets of players, but certainly Tranmere took advantage of any relegation nerves Gillingham might have had Tuesday, winning 1-0 at the Priestfield Stadium.Everyone could see on Monday against the Farmers that the style of football we've grown used to under Tilly is alive and well, the team now have to get used to scoring again without Barney, and Francis has to learn to look up now and again and find a Blue shirt.The news that left back Scott Malone is a doubt could allow Johnny Herd, only seen on the bench recently and a rare half against Swindon a couple of Saturday's ago, a chance to impress once again. We've certainly missed that long throw!However, there is the option of going back to the system that brought such a good run going this time last year after the defeat at Leeds.Centre-back Jean-Yves M'Voto started to look his old self in the second half against the Farmers Monday, so Tilly could look at partnering Pat Baldwin and the powerful Frenchman in the middle of the back four, and moving skipper Adam Barrett to left back. It worked pretty well, though M'Voto is no Dervite, Baldwin is arguably safer than Clarkey. As long as there's no return to 5-3-2! Then again, we heard all this before ColU, and both Laurent and man-of-the-match Scannell were passed fit and played well. If there's someone at the end of those players excellent runs this time around three points is very much on.Possible Southend United: Mildenhall, Francis, Baldwin, Barrett (or M'Voto), Malone (or Herd/Barrett), Laurent, Christophe, Moussa, Vernon, Spencer, Scannell.Subs: Bentley, Sankofa, Freedman, Paterson, possibly M'Voto, Herd and some kids.OPPOSITIONTranmere have been rocked by the news that midfielder Ash Taylor will miss the next three weeks with a hamstring problem picked up at Gillingham, Gareth Edds is expected to replace him.Defender Ian Goodison will be hoping to be included after missing the game in Kent after missing the previous fixture at Oldham with an ankle injury. Rovers recruited centre-back Chris McCready on a loan from Northampton Town that runs to the end of the season and last week snapped up teenage striker Marvin Sordell on a month's loan from Watford.On the bench could be an old friend in striker Bas Savage, who caused such mayhem when coming on for Brighton against us a couple of seasons ago.And if you had any doubt this wasn't a six-pointer........16Hartlepool United 30555172033920278814374732-1017Southend United 295541818321014238714324131-918Exeter City 3057321152310133071013344531-1119Brighton & Hove Albion 29239112256423257913344730-1320Oldham Athletic 27355111543712197812233429-1121Gillingham 30753208031211357815314329-1222Tranmere Rovers 29626171923108288516254729-22Last Time Out: Gillingham 0 Tranmere Rovers 1 Ian Thomas Moore's eighth goal of the season earned Tranmere only their second win on the road this season and breathed new life into their survival battle. The Rovers hit-man struck the decisive blow in the 68th minute to send the 104 visiting fans home happy and cranked up the pressure on Gillingham manager Mark Stimson.There was little quality on show throughout from both teams but Les Parry's men scrapped for everything and rode their luck to leave Priestfield with a priceless three points to go level on points with the Gills. It was their first win away from Prenton Park since the September success at Wycombe but this victory could not have come at a better time by sucking the plummeting Gills even deeper into trouble.Parry welcomed back Ivorian left-back Zoumana Bakayogo from the one game ban that kept him out of Saturday's 1-0 reverse against Oldham. And he was in the thick of it from the start, delivering a dangerous ball from the left that forced a corner from right back Barry Fuller. The resulting ball in found Marvin Sordell who brought the ball down with a superb touch, but the home defence were quick to close him down and the resulting shot was blocked.Rovers top-scorer Thomas-Moore showed great tenacity on 12 minutes to create space for a shot but he put the ball well wide of Alan Julian's right hand upright.A Chris Palmer cross from the left caused havoc in the Rovers box on 16 minutes until Bakayogo smashed clear.Rovers had a lucky let-off on 23 when Luke Rooney should have put the Gills ahead after Palmer's cross from the left found him unmarked but with plenty of space he headed just over.Both sides looked short of ideas and it wasn't until Simeon Jackson's shot on the half hour that a save was needed from either keeper - Luke Daniels making a routine stop. Centre-back Marlon Broomes dealt well with the resulting corner, despite being under intense pressure from Jackson.Sordell tried an acrobatic volley on 40 minutes after John Welsh had put the ball into the danger zone, but his effort on the turn flew well over.Impressive youngster Rooney then crashed a shot against the bar just after half-time after wonderful skill and trickery from ex-Spurs winger Andy Barcham had found him unmarked in the box.Rovers had a penalty appeal turned away on 52 minutes when Welsh's run from midfield was unceremoniously halted on the edge of the area. Welsh shrugged off that disappointment and continued to cause the Gills problems and two minutes later the former Liverpool starlet fired just over with a snap shot on the half volley.A piece of outrageous skill on 57 minutes from substitute Gareth Edds forced an equally impressive save from Julian. The midfielder first flicked the ball over Mark Bentley before volleying across goal - forcing the keeper to save low to his right.Edds was in the thick of it again on the hour when he out-jumped Josh Gowling to head goalwards but Julian was again up to the task.Thomas-Moore finally grabbed what proved to be the winner midway through the second period when he slid the ball home at the back post after Edds' cross had caused disarray in the Gills box.The former Hartlepool man could have doubled his side's advantage soon after but his control let him down as he raced onto a Terry Gornell through ball.The goal forced the home side forward and within five minutes Palmer nearly brought the scores level when his low shot rolled just past the post.As frustrations began to boil over Stimson's decision to withdraw Bentley for Adam Miller was audibly booed by the furious home fans.The Gills piled forward in a frantic final quarter with Palmer rolling a shot wide before Danny Jackman and Dennis Oli blazed half-chances over the bar.But Rovers hung in, as they so often have since Parry took the reins, and ground out their eighth, and arguably most important, win of the campaign.GILLINGHAM: Julian, Fuller, Gowling, Dennehy, Palmer, Rooney (Oli 69), Bentley (Miller 71), Jackman, Barcham, Weston (Walker 83), Jackson. Subs: Royce, Maher, Wynter, Payne.TRANMERE ROVERS: Daniels, Logan, McLaren, Thomas-Moore, Welsh, Taylor (Edds 24), Broomes, Bakayogo, Curran, McCready, Sordell (Gornell 77). Subs: Collister, Barnett, Mahon, Cresswell, Shuker.Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire).Attendance: 3,840The highlights from the game here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8509485.stm(Report provided by www.wirralnews.co.uk) PREVIOUSLY At Southend Utd. (23)At Tranmere Rvs. (24)ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%Southend Utd.939.13Tranmere Rvs.1354.17Tranmere Rvs.834.78Southend Utd.416.67Draws626.09Draws729.17GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pgSouthend Utd.351.52Tranmere Rvs.411.71Tranmere Rvs.261.13Southend Utd.210.88On Neutral Ground (0)Overall (47 matches)ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%Southend Utd.00.00Southend Utd.1327.66Tranmere Rvs.00.00Tranmere Rvs.2144.68Draws00.00Draws1327.66GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pgSouthend Utd.00.00Southend Utd.561.19Tranmere Rvs.00.00Tranmere Rvs.671.43RecordsHighest Aggregate8Southend Utd. 7 - 1Tranmere Rvs.1959/1960 Highest Southend Utd. score:7Southend Utd. 7 - 1Tranmere Rvs.1959/1960 Highest Tranmere Rvs. score:3Southend Utd. 1 - 3Tranmere Rvs.2001/2002 SeasonDateHomeScoreAwayCompetition 2009/2010Tue 24 NovTranmere Rvs.2 - 0Southend Utd.League One 2008/2009Sat 14 FebSouthend Utd.2 - 1Tranmere Rvs.League One Sat 15 NovTranmere Rvs.2 - 2Southend Utd.League One 2007/2008Sat 26 AprTranmere Rvs.1 - 0Southend Utd.League One Sat 06 OctSouthend Utd.1 - 2Tranmere Rvs.League One 2005/2006Sat 21 JanTranmere Rvs.0 - 0Southend Utd.League One Sat 17 SepSouthend Utd.3 - 1Tranmere Rvs.League One 2001/2002Tue 08 JanSouthend Utd.1 - 3Tranmere Rvs.F.A. Cup 1996/1997Fri 28 MarTranmere Rvs.3 - 0Southend Utd.League Division One Sat 17 AugSouthend Utd.1 - 1Tranmere Rvs.League Division One 1995/1996Sat 30 MarSouthend Utd.2 - 0Tranmere Rvs.League Division One Sat 21 OctTranmere Rvs.3 - 0Southend Utd.League Division One 1994/1995Fri 21 AprTranmere Rvs.0 - 2Southend Utd.League Division One Mon 02 JanSouthend Utd.0 - 0Tranmere Rvs.League Division One 1993/1994Fri 25 MarTranmere Rvs.1 - 1Southend Utd.League Division One Sat 02 OctSouthend Utd.1 - 2Tranmere Rvs.League Division One 1992/1993Fri 26 MarSouthend Utd.1 - 2Tranmere Rvs.League Division One Tue 03 NovTranmere Rvs.3 - 0Southend Utd.League Division One 1991/1992Sat 25 AprSouthend Utd.1 - 1Tranmere Rvs.Second Division Fri 04 OctTranmere Rvs.1 - 1Southend Utd.Second Division 1990/1991Fri 12 AprSouthend Utd.1 - 0Tranmere Rvs.Third Division Tue 01 JanTranmere Rvs.3 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division 1986/1987Fri 06 MarSouthend Utd.3 - 0Tranmere Rvs.Fourth Division Fri 24 OctTranmere Rvs.1 - 3Southend Utd.Fourth Division 1985/1986Fri 07 MarTranmere Rvs.1 - 1Southend Utd.Fourth Division Fri 04 OctSouthend Utd.2 - 2Tranmere Rvs.Fourth Division 1984/1985Fri 26 AprTranmere Rvs.2 - 0Southend Utd.Fourth Division Sat 01 DecSouthend Utd.2 - 3Tranmere Rvs.Fourth Division 1980/1981Fri 30 JanTranmere Rvs.2 - 2Southend Utd.Fourth Division Wed 20 AugSouthend Utd.2 - 0Tranmere Rvs.Fourth Division 1978/1979Fri 04 MaySouthend Utd.0 - 1Tranmere Rvs.Third Division Fri 30 MarTranmere Rvs.1 - 2Southend Utd.Third Division 1974/1975Fri 18 AprTranmere Rvs.2 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division Fri 11 OctSouthend Utd.1 - 0Tranmere Rvs.Third Division 1973/1974Fri 26 AprTranmere Rvs.2 - 0Southend Utd.Third Division Sat 01 DecSouthend Utd.1 - 1Tranmere Rvs.Third Division 1972/1973Sat 20 JanSouthend Utd.1 - 0Tranmere Rvs.Third Division Fri 01 SepTranmere Rvs.3 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division 1966/1967Mon 27 MarSouthend Utd.0 - 0Tranmere Rvs.Fourth Division Fri 24 MarTranmere Rvs.1 - 2Southend Utd.Fourth Division 1960/1961Mon 12 SepSouthend Utd.1 - 2Tranmere Rvs.Third Division Mon 05 SepTranmere Rvs.2 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division 1959/1960Sat 12 MarTranmere Rvs.1 - 0Southend Utd.Third Division Sat 24 OctSouthend Utd.7 - 1Tranmere Rvs.Third Division 1958/1959Mon 15 SepTranmere Rvs.1 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division Wed 10 SepSouthend Utd.1 - 3Tranmere Rvs.Third Division 1933/1934Sat 13 JanTranmere Rvs.3 - 0Southend Utd.F.A. Cup REFThe man in the middle is Steve Cook from Surrey. He gives an interview here: www.refworld.com/referee/130/1/steve-cook FIXTURESSaturday, February 13th; (all kick-offs 15.00): Brentford v Wycombe, Brighton v Norwich, Carlisle v MK Dons, Huddersfield v Swindon, Leyton Orient v Leeds United, Millwall v Exeter, Oldham v Walsall, Southend v Tranmere, Stockport v Colchester, Yeovil v Gillingham. (Southampton are not playing Hartlepool due to their involvement in the F.A. Cup fifth round.)Monday, February 15th: Bristol Rovers v Charlton, 19:45. Tuesday, February 16th; (all kick-offs 19.45): Carlisle v Huddersfield, Leeds United v Walsall, Yeovil v Colchester. BETTo Win:Tranmere - 11/10, Draw - 12/5, Tranmere - 11/4.For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-oneHISTORY The club was founded by a merger of two local cricket clubs in 1884, before changing its name from Belmont to Tranmere Rovers a year later. The club played its first match in the Liverpool & District Challenge Cup in 1886. In 1921-22 the club joined the newly formed Third Division North of the Football League. They were also winners of the 1934-35 Welsh Cup.Though they played in blue shirts and white shorts for much of their existence, the club's traditional home kit is now regarded as white shirt, shorts and socks, with blue trim.The name Tranmere refers to a district in the south of Birkenhead, on the eastern side of the Wirral Peninsula. Tranmere alone has a population of 11,668 (2001 Census). The area is made up of industrial buildings and Victorian terraced houses. Its name was given by Norwegian Vikings who settled and colonised Wirral in the 10th century. Tranmere in Old Norse is Trani-melr, 'cranebird sandbank' or 'sandbank with the cranebirds'.The club has faced years of strong competition for supporters from the two much larger local clubs, Liverpool and Everton, which is why they have played many of their home fixtures on a Friday night at the club's request.John Aldridge, the former Liverpool striker who scored nearly 500 goals in his professional career, was appointed player-manager of Tranmere in March 1996 and remained at the helm for five years, although he hung up his boots in 1998. His predecessor was John King, who took Rovers from the brink of losing their league status to the brink of reaching the Premiership.Between 1991 and 2001 they were in the second tier of English football, reaching the play-offs three times and the League Cup final once before being relegated.Former England player Tommy Lawton represented Tranmere during war-time.As of the 1st May 2009 Tranmere were in 7th place, 2 points behind Scunthorpe United in 6th place with both teams only having one league game remaining. This game was between the two sides at Glanford Park. A win would secure Tranmere a play-off place and anything less would mean Scunthorpe would qualify for the play-off's. Tranmere scored in the first half through Craig Curran, but unfortunately for them Scunthorpe equalised from a header with only minutes remaining. The match finished 1-1 ending Tranmere's dream of getting the play-off's for the 2008-2009 season.Ronnie Moore was sacked by Tranmere on the 5th June 2009. In an official statement, the club said: "Attendances have dropped by more than 19 per cent during the last three years and the club felt that now is the right time to move forward in a new direction."Moore's final act was to sign ex-Oldham midfielder Mark Allott.John Barnes was officially named as manager of Tranmere Rovers on 15 June 2009, with Jason McAter assisting him, after Barnes himself had confirmed the appointment a day earlier.Tranmere suffered a miserable start to the season, and Barnes' reign was under pressure almost immediately. A run of six successive losses was halted by a draw with Colchester United and then a win over Wycombe Wanderers. Any hopes of a revival were immediately dashed by a comprehensive 5-0 loss to Millwall, Tranmere's worst defeat in six years, giving the team the worst goal difference of any side in the English leagues and fuelling talk of relegation even at this early stage in the season.Both Barnes and McAteer were sacked by the board on October 9th 2009. Chairman Peter Johnson told the club website: "Unfortunately results have not gone our way this season and we are at the wrong end of the table. We must now focus on finding the best possible candidate." Physiotherapist Les Parry was placed in temporary charge, assisted by reserve boss Shaun Garnett, and on December 16th the positions were made permanent until the end of the season. To read more about that, go here: www.tranmererovers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10365~1906747,00.html For a more comprehensive history of the club, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tranmere_Rovers_F.C.
