• Nigel Adkins has been given the Tranmere job on a permanent basis signing until the end of the 25/26 season. Continue the discussion here.

League Two Rovers v Stags

Match result

  • Rovers

    Votes: 3 42.9%
  • Draw

    Votes: 3 42.9%
  • Stags

    Votes: 1 14.3%

  • Total voters
    7
  • Poll closed .
Rovers v Stags
Posted by Ian
Prenton Park
Saturday, March 27, 2021 - 03:00 PM
Until: Saturday, March 27, 2021 - 05:00 PM
(Adjusted for timezone: Europe/London)
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Joined
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Jason Koumas / John Morrissey
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John King
It is the visit of Mansfield next for Rovers.

The Stags were tipped for big things this season, as in most recent years, but are currently regrouping under Nigel Clough following the sacking of Graham Coughlan earlier in the season. Our visitors have a strong squad on paper, featuring Ollie Clarke, Jordan Bowery and Stephen Quinn among others and were apparently unlucky not to beat Forest Green last night. However, I would be even more concerned if they still had Maynard and Cook up front, both of whom were allowed out on loan to save money for next season.

In terms of our own selection, I think Woolery and Ray (if available) will return to the side, but it will be interesting to see if there is any further rotation. Both Crawford and Kirby did ok when coming off the bench against Colchester, and could be in line for a starting place. Callum MacDonald has looked tired in recent games, so there is a possibility Ridehalgh will keep his place at left back.

Although every game we play is touted as 'must win' at the moment, this does feel like a game where we have to pick up three points. If we don't, there will be immense pressure on the Easter double header against Cheltenham and Cambridge. We have the incentive that a victory will probably take us into the top three, with FGR facing in-form Bolton in an early kick off. Cheltenham also travel to Morecambe, so points will be dropped in the top seven.

No prediction this time, but a victory is desperately needed. COYWB !
 

bigmart

bigmart
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Ian Muir
Tricky game against a team that have certainly improved under new manager.

KH said last night hope to have a few back for this game, as O'Connor plays on Friday im not sure he will play so think Ray and Woolery will be back.

Think it will be a draw 1 1
 

Ian

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Aldo
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The Stags have only won nine this season whilst Rovers have double the amount at eighteen! Having said that they do like a draw having registered 16 so far (3 on the spin now against Carlisle, Grimsby and most recently Forest Green Rovers) with their biggest scalp winning 3-1 against table topping Cheltenham a few weeks ago. No easy game now. I think we might just nick it 2-1 although a draw wouldn't be a surprise either.
 
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Too many of them after over 50 years!
Tranmere haven't beaten Mansfield since 2013 having drawn 3 and lost 2. The three draws were all 0-0. So Tranmere are either due a win or it will be 0-0 again!
 
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aldo
a positive hard-fought 2-0 after this game we have a week off that will do them the world of good
 

drwhoman

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Interesting stat that despite our recent scoring issues, we are still the fifth highest scorers in the Division behind Exeter, Cambridge,Oldham and Morecambe. I found Oldham interesting but they clearly cannot defend!
 
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Alan King, Barry Dyson
An interesting stat on Twitter. Since KH arrived, the team has earned on average an extra 0.5 points per game with James Vaughan. Rather alarming at face value. I’m sure Keith is working on the formation and players to address this.
 
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Too many of them after over 50 years!
An interesting stat on Twitter. Since KH arrived, the team has earned on average an extra 0.5 points per game with James Vaughan. Rather alarming at face value. I’m sure Keith is working on the formation and players to address this.
It would be interesting to see who was in the team when he was playing. There have been a lot of enforced changes recently which probably contribute to the reduction. For example, would those teams he was playing in have conceded two goals against Colchester?
 

Sparky

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Chris Greenacre
I’m going for another draw I’m afraid. Agree with RLC that rotating someone like McDonald may make sense. He has looked a bit jaded and we didn’t stop those crosses coming on Tuesday night whereas Rides is a reliable option. Would also bring Ray and Woolery back in if available.
Will be interesting if Nugent comes back in after his half time appearance the other night.

Assume CBT will be having a hot drink in the main stand
 
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It would be interesting to see who was in the team when he was playing. There have been a lot of enforced changes recently which probably contribute to the reduction. For example, would those teams he was playing in have conceded two goals against Colchester?
With Vaughan in the side we would probably have scored first against Colchester, and then it is a completely different game.

A drop off in the points return without Vaughan would be expected given he has scored roughly half of our goals. However, we have still earned eleven points from six games without him, and we have done well to stay in contention for the automatic places.
 
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Some very negative forecasts again.

We really have to win this game, otherwise we could be left requiring seven victories from nine for automatic promotion. That probably is not feasible without Vaughan, particularly as we have all of the current top three still to play.

We need a win on Saturday.
 
Last edited:
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Too many of them after over 50 years!
With Vaughan in the side we would probably have scored first against Colchester, and then it is a completely different game.

A drop off in the points return without Vaughan would be expected given he has scored roughly half of our goals. However, we have still earned eleven points from six games without him, and we have done well to stay in contention for the automatic places.
I had a look through all the games where Vaughan played since September. My point is that whilst he may have scored it is not a given because it depends on how the team is set up and who is in the team (and how well they function as a team). His 19 out of 30 games did not come in 19 games. So probably less than 50:50 that he would have scored. HOWEVER, just being in the team may have contributed to others scoring, so he is definitely a big miss.
 
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Nothing is a given, but considering how dominant we were in the first half an hour on Tuesday and the chances we created - for Lewis in particular - I think it is likely we would have scored first with Vaughan in the side.

The game might then have followed the pattern of the Southend match given Colchester's low confidence, rather than being an end to end affair.
 

bigmart

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Ian Muir
Cbt woolery and Ray all training today as shown of Facebook photos.
 
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Too many of them after over 50 years!
I always went to the Friday Night Games as a schoolboy expecting Tranmere to win! Nothing has changed in that mentality other than accepting the draws and defeats when they happen even if I am disappointed! I think Mansfield will set up to frustrate but I think a 1-0 (Feeney or Lloyd or Woolery) will suffice.
 
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Alan King, Barry Dyson
I always went to the Friday Night Games as a schoolboy expecting Tranmere to win! Nothing has changed in that mentality other than accepting the draws and defeats when they happen even if I am disappointed! I think Mansfield will set up to frustrate but I think a 1-0 (Feeney or Lloyd or Woolery) will suffice.
Hope you are right, though I think we might struggle. Of course if the game was played tomorrow night, there would be no problem!
 

Boz

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Iain Hume
I didn't get the impression from KH's pre-match interview that he's looking to make that many changes for this game, although with the pair of games against promotion pace-setters coming up after this, there is the opportunity to give a few a breather if the manager thinks that's needed. Agree that Macdonald's seems a bit jaded, while Clarke hasn't looked his best for the last couple of games; maybe the senior players insisting they wanted to play in the Pizza Cup final didn't do us any favours so far as Peter is concerned. Spearing remains pretty robust, while the other midfielders have benefitted from some rotation, so while there is a case for giving Kirby/Crawford a start, don't think it's needed as much as in defence. Up front, tonsillitis may have an impact on Woolery's stamina, so perhaps he'll start on the bench, with a similar forward line-up to Colchester.

Mansfield looked the stronger side, back in the season opener, although barely tested Scott Davies until one decent effort late on. They didn't live up to billing of one of the promotion favourites and at one point, they were flirting with relegation, before Clough came in and steadied the ship. Agree that they're a less dangerous opponent particularly without Cook. Even if they win every remaining game, 70 points is unlikely to get them a play-off spot. I don't expect them to set up ultra-defensively, but we've struggled against footballing mid-table sides like Oldham and Crawley and with any pressure off, they are capable of being as tough an opponent as the two that follow.
 

bigmart

bigmart
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Ian Muir
With 10 games left i think we will need 6 or 7 wins to make the top 3 with a draw as well.
 
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