• 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 Scunny v Rovers

Match result

  • Scunthorpe

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Draw

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Tranmere

    Votes: 5 100.0%

  • Total voters
    5
  • Poll closed .
Joined
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We visit Scunthorpe on Saturday in the first of a seven game sequence that will decide our fate this season.

Scunthorpe are in poor form but are virtually safe from relegation and are theoretically the kind of side we would want to play in a promotion run-in. However, they don't concede many goals and have generally played a fairly negative 451 formation, with Ryan Loft operating as a lone striker. That suggests they will be difficult to break down and this will be another game where Rovers will have to be clinical at both ends of the pitch: if we go ahead, can we finally score a second goal to kill the opposition off ?

It would seem from Keith Hill's interview that Spearing will play no part in this game, but apparently he is only likely to miss a couple of matches at most. The manager also made some tantalising comments about James Vaughan, but it was difficult to tell whether they were in jest. However, even if he was to appear on the bench it would be a massive boost for the whole club.

I think we will start with the side that played the majority of the Cambridge game after Spearing's injury, with Lloyd and Woolery up front and O'Connor in the holding midfield role. I think Manny will keep his place at the back.

After four games without a win, we really need a victory in this one.
 
Last edited:

Ian

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I am feeling a bit more confident after the last game but we need more goals. This would be a great chance to score more than one and get some confidence flowing in the side for the last seven crucial games. I agree with RLC regarding team selection. It was actually refreshing to see Manny back who I thought was solid against Cambridge. Come on lads, you can do it. Let's keep that 3rd place intact!
 

Boz

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Scunthorpe's record over the last six games is W1 D4 L1, exactly the same as Rovers. I'd describe both teams form as indifferent rather than poor, but the points Scunthorpe have collected have made them almost safe, probably need a couple more to be absolutely sure of retaining their L2 status. It sounds like they're struggling with injuries, especially in defence, while ex-Rover Devarn Green went off injured early in their defeat to Carlisle.


In terms of Rovers line-up, I'm not expecting any squad appearance from James Vaughan and didn't read Keith's interview as suggesting that. While I'd agree that an unchanged line-up from the one after Morris came on for Spearing v Cambridge would make sense, it wouldn't be a total surprise if there are one or two adjustments, though I also would like to see Lloyd remaining in the more forward role.

Unsure about our previous history at Glanford Park, the only time I went was the draw under Ronnie Moore, when we just missed out on the play-offs. However, this is approaching a must win game to try and cement a place in the automatic spots.
 

frenchrover

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Rumoured that we've been sanctioned by the FA under rule E20 for failing to control our players in an orderly manner during the Cambridge game last Saturday (presumably over the penalty decision). Whilst this could, if accepted by the club or proven on appeal, invoke a warning as to future behaviour PLUS a fine, usually in the region of £1000/£2000 ( levels set in our league for similar cases in March this year) it does not, fortunately, warrant a points deduction.
 

bigmart

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Surely we will get back on track sooner rather than later, a much welcome win by any scoreline will do.
 

Sparky

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I was thinking is this a must win game and I guess what recent results have shown us is that it obviously depends on other results of the teams around us. Should we get a point and everyone else loses then it’s a positive point. But we can’t bank on that as some of them will surely pick up 3 points.

I just watched both goals from the reverse fixture where vaughan reminded me what a goal poacher we are missing at the moment
 
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Too many of them after over 50 years!
At some point Tranmere must reverse the usual trend of performing relatively poorly in the last 7 games of a season (in the EFL). So I am going for 5 wins 2 draws. With Walsall and Bradford being the draws.

Despite Tranmere being stuffed by Cheltenham, they will struggle against Leyton Orient and teams who I think can adapt to their (old) Wimbledon style.

FGR appear to have completely imploded. Newport effectively are playing all games away and have a tough run in.

Morecambe have a similar run in to Tranmere but play Bolton last game.

Exeter have to play BW, Cambridge, Newport and FGR so they can have a big say in things.

It's Spring and I'm optimistic. Especially since I believe Vaughan will be back for five of the games at least.
 
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Yes, the bottom line is we are going to have to win four or five of our remaining games to have a realistic chance. It is highly unlikely that none of the teams below us will have a run of decent form between now and the end of the season.
 
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With 12 teams still in the promotion mix, they will often be playing each other and so some teams will have to drop points. The likes of Barrow, Grimsby and Southend will continue to take points off our rivals (but not us, as we have already played them twice). We are lucky to have one of the best run-ins of all the leading clubs - on paper, at least. The important thing is that automatic promotion remains in our hands and let's hope our future results ensure it stays that way.
 
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Too many of them after over 50 years!
Newport were back at Rodney Parade for their victory over Bolton on Monday.
I didn't realise that they could upgrade the pitch that quickly (wasn't that the reason they left) Anyway, maybe their pitch will be a reason for poor performances one way or the other.
 
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With 12 teams still in the promotion mix, they will often be playing each other and so some teams will have to drop points. The likes of Barrow, Grimsby and Southend will continue to take points off our rivals (but not us, as we have already played them twice). We are lucky to have one of the best run-ins of all the leading clubs - on paper, at least. The important thing is that automatic promotion remains in our hands and let's hope our future results ensure it stays that way.
We are still to play Walsall, Barrow and Colchester, so struggling sides will be in a position to take points from us. In fact, you could argue that Scunthorpe are not completely safe and do have some motivation against us tomorrow.

I agree that our run in looks reasonable, but ultimately our form in the last seven games has to be a lot better than in the previous seven.
 
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Ian

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Can you really see us winning four or five of the least seven without Vaughan? Highly unlikely.
 
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Too many of them after over 50 years!
It's Spring. We are coming out of lockdown. I can visit the Wirral from May 17. So I can be positive about Tranmere winning 5 from 7 starting tomorrow ;)
 

Boz

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I think Keith Hill’s one game at a time approach is best. This game won’t be a walkover as Scunthorpe still need a few points to survive, but they are suffering from injuries at present which makes it a good time to take them on despite our own absences. It is winnable, see if we can get the 3 points unscathed and then consider Walsall.
 
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I was thinking is this a must win game and I guess what recent results have shown us is that it obviously depends on other results of the teams around us. Should we get a point and everyone else loses then it’s a positive point. But we can’t bank on that as some of them will surely pick up 3 points.

I just watched both goals from the reverse fixture where vaughan reminded me what a goal poacher we are missing at the moment
Two great finishes. He gets across his man at the near post and finishes from a very tight angle for the first, and the second requires composure.

For the first goal, he puts away the sort of ball into the box we have been failing to capitalise on for weeks now. He makes the second finish look easy (when it is not).
 

Sparky

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Two great finishes. He gets across his man at the near post and finishes from a very tight angle for the first, and the second requires composure.

For the first goal, he puts away the sort of ball into the box we have been failing to capitalise on for weeks now. He makes the second finish look easy (when it is not).

Yes I was thinking the same. We’ve put balls into the box like that in recent weeks especially from Otis and no ones been on the end of them. Hopefully Vaughan back soon
 
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