Two minute guide to: Tranmere Rovers
We take a look ahead to Port Vale’s match against Tranmere Rovers with another of our brief guides to the opposition…
Team news
The most significant change for the Valiants will see Rob Page (above) step in for Micky Adams as Vale manager. Adams is recovering after hip surgery but Pages, who had been linked to jobs with AFC Wimbledon and Sheffield United will be eager to prove himself an able deputy.
Page’s first task will be to determine whether Dan Jones is fit enough to return to the side. The probability is that the game is too soon for the popular left-back so Vale’s back four should remain unchanged.
Elsewhere, Ben Williamson did his chances of a start no harm with a “super sub” display against Coventry.
Possible Vale XI:
Neal
Yates – Robertson – Chilvers – Dickinson
Myrie-Williams – Griffith – Lines – Loft
Williamson – Pope
Opponents Tranmere are trying to add a loan signing to cover Evan Horwood’s injury. If they are unsuccessful, Danny Holmes will cover. Midfielders Andy Robinson and Jason Koumas will be missing through injury.
Port Vale’s exclusive betting partner is Betbright and every bet that is placed with them will earn the Valiants money.
To place a bet on this match click on this link:
https://www.betbright.com/portvale
Quotes
“This is an honour for me and I want the fans to know that.”
– Rob Page
“There are no easy games in this league so we know every game is going to be tricky and a tough test. We’ve got to be sharp, we’ve been working hard this week and hopefully we can take that into Saturday. They’re a hard team to place against, two banks of four. They’ll be hard to break down.”
– Doug Loft
“We were straight into Stoke on Wednesday night and we’ve got to take that into the Port Vale game, get into their faces and try to get all three points.”
– Ashley Taylor
History
Last meeting:
The two sides last met in September 2012 for a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie. It was Vale who ran out winners thanks to two Jennison Myrie-Williams’ goals (above).
The Vale team for that game was: Neal, Duffy, Loft, McCombe, McDonald, Myrie-Williams, Morsy, Shuker, Vincent, Dodds, Pope
Overall record:
- Vale wins: 29
- Tranmere wins: 37
- Draws: 23
Last time we…
beat Tranmere away in the league was back in October 2006 when goals from Jeff Smith and Leon Constantine earned Vale a 2-1 win.
Connections
Meeting their former employers
Tranmere boast two former Valiants in their ranks. Popular striker Akpo Sodje (above) joined Rovers in the summer but could miss the game through injury. Abdulai Bell-Baggie spent a brief spell on loan with Vale in 2010 and after dropping into non-league football, he joined Rovers in 2012.
Meanwhile, Vale also boast two former players from the opposition. Jennison Myrie-Williams spent a spell on loan with Tranmere from 2007 to 2008 while Chris Shuker made over 100 appearances for Rovers.
Appeared for both clubs
Other players who appeared for both clubs include:
- Graham Barnett
- Adnan Ahmed
- John James
- John Green
- Jim Steel
- Barry Siddall
- Cyril Done
- Ken Beamish
- John Rowland
- John Williams
- Craig Russell
- Simon Osborn
Trivia
Cricket and church…
Like several other clubs, Tranmere Rovers started life in the summer of 1882 as Belmont Cricket Club which was connected to the Wesley Church in Higher Tranmere. In 1912, the club changed its name to Tranmere Rovers. Prenton Park is the club’s third ground.
Some lions, a star and a tree…
The current club crest (right) was adopted in 1997 and is a simplified version of the Birkenhead borough crest. Amongst the symbols are a lion from the arms of the family of Massey, founders of the Benedictine Monastery in 1150, a tree which symbolises Birkenhead Park, a star which symbolises Bebington and the two lions alluding to Oxton.