Two minute guide to: Tranmere Rovers
We take a look ahead to Port Vale’s game against Tranmere Rovers on Saturday afternoon.
Vale
Manager: Micky Adams
Last game: 2-2 vs Coventry
Form: D-L-W-L-L
Top scorer: Pope (14)
Tranmere
Manager: John McMahon
Last game: 3-2 vs Notts County
Form: W-L-L-D-W
Top scorer: Lowe (19)
Team news
Lines: misses the game
Chris Lines is suspended and will miss the game. Micky Adams could bring back Anthony Griffith to replace Lines or move Doug Loft into the centre and bring in another wide player.
Tranmere have problems in midfield. Trio James Wallace (groin), Jason Koumas (foot) and Steve Jennings (knee) are all set to miss out.
Possible Vale starting XI:
Neal
Grimmer Robertson Duffy Dickinson
Myrie-Williams Knott Griffith Loft
Williamson Pope
Pre-match quotes
Adam Yates’ pre-match thoughts
“Teams at the bottom end have got to look to win games, rather than come with the phycology that they don’t want to get beat. So I would expect Tranmere to come and attack us and to try and get back to back wins. They got a great win against Notts County last Saturday and any type of win when you are in a position that they are in helps them enormously. It certainly won’t be decided one way or the other for them on Saturday if they win or they lose.”
– Micky Adams
History
Watch Chris Lines’ free-kick
Last time we met
Chris Lines scored his first goal for the Vale as the Valiants won 1-0 at Prenton Park.
Overall record
- Vale wins: 30
- Tranmere wins: 37
- Draws: 23
Did you know?
Vale are unbeaten in their last three games against Rovers.
Connections
Tranmere boast two former Valiants in their ranks. Striker Akpo Sodje (above) joined Rovers in the summer but will miss the game as he’s on loan at Macclesfield. 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.
More connections
Other players who appeared for both clubs include:
- Graham Barnett
- Adnan Ahmed
- John James (right)
- John Green
- Jim Steel
- Barry Siddall
- Cyril Done
- Ken Beamish
- John Rowland
- John Williams
- Craig Russell
- Simon Osborn