Rovers look to get back to winning ways when they take on Tranmere Rovers in Sky Bet League One on Tuesday night.
Darren Moore’s side head into the game on the back of a narrow 2-1 defeat at Fleetwood Town, their first on the road since mid-December.
Tranmere find themselves in the final league one relegation spot and are six points adrift of 20th placed AFC Wimbledon.
Tranmere’s recent form
Tranmere are yet to win a league game in 2020 after a frustrating start to the new year. After a 4-1 defeat to Coventry on New Year’s Day, Rovers played out a goalless draw in a relegation six pointer against Southend at Roots Hall, They were beaten at home to Ipswich Town a week later, despite having lead the Tractor Boys at Prenton Park.
They ended January with a narrow home defeat to Sunderland, before being beaten 2-0 at Bolton Wanderers last time out.
Who’s the gaffer?
Mickey Mellon took charge at Prenton Park in October 2016 after leaving Shrewsbury Town. In his first full season with the club, Mellon guided Tranmere back to the EFL, before securing back to back promotions via the Sky Bet League Two play-offs last season.
Overall Mellon has taken charge of 190 matches during his time at Prenton Park, winning 89, drawing 44 and losing 59 – giving him a win percentage of 46.35%.
Ones to watch
EMMANUEL MONTHE
The Cameroon-born defender has become a popular figure at Prenton Park since joining the club initially on loan in 2018. Having helped Rovers return to the EFL, he made his move from Forest Green Rovers a permanent one at the end of that campaign. The 24-year-old then went on to make 43 appearances last season as they secured consecutive promotions, before signing a new two-year contract in the summer.
DARREN POTTER
The experienced midfielder became Mickey Mellon’s ninth new recruit when he signed for Tranmere in the summer. Having come through the system at Liverpool, Potter was part of the first-team squad in the 2004/05 campaign when they lifted the European Cup for a fifth time in Istanbul. He went on to make a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers a year later, in a move worth £250k. After leaving Molineux he had a two-year spell with Sheffield Wednesday before a move to MK Dons brought him the most successful spell of his career so far. In six years at Stadium:MK, Potter made more than 220 appearances and helped the club win promotion to the Sky Bet Championship for the first time. The 34-year-old then spent two seasons at Rotherham before his move to Prenton Park.
CONNOR JENNINGS
The 27-year-old front man is now into his fourth season at Prenton Park after signing from Wrexham in the summer of 2016. Jennings spent much of his early career with Stalybridge Celtic, where his goals in non-league secured a move to Scunthorpe United in 2011. Having spent time on loan at Macclesfield and Grimsby while at Glanford Park, he signed for Wrexham and scored 20 goals in 86 appearances at the Racecourse Ground. After making more than 100 appearances for Tranmere, he was the man to score the goal which secured promotion to Sky Bet League One last season, netting in the 119th minute of the play-off final at Wembley.
Who’s the ref?
Leigh Doughty will be the man in charge when Rovers travel to Prenton Park to face Tranmere, and you can find out more about him here.
Last time out
The two sides last faced each other in April 2013 when a Rob Jones header secured a crucial 1-0 win for Brian Flynn’s side at the Keepmoat Stadium. Rovers would go on to secure the Sky Bet League One title later that month, with the memorable victory at Brentford sealed by James Coppinger on the final day of the season.
