Match information:
Tranmere are back in action on Tuesday night (22nd October 2019) as their next ‘on the road’ adventure takes Micky Mellon’s side to the North East, to face former premier league side Sunderland at the Stadium of light. After Friday nights home draw against Southend United, Tranmere travel to the North East in 19th place. Whereas, Sunderland have expectedly started better as they sit in 10th, two points from the play offs. Tuesday night will be the first time Phil Parkinson sits in the home dugout, his first game as the ‘Black cats’ manager being last Saturday with a 1-0 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers.
Team news:
Micky Mellon travels to the Stadium of light unable to use : Harvey Gilmour, Callum Woods, Mark Ellis, Evan Gumbs, Ollie Banks, Ishmael Miller and Morgan Ferrier. Winger Corey Blackett-Taylor is waiting on an injury assessment after being forced off against Southend United, midway through the second half. Darren Potter is also a doubt, after the midfielder missed Friday nights fixture due to a reported rib injury.
One to watch:
Winger Aiden McGeady is the hosts ‘one to watch’. The Scotsman (although internationally playing for Ireland) is Sunderland’s joint top scorer this season, with four goals to his name. Now in his third season at the stadium of light, McGeady (aged 33) has made 87 appearances for the club in all competitions. McGeady started his professional career at Celtic in 2004, winning four Scottish premier leagues, two Scottish cups, and a Scottish league cup in his six year spell with the Glaswegian football club. In August 2010, McGeady moved to Spartak Moscow for £9.5m, remaining in Russia until his January 2014 switch to Everton. The Republic of Ireland international spent three years at Goodison Park, either side of loans to Sheffield Wednesday and Preston North End prior to his Sunderland move.
Match officials:
Carl Boyesen, from East Yorkshire, is the man in the middle for Tranmere’s away clash at Sunderland. Boyesen, aged 49, has awarded 27 yellow cards and 1 red card (2 yellow cards) this season. This season, he has professionally officiated 9 games; most recently Ipswich’s 1-0 win at Fleetwood (October 5th 2019). Boyesen will be assisted by David Avent and Kevin Mulraine. Paul Brown is the fourth official for Tuesday nights fixture.
Past meetings:
Coming into this game, Tranmere have a relatively good record against the hosts. Winning nine, drawing two and losing six of the seventeen fixtures.
Did you know :
Many faces have appeared for both clubs : Sean Thornton, Phil Babb, Alec Chamberlain, Jason McAteer, Mark Proctor. The most recent face to have appeared for both clubs is Sunderland midfielder Max Power. The Birkenhead born central midfielder, aged 26, signed his first professional contract with Tranmere in 2011, after spending 9 years within the club’s youth ranks. Power went on to make more than 100 appearances for Tranmere, 109 to be exact, and scored 12 goals. When Tranmere were relegated to the national league, Max Power stayed in the football league as he signed with Wigan Athletic where he spent 4 years before signing for Sunderland after a loan spell with the north eastern side in the 18/19 season.
If you would like to find out about @RokerReport, a Sunderland twitter fan page, read my new write-up ‘meeting the opposition: https://ethanhoijord.com/2019/10/21/sunderland-v-tranmere-meeting-the-opposition/