Scunthorpe United (H): The match preview.

Tranmere Rovers v Scunthorpe United: The match preview. 

Saturday 3rd October 2020

@Prenton Park

Mike Jackson’s search for his first league win as Tranmere manager continues into Tranmere’s fourth game of the season, the ‘whites’ will face Scunthorpe United at Prenton Park this weekend.

I’m yet to state how pleased I am with the improvements that Mike Jackson’s Tranmere side have shown within their past two performances, I am very pleased. Our past two games have seen us draw against Cambridge United in their Abbey Stadium and we have beat Barry Lewtas’ Liverpool Under 23s in the ‘Leasing.Com’ trophy three goals to two at Prenton Park. Although we expect to beat Liverpool’s reserves when we place a strong side out on home turf, in a season where we are struggling to score goals against our opponents it is thus great that we were able to score three and hopefully see a contrast of fortunes with our efforts in front of goal as confidence hopefully grows. In Liverpool’s defence was the young senior centre half Sepp Van Der Berg, who was very impressive. Against Cambridge United last Saturday, the game finished in a goalless draw, we were able to improve in comparison to the previous weekend’s 3-0 home defeat to Cheltenham Town. We should’ve won, after James Vaughan’s goal from inside the box was cruelly ruled offside with a late call from the linesman. Again, our defence stood strong as we were able to pick up another clean sheet on the road. One shining light in midweek was the home debut for Kaiyne Woolery, he impressed the Tranmere faithful throughout the first half when he was placed up-front with cult hero Stefan Payne. 

This Saturday Tranmere face Neil Cox’s Scunthorpe United, the visitors coming into the game in relatively average form after gaining four points in their first three league games of the season. They were able to beat Carlisle United 1-0, draw 1-1 against Newport County yet were beaten 1-0 away at Crawley Town. This weekend, Neil Cox’s ‘Iron’ will travel 140 miles West in the hope of improving on their midweek performance where they were defeated 4-0 at home against Manchester City’s reserves. Tranmere, however, are hoping to add to their visitors’ bad week. This week has improved the fitness of the Tranmere squad meaning that we can add Liam Feeney and Kaiyne Woolery to the names of a possible starting eleven. Although, Corey Blackett-Taylor and Morgan Ferrier will remain on the sidelines another week has passed thus it is getting closer to a time where they can be included in Mike Jackson’s pool of performers. This week, I believe we have seen an attempt by the Rovers manager to play progressive football which is something I have recently stated we must do in order to win games. We have players that are capable of damaging opponents, thus we should set out an eleven that frightens and use tactics that see an exciting style of play. With an improved fitness and confidence, Mike Jackson’s side shall be able to defeat their visitors. I believe Tranmere fans should be confident and excited to see how the ‘Superwhites’ perform this weekend.

Neil Cox’s ‘Iron’ will be hoping to improve on their midweek mistakes and hoping to get past a defence that has kept two clean sheets in three league games this season. They will be hoping that one of their key men, German forward Kenan Dunnwald-Turan, will be fit to travel and perform in Merseyside this weekend. The German sat out of their previous two games with a groin injury and has been able to train in the two upcoming days before this weekend’s upcoming fixture. If he is fit and available, he is certainly one to look out for. The 24-year-old arriving at Scunthorpe from German level 4 side Bonner this summer. Speaking about the midweek defeat to Manchester City Cox stated ‘We have to put it behind us, everyone is going to be needed and to stay fit and sharp and there shall be no sulking’. Last season, Scunthorpe were managed by Paul Hurst until late January before Russ Wilcox steered them to survival as they finished in a position of 21st. This pre-season they appointed Neil Cox as permanent manager, in an attempt to successfully transform the squad. Sixteen players saw themselves on the released list, as two went on loan to non-league Frickley Athletic. Ten players were brought in, six being forwards, most being successful non-league youngsters with an aim of impressing. Scunthorpe definitely have an aim of turning their fates around as they aim to have a successful future, Tranmere will certainly attempt to stand in their way this weekend.

Tranmere Rovers v Scunthorpe United: results record.

Played – 58

Tranmere wins – 22 

Draws – 10

Scunthorpe wins – 26

The last time Tranmere faced Scunthorpe in league action was December 2012, an extremely long eight years in which a lot has happened. The fixture was in League one, played at Prenton Park and Ronnie Moore’s ‘superwhites’ won 1-0 due to a goal from Cole Stockton. This game saw Tranmere return back to the top of league one. 

Mike Jackson’s thoughts going into this weekend:

‘I looked back at our past two games and the pressing and amount of times we turned the ball over in the opposition half is high. That’s the way we want to play, we want to be aggressive on that press at the right times and then we can come out with the ball and attack. It’s got to be a part of our identity. I have seen a lot of improvements in our past two performances, we look to have gelled a bit more. Our attacking play has come down to the great attackers we have available and there are still two more to come back. I’m also delighted with last weekend’s clean sheet’

‘I know the Scunthorpe manager well and how he sets his sides up. He’s a good guy. It’s another tough league encounter. They’ve got some decent players and a good way of playing. We’ve just got to keep building and I believe we are ready to go’.

The thoughts of forward and midweek brace-scoring James Vaughan heading into this weekend:

‘Forwards are judged by the goals they score. We haven’t got them so far this season, but the chances have been created. If we keep creating, we will start scoring. I’ll keep getting in the right positions and so will the other forwards’

‘We believe we should be in League One and we’re going to give everything we can to make sure that we get back to where, we believe, we should be. We have the quality of players. For those of us that were here last season, we feel as though we would have stayed up if given the chance. On one side, you’ve got to put it behind you and move on but on the other side you’ve got to use it to fuel a season of promotion’.  

My predictions:

Starting eleven – Davies, O’Connor, Clarke, Monthe, Ridehalgh, Feeney, Spearing, Banks, Khan, Vaughan, Woolery.

Scoreline – Tranmere Rovers 2 Scunthorpe United 1