Oldham Athletic v Tranmere Rovers – Match Preview
English Football League Two
Tuesday 1st December 2020
@BoundaryPark
This Tuesday, Tranmere Rovers head to Greater Manchester for a league encounter against the in-form Oldham Athletic. This will be Keith Hill’s first away game as manager of the ‘whites’ and his aim will be to add another victory to the current amazing run of seven consecutive wins. If Rovers manage to add three points to their current total, they could see themselves placed in the playoffs. Thus, this is certainly a must win encounter against a good opposition.
Stefan Payne will remain unavailable for this league encounter as the forward continues his recovery from a relevantly recent groin operation.
There is also a doubt of the Celtic loanee full-back being available. Lee O’Connor missed Friday night’s FA Cup tie with a slight knock and will be assessed ahead of the midweek trip to Greater Manchester.
However, there is good news in the defensive ranks as Liam Ridehalgh returned to action in the game that O’Connor was unavailable for. He should be fit to start.
Oldham are managed by former Leeds and Liverpool star Harry Kewell, the Australian was appointed in August becoming the club’s fifth manager in the past twelve months replacing Dino Maamria.
Last season, the ‘latics’ finished 19th and their hopeful aim must now be to mount a playoff push.
In the summer, the Greater Manchester club had a great change of squad members. The defensive ranks was boosted by the signings of former Tranmere full-back Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and the experienced centre half Carl Piergianni.
Up front, Conor McAleny was signed from Fleetwood Town on a free transfer and he has certainly shown his quality so far as he is the current top goalscorer with eight in thirteen appearances. He is certainly one to keep an eye on this week if he is named on the team sheet, which I’m sure he will be.
However, his team’s start to the season hasn’t been as impressive as his start at a new club. They see themselves placed seventeenth after fourteen games with five victories and two draws. They will be hopeful of adding to this on Tuesday night.
My predictions prior to this fixture, my hopes are high but realistic:
Line up; Davies, O’Connor, Clarke, Monthe, Macdonald, Spearing, Morris, Khan, Feeney, Vaughan, Blackett-Taylor
Scoreline; Oldham 1 Tranmere 2
Did you know –
It was in Tranmere’s second recorded meeting with Oldham Athletic, that a name would enter Rovers folklore. This match took place on boxing day 1935.
Birkenhead-born forward Bunny Bell netted nine times in the ‘whites’ 13-4 win against their visitors. He even had the chance to make this a tenth, but unfortunately missed a penalty.
The goalscorer would eventually leave Tranmere for Everton, after scoring 102 in 114 appearances. However, the outbreak of the second world war effectively ended his career.
Bell is remembered by Tranmere with a bar inside their Prenton Park stadium named after him.
- This game will start at 7pm and spectators can watch this exciting encounter via IFollow.
If you enjoyed this match preview and would like to read more, below is a link to my Q+A with an Oldham Athletic supporter. Find out his thoughts on his club at the moment as well as his opinions on Tranmere, amongst other subjects, here …
Thank you very much for reading,
Stay safe,
Ethan Hoijord
Great report that we have both had ronnie moore as manger