Tranmere v Sutton preview

6 January 2023

Sutton visit Tranmere Rovers on Saturday hoping to continue the run of form that brought three consecutive Sky Bet League Two victories over the holiday period and moved U's in to the top half of the table, three points off the current play-off places. We will be wearing our green kit.

Tranmere were themselves on course for maximum points over the Christmas period until Sunday's single goal defeat at Crewe after winning at home to Doncaster and away to Barrow, but those two victories were their only wins in their last eleven games and they are currently in 15th place, two points behind Sutton with a game in hand. Prior to that run Tranmere had enjoyed five consecutive League Two victories, one of which was at the VBS Community Stadium in early October when Sutton lost Louis John and Aaron Pierre to injury inside the first twenty minutes and Tranmere's two first half goals were enough to see them claim the points.

One of Tranmere's scorers that afternoon, Paul Lewis, misses Saturday's game due to suspension after being sent off at Barrow, while centre back Dynel Simeu has been recalled by Southampton from his loan spell.

Sutton have won each of the last two meetings between the sides at Prenton Park, with Isaac Olaofe scoring the only goal of the game last season and Craig Dundas hitting the winner in August 2017 in the National League, and will have winger David Ajiboye added to the squad after his signing from Peterborough on loan until the end of the season. Sam Hart and Aaron Pierre have both recovered from illness and could also be in the squad, but Adam Lovatt continues to be sidelined having been concussed in the game at Carlisle last month.

Saturday's referee is Marc Edwards, who is in his fourth season as an EFL referee and took charge of U's 3-1 win at Oldham in March.

On the day admission prices are Adults (age 25-64) £25; Senior (age 65+) £20; Young Adult (age 23-24) £21; Young Person (age 18-22, ID with birthdate required) £18; Under 18 £12; Under 12 £8. Disabled plus PA £18. Tickets can be bought from the Tranmere club shop. Our accommodation is in the Cowshed Stand.

Supporters not travelling are able to listen to an audio commentary through our iFollow service, with a match pass priced at £2.50, or monthly passes at £4.49 and seasonal passes at £45. All can be purchased here. Overseas viewers can watch the game for £10, and until 31 January can but a half season pass for £85. Click on the same link to buy.

Supporters should note that this game has been allocated as Tranmere's annual Memorial Match, paying respects to supporters and staff who have passed away in the last 12 months. A very short service will take place from about 2.45pm followed by a minute's applause.

The Supporters' Club coach leaves the VBS at 7.15am.

Due to the current rail strike it is not possible to do the return trip by train in the day. It may be possible to travel up on Saturday morning from Euston to Liverpool Lime Street and then catch the Merseyrail Wirral Line to Rock Ferry (trains are every 45 minutes on Saturday from Liverpool Central), which is a 15-20 minute walk from the ground, but there are no return trains until Sunday. Anyone who is contemplating this is advised to check trains on Saturday morning are running before setting off.

For those driving, parking is available for £6 if reserved in advance or £7 on the day. Call 03330144452 or go to www.trfctickets.co.uk. to make an advance booking. To get to the ground leave the M6 at junction 20 and join the M56, then leave at junction 15 to take the M53 on to the Wirral peninsula. Leave the M53 at junction 4 and take the fourth exit from the roundabout onto the B5151 (Mount Road). Continue for two and a half miles and when Mount Road becomes Storeton Road, turn right onto Prenton Road West at the traffic lights. Prenton Park is on the right hand side in 200 yards.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Match report for Tranmere Rovers 2 Sutton United 2

7 January 2023

Tranmere Rovers 2(Hawkes 39, Hemmings 58) Sutton United 2 (Smith 11, 61)

Sutton picked up a well earned point at Prenton Park in a game where U's started and finished strongly, but were on the back foot either side of half time, with a draw a fair result at the end.

U's opted for an unchanged side after the New Year's Day win against Wimbledon, with David Ajiboye among the substitutes, and started excellently. Home defender Jordan Turnbull almost gifted U's the lead when he headed just wide of his own goal after Omar Bugiel had headed on Rob Milsom's free kick, but the goal that U's start deserved came when Will Randall collected a pass from Craig Eastmond and cut in from the left before finding Donovan Wilson. The ball was moved quickly and slickly from Wilson to Bugiel to Ali Smith, who slotted his first league goal of the season past Ross Doohan.

Tranmere came in to the game more as the half went on, and after Chris Merrie and Kieron Morris had sent shots wide, Kane Hemmings hit a low shot on target which was pushed out by Jack Rose. The equaliser that was threatened came with six minutes to go to half time when referee Marc Edwards played an advantage as Merrie was fouled by Eastmond, who stopped expecting the whistle, and Josh Dacres-Cogley's cross was headed back by Tom Davies. Louis John diverted the ball away, but Wilson delayed his clearance to allow Lewis and Turnbull to win back possession and find Josh Hawkes, who sent a fine shot beyond Rose from the left edge of the penalty area

Tranmere started the second half as they finished the first, and just before the hour Kane Hemmings gave them the lead with a crisp low shot from the edge of the area from a layoff by Morris, but the celebrations of the home supporters didn't last more than two minutes and were replaced by gasps of disappointment as Smith lined up a shot from 25 yards which was well struck and went straight through Doohan's hands in to the net.

Tempers flared briefly after a clash between Morris and Eastmond after the Tranmere player had fouled U's skipper, with both players and Hemmings going in to the book, and with Ajiboye and Josh Neufville lively when they came on it was Sutton who finished the game the stronger. It looked as though U's might have a winner when John met Randall's corner with a firm downward header that was cleared by Turnbull, the assistant well placed to rule that the ball hadn't crossed the line, but a well deserved point was still well received by the 118 U's supporters who had beaten the rail strike to get to Prenton Park.

Sutton: J Rose, J Kizzi, R Milsom, C Eastmond, B Goodliffe, L John, E Boldewijn(sub D Ajiboye 68), A Smith, O Bugiel(sub K Kouassi 81), D Wilson(J Neufville 68), W Randall. SUbs n/u S Hart, H Beautyman, T Fadahunsi, L Ward. Booked: Eastmond, Bugiel

Tranmere: R Doohan, J Dacres-Cogley, E Bristow, L O'Connor, T Davies, C Merrie, K Morris, J Turnbull, J Mumbongo(sub E Nevitt H-T), K Hemmings, J Hawkes(sub R McAlear 86). Subs n/u M Hewelt, J Nolan, R HUghes, K Jameson, J Burton. Booked: Mumbongo, Hemmings, Morris, O'Connor

Referee: Marc Edwards

Attendance: 5,348(118 away)