Match Preview: Tranmere Rovers (A)

Match Preview: Tranmere Rovers (A)

Port Vale will look to build on last weekend’s emphatic win over Southend United, when we travel to Prenton Park to take on Tranmere Rovers tomorrow. You can find all of the key information regarding the game, below.

Fixture: Tranmere Rovers vs Port Vale

Competition: Sky Bet League Two

Date: Saturday 6th February

Kick-Off: 3:00 pm

Venue: Prenton Park

Referee: Alan Young

 

Port Vale

Manager: Danny Pugh

Form: WDLLW

Top Goal Scorer: Devante Rodney (10 Goals)

The Valiants will head into this clash brimming with confidence, as they go in off the back of a scintillating 5-1 victory over Southend United, with Danny Pugh marking his return to the touchline in style.  

Vale will also be keen to take the opportunity to use the fixture to get revenge on The Rovers for their 4-3 comeback win at Vale park earlier this season, with Devante Rodney hoping to continue his impressive form and hit the 10 goal mark.

Danny Pugh will still be without striker Tom Pope as he remains sidelined with injury, and the game could be comes too soon for David Amoo and Shaun Brisley. Other than that however, Pugh has a fully fit squad to choose from, with new deadline day signings Will Swan and Mustapha Olagunju both available to make their debuts.

“There’s competition in all positions, not just up front, which is a good thing, hopefully it will inspire people, keep them motivated, keep pushing them, there’s competition all over the pitch and that can only be a good thing.”

 

Danny Pugh, Port Vale Interim Manager

Tranmere Rovers

Manager: Keith Hill

Form: DWWWW

Top Goal Scorer: James Vaughan (15 Goals)

After a slow start following their relegation to League Two, The Rovers have turned their season around and head into tomorrow’s game as one of the divisions form teams, unbeaten in their last seven in the league.

Tranmere’s recent form has seen them rise to fifth in the table, with three points able to see them move into an automatic promotion spot and further their bid to bounce straight back into Sky Bet League One.

Keith Hill will have a fully fit squad at his disposal for the fixture, as he reported that as of Thursday, there are no new injury or Covid-19 concerns within the Rovers’ squad.

 

One to watch: James Vaughan

Tranmere’s top goalscorer has a wealth of EFL experience throughout his 16-year playing career, and has put it to use this season, with the forward currently the second top scorer in League Two.

After becoming the Premier League’s youngest ever goalscorer at Everton, aged 16 years and 270 days old, he played for multiple clubs throughout the EFL including Norwich City, Huddersfield Town, Birmingham City, Sunderland, Wigan Athletic and Bradford City.

Following a successful loan at Tranmere last season, the club made his deal permanent in the summer, with the 32-year old striker already providing the goods for the Rovers this season, netting four goals in his last four league games. 

 

Talk:

Danny Pugh: “I cannot fault the lads and how they’ve trained, how their attitude’s been in games, how they come in and approach the work on a day to day basis, it’s been 100% perfessional.”

Keith Hill: “We do our due diligence on the opponents but we’re very mindful of what we need to do, in and out of possession. We know their strengths and weaknesses and they’ll know ours.”

 

Coverage:

iFollow The Vale will be providing full 90-minute coverage of the match for all domestic supporters, whilst the Port Vale Twitter and Facebook feeds will be providing live updates for the entirety.

To purchase an iFollow match pass click here.

There will also be the build-up to the game with the official Snapchat and Instagram accounts: @officialpvfc

Reaction will be available on the website post-match, as well as on YouTube, iFollow and our official social media channels.