SM
Aston Villa vs. Man United: 12 hrs 37 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
TR
EFL Trophy | Group Stage
Nov 14, 2023 at 7pm UK
Prenton Park
WL

Tranmere
0 - 0
Wigan

Wigan win 6-5 on penalties
 
FT
(aet)

Payne (70'), McManaman (87'), Stones (87')

Preview: Tranmere Rovers vs. Wigan Athletic - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Tranmere Rovers vs. Wigan Athletic - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Tuesday's EFL Trophy clash between Tranmere Rovers and Wigan Athletic, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Tranmere Rovers will be hoping to bow out of the EFL Trophy with a positive result when they host Wigan Athletic on Tuesday.

The visitors, who have already booked their place in the knockout stages, would leapfrog Fleetwood Town into top spot in Group D with a victory.


Match preview

Given that Tranmere appear to be fighting against relegation out of the Football League this season, their premature exit from this cup competition may not turn out to be the worst turn of events for them in the long term.

After only 19 matches in charge, Ian Dawes was relieved from his position as Rovers' manager in early September, with former Southampton head coach Nigel Adkins drafted in as his replacement. The Birkenhead-born boss has taken time to stamp his ideals on his local club, with six defeats from nine league games seeing them occupy the relegation places ahead of their home game against Forest Green on Saturday.

However, they secured a hugely important 3-0 victory, leapfrogging their opponents in the table and moving outside of the bottom two on goal difference in the process. Tyrese Omotoye's early own goal sent the hosts on their way, with second-half strikes from Kristian Dennis and Rob Apter helping calm any potential nerves at Prenton Park.

There will be no such emotions from the attending crowd or players on the pitch on Tuesday, with their game against Wigan having nothing riding on it beyond personal pride. With a trip to rock-bottom Sutton United ahead of them at the weekend, it could be a chance for some fringe players to prove they are worthy of receiving more opportunities in the coming weeks and months.

Wigan, on the other hand, will be keen to beat their lower-ranked opponents and finish top of Group D in the process. In theory, this would give them a kinder draw in the first knockout round, as they would face a group runner-up as opposed to a group winner.

Despite receiving an eight-point deduction for financial irregularities following their relegation from the Championship last season, Wigan have managed to move outside of League One's relegation places by winning eight and drawing two of their 17 league games.

Indeed, their 1-1 draw away to Cheltenham Town on Saturday was only the second time Shaun Maloney's side have had to share the spoils so far this season, with Liam Sercombe's penalty cancelling out Lewis Freestone's early own goal in the first half. Despite enjoying 53% possession, Wigan mustered just four shots across the course of the encounter at Whaddon Road.

Maloney, who is something of a club legend having won the FA Cup with the Latics in 2013, will be hoping to add more silverware to both his and the club's trophy cabinet this season. As such, with promotion back to the Championship likely to prove a tall order, the EFL Trophy could prove to be a nice distraction for them across the course of the campaign.

Tranmere Rovers EFL Trophy form:


Tranmere Rovers form (all competitions):


Wigan Athletic EFL Trophy form:


Wigan Athletic form (all competitions):



Team News

Given that they have already been eliminated from this competition and they are facing another relegation rival in League Two on Saturday, Adkins could make 11 changes against Wigan for what is essentially a dead rubber for the hosts.

As such, the likes of Kieron Morris, Harvey Read Saunders, Sam Taylor and Dan Pike will all be confident of receiving starting berths after appearing from the bench during their side's comfortable win against Forest Green.

Wigan, meanwhile, will remain without the services of Gary Kerr as the defender continues his long recovery from a cruciate ligament injury.

Maloney could opt to make several changes himself given that his side have already booked their place in the knockout stages, with the likes of Callum McManaman and Josh Magennis capable of freshening up the visitors' attack.


Tranmere Rovers possible starting lineup:
Murphy; Starbuck, Yarney, Belehouan, Norris; Lewis, Merrie, McAlear; Jolley, Saunders, Taylor

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Amos; Clare, Hughes, Watts, Pearce; Smith, Balagizi; McManaman, Magennis, Smith; Wyke


We say: Tranmere Rovers 0-1 Wigan Athletic

Although Wigan will be fighting to finish top of Group D, in reality there is little at stake in this game, meaning we are likely to see a low intensity encounter play out in Merseyside.

Wigan should have enough about them to earn all three points and leapfrog Fleetwood in the process, with Tranmere having much bigger fish to fry in League Two this weekend.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__528862 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-07 08:30:57:
html db last update - 2024-06-07 08:30:57 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Blackburn Rovers: Transfer ins and outs - Summer 2023
Real Madrid return to winning ways with two-goal success over Villarreal
Will Haaland, De Bruyne play for Man City against Fulham?
Preview: Tranmere vs. Salford City - prediction, team news, lineups
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Walsall106131912719
2Gillingham10613125719
3BarrowBarrow10613137619
4Doncaster RoversDoncaster106131512319
5Notts County10532179818
6Port Vale105321512318
7Fleetwood TownFleetwood9441169716
8Crewe AlexandraCrewe9513109116
9Newport CountyNewport95041517-215
10Grimsby Town105051317-415
11Chesterfield103521710714
12AFC Wimbledon741295413
13MK Dons103341312112
14Bradford CityBradford93331110112
15Salford City933369-312
16Colchester UnitedColchester102531315-211
17Tranmere RoversTranmere925259-411
18Harrogate TownHarrogate10325916-711
19Bromley102441214-210
20Cheltenham TownCheltenham103161216-410
21Swindon TownSwindon10154913-48
22Carlisle UnitedCarlisle102171019-97
23Accrington StanleyAccrington91351119-86
24Morecambe10046814-64
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .