Preview: Forest Green Rovers

18 April 2019

Setting the scene…

Tranmere Rovers return to Prenton Park for a second successive Sky Bet League Two fixture on Good Friday when they host Forest Green Rovers, 3pm kick-off.

Micky Mellon’s side head in to the contest currently fifth in the four-tier but just two-points off Mansfield Town in third, who occupy the final automatic promotion position.

Rovers earned a 2-1 victory over MK Dons in front of the SWA last Saturday with David Perkins and Connor Jennings scoring the decisive goals.

Promotion hopefuls Forest Green visit the Wirral having won their last two outings, with Christian Doidge and Joseph Mills’ second-half efforts securing a 2-0 triumph against Macclesfield Town.

Team news

James Norwood is a major doubt for Friday's match against his former club. David Perkins will definitely miss the game after coming off with an injury during last week's win vs MK Dons.

Ishmael Miller and Luke McCullough are long term absentees.

The Green Devils’ season so far

Mark Cooper’s Rovers make the trip to Prenton Park positioned in the Play-Off places with four games of the campaign today.

The Gloucestershire outfit have enjoyed a positive second campaign in the EFL and after two straight wins against Crawley Town and Macclesfield, Forest Green are six-points above eighth-placed Carlisle United and six-points off Mansfield.

From their 42 games so far, the Green Devils have won 18, drawn 13 and lost 11 to find themselves sixth in the table.

One to Watch

Forward Christian Doidge is Forest Green’s top scorer with 12 league goals after returning to the club in January.

The Newport-native began his senior career in Welsh football with Cwmbran Celtic, Croesyceiliog, Barry Town and Carmarthen Town before signing for Dagenham and Redbridge in 2014, where he spent two seasons.

Doidge moved to Forest Green in June 2016, scoring 25 goals as the club earned promotion to the Football League via the National League Play-Offs.

The 26-year-old netted 20 goals for Rovers in 2017/18, which saw him switch to Championship outfit Bolton Wanderers on loan with view to a permanent transfer, though he was recalled in January.

And Doidge has picked up where he left up at the New Lawn by leading the way as Rovers’ leading scorer.

Tickets

Fancy heading down to Prenton Park Good Friday afternoon to watch some affordable football and cheer on Micky’s lads as TRFC welcome Forest Green the Wirral

Match tickets for our home game against Mark Cooper’s men are still available to purchase either in person at the Prenton Park ticket office or online by clicking here: https://www.trfctickets.co.uk/.

Tickets start from as little as just £2 for U12s and adults from £18 with family tickets available to save money. It is £2 cheaper to buy online, which we encourage all supporters to do.

Help us Pack the Park by joining the SWA and buying your match tickets today for a cheaper rate than on the day!

TRFC’s online ticket store is also the perfect place to purchase tickets for upcoming Sky Bet League Two games, both home and away, and away coach travel.

Match Officials

Referee: Dean Whitestone

Assistants: Craig Taylor and Richard Wigglesworth

Fourth Official: Gary Hilton

Match Coverage

Can’t make it to Rovers’ home game against Forest Green on Good Friday? Don’t worry as you can keep up with goings on at Prenton Park.

You can now sign up to Tranmere Rovers’ iFollow, which allows access to extended highlights and interviews with manager Micky Mellon and a player, after the game.

To sign up, click here

Alternatively, you can follow the action through our social media channels below, with full text coverage during the fixture, followed by a match report.

Twitter: @tranmererovers

Facebook: @trfcofficial

Instagram: @tranmererovers

Match Previews

Match Reports

Tranmere 0-1 Forest Green

19 April 2019

Tranmere Rovers lost 1-0 at home to Forest Green Rovers at Prenton Park courtesy of a second half strike Junior Mondal.

The game was played in front of 9,468 of which only 170 of those were from Forest Green Rovers, a fantastic effort from the SWA and at the full time whistle, they showed their support for the team with three important league games remain.

Tranmere started the game strong at a sun kissed Prenton Park, as Connor Jennings cut inside from the left in the first five minutes, bending an effort just round James Montgomery’s far post.

The visitors were on the back foot as Tranmere pilled the pressure on, backed by thousands of Rovers supporters. On two occasions, Jennings snatched possession away from FGR in the final third, but Tranmere were unable to capitalise on the situation.

The game came to a halt after Mark Ellis picked up an injury which required a stretcher to take him off the field of play. Fellow centre back Sid Nelson came on in his place for Tranmere.

Zoumana Bakayogo nearly scored one of the goals of the season. The full back, in for the injured Liam Ridehalgh, intercepted a pass on the edge of his own box, and ran the full length of the pitch with the ball, beating three Forest Green players for pace, but his effort was tame and wide.

Forest Green had a chance just before added time as full back Joseph Mills tried to replicate the run Bakayogo made earlier, but his shot was blocked from a Rovers defender.

Forest Green took the lead two minutes into the second half, a low ball was fired across the penalty box and Mondal rifled the ball into the top left hand corner.

The visitors nearly made it 2-0 in the 51st minute but substitute Dayle Grubb was denied by a fantastic save from Scott Davies at point blank range.

Jennings, who was looking a threat for Rovers, looked to find a way back in the game for TRFC, but his shot on the turn was easy collected by the goalkeeper.

Tranmere made their second change in the 55th minute, Paul Mullin, making his first appearance for Mellon’s team in three months, came on for Ben Pringle.

Jay Harris had a half chance for Tranmere but a wonderful save from Montgomery just a couple of minutes later denied Mullin an overhead kick goal. Harris came in on the follow up but he hit the side netting.

Tranmere continued to push as Jennings fired over the cross bar from the edge of the penalty box after a clever knock down by Norwood, but Forest Green continued to run the clock down whenever they had chance.

Despite Forest Green’s obvious attempts to slow the pace of the game down, Tranmere were keeping their cool and Prenton Park nearly erupted when Mullin hit the post with a fantastic free-kick from the edge of the penalty box.

The last change saw Chris Dagnall come on for Harris in the last roll of the dice for Tranmere. Mullin made a real impact as soon as he came on and he bent another shot just over the cross bar for the hosts

However, Tranmere were unable to find a way to break the visitors down and the game finished 1-0 to Forest Green Rovers. Next up is a trip to league leaders Lincoln City on Easter Monday, 3pm kick-off.

TRFC: Davies, Bakayogo, Monthe, Ellis (Nelson 27), Caprice, Morris, Banks, Harris (Dagnall 85), Pringle (Mullin 56), Jennings, Norwood. Unused subs: Pilling, Buxton, Smith, Gilmour.

Attendance: 9,468 (170 away fans)

Match Reports

Tranmere Rovers Football Club

Standings

Preview: Forest Green Rovers

Tranmere 0-1 Forest Green

Standings

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