Match Preview: Yeovil Town

27 December 2018

Setting the scene…

It is back-to-back home games in Sky Bet League Two for Tranmere Rovers as they host Yeovil Town at Prenton Park on Saturday.

Micky Mellon’s Rovers moved to within two points of the Play-Offs in the fourth-tier following a 3-1 Boxing Day win over Morecambe.

Tranmere scored three times in the first half with Cole Stockton, top scorer James Norwood and Jay Harris saw a rampant Rovers take command in front of an expectant home support.

And Mellon’s men will be back in front of the SWA for the final time in 2018 on Saturday as they look to end a great year for Tranmere Rovers Football Club on a high.

Jordan Cranston’s drive from distance pulled one back for Morecambe but TRFC saw out the win professionally.

By contrast, Yeovil slipped to a 2-1 defeat at West Country rivals Exeter City on Boxing Day.

The Glovers’ season so far

After the conclusion of the first half of the campaign, the Somerset outfit find themselves in 21^st within the Sky Bet League Two standings as the season reaches its halfway point.

Currently three points above second-bottom Macclesfield Town, Darren Way’s Glovers have picked up 23 points from their 22 matches played so far.

Way will be hoping that Yeovil can get back to winning ways after a lost against Exeter on Boxing Day.

One to watch

Alex Fisher, Yeovil’s top scorer so far this term, is a player that Rovers’ defence will need to watch out for.

The Londoner began his career with Oxford United after coming through the youth system at the club, spending loan spells at non-league Brackley Town and Oxford City, where he scored 12 goals in 16 games, in his early professional years.

Fisher then joined Glenn Hoddle’s Academy in Spain, and from there, earned a deal with local side Jerez Industrial, netting 11 goals in the 2010/11 season.

After one season in Spain, he then turned out for three Belgian clubs, initially Tienen, before agreeing further moves to Mechelen and Heist.

A brief stint in Italy at Monza followed prior to Fisher returning to the UK, plying his trade at Mansfield Town, Torquay United, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Motherwell.

The 28-year-old striker signed for Yeovil in January and leads the way this season with seven goals.

Tickets

Fancy watching some affordable, Festive football? Well Prenton Park is the place to be on Saturday afternoon, so come and cheer Micky’s lads on to three points as Rovers play host to the Glovers in their final match of 2018.

Tickets for TRFC’s home game with Yeovil on Saturday can be purchased here: https://www.trfctickets.co.uk/

Supporters can also purchase their tickets for upcoming Tranmere matches.

Match coverage

Can’t make it to Rovers’ fixture with Yeovil on Saturday? 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

Report: Tranmere 0-0 Yeovil

29 December 2018

Tranmere Rovers signed off a memorable 2018 with a 0-0 draw at home to Yeovil Town. Rovers were unable to find a way past the Glovers defence but all in all, it has been a year to remember for the Super White Army.

Tranmere welcomed back captain Steve McNulty into the starting line-up, replacing Manny Monthe in the heart of the defence.

Playing their final fixture of 2018, Tranmere had two early opportunities through the division’s top goal scorer, James Norwood.

Inside two minutes of the opening ten, the striker had clear vision of the Yeovil goal but couldn’t worry former Gillingham shot stopper Stuart Nelson.

At the other end of the field, nippy winger Jordan Green got the right side of the TRFC defence from the right channel but his strike, inside the penalty box, was parried away by Scott Davies.

After a quiet 20 minute spell, the game sprung to life as Cole Stockton, who was looking to build on his goal from the victory against Morecambe, stung Nelson’s palms with a fierce strike from just inside the ‘D’.

Defender Mark Ellis, who has started the past three games prior to the match against the Glovers, came within inches of his first goal for the Club, connecting with a header from a Jake Caprice free-kick after the full back initially won the set-piece for Rovers.

Yeovil however should have taken the lead just before the half time whistle, Yoann Arquin missing from point blank range after a defensive mishap for TRFC opened a goal scoring opportunity for the Somerset side.

The second half started frantically and within 30 seconds, Stockton had an effort cleared off the line after keeper Nelson dropped the ball in a precarious position.

Tranmere were on the hunt for a goal, and the same duo who created the best memory of 2018, the Play-Off winning goal, Jennings and Norwood, nearly linked up for the opener, as Jennings swung the ball into the path of Norwood to see a header pushed away for a corner.

On the hour mark, Mellon made his first change, Jonny Smith replacing Stockton. The winger, on loan from Bristol City, had his first shot within a couple of minutes, but couldn’t hit the target.

A second change followed nine minutes later and a switch in formation, as Paul Mullin came on for Ritchie Sutton.

Tranmere continued to push for a goal as Yeovil looked dangerous on the counter attack, with Norwood having a late header saved but the score finished 0-0 and TRFC move on to the New Year’s Day game at Macclesfield Town.

Tranmere: Davies, Ellis, Sutton (Mullin 69), McNulty, Caprice, Ridehalgh, Harris, McCullough, Jennings, Stockton (Smith 60), Norwood: Unused subs: George, Buxton, Bakayogo, Gilmour, Cole.

Attendance: 5,782 (109 away)

Match Reports

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