Preview: Macclesfield Town

30 December 2018

Setting the scene…

Tranmere Rovers kick-off 2019 with a New Year’s Day visit to the Moss Rose for a Sky Bet League Two fixture away at Macclesfield Town.

Micky Mellon’s Rovers are just four points off the automatic places in League Two and two points off the Play-Off positions.

Tranmere will be aiming to start 2019 with three points at Sol Campbell’s Silkmen, who are second bottom of the division after half of the campaign played following Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at in-form Carlisle United.

Rovers and Macclesfield last met in October, with Harvey Gilmour’s strike earning TRFC a Friday night 1-0 win under the Prenton Park floodlights.

Team news

The manager confirmed in his post match press conference that Manny Monthe missed the match against Yeovil due to an injury sustained in the victory against Morecambe. Meanwhile, Ollie Banks is making good progress after a spell on the sidelines through injury.

The Silkmen’s season so far

Tuesday's hosts have won two of their last four games as they look to steer away from the relegation zone.

Having appointed Mark Yates as John Askey’s replacement, Macclesfield were searching for a new manager in October. They turned to former Arsenal and England international Sol Campbell, with the Premier League and FA Cup winner tasked with reviving Macclesfield’s fortunes in his first management job.

Last time out, they lost against promotion hopefuls Carlisle United, but picked up three points in their match at Notts County on Boxing Day.

One to Watch

Scott Wilson leads the way in Macclesfield Town’s scoring charts after scoring three goals in two Sky Bet League Two games recently.

The 25-year-old began his career in the youth set up at Bristol City but left Ashton Gate without featuring for the Robins.

Wilson would drop into non-league football, turning out for Gloucester, Bath City and Paulton Rovers early in his career.

The striker then spent the 2015/16 season at Weston Super-Mare, scoring 19 goals in 34 National League South outings.

Wilson’s form earned him a move to Eastleigh before he made the move to the Moss Rose in July 2017.

And Wilson scored 14 goals in 36 appearances as the Silkmen were crowned champions of the National League which saw them return to the EFL after a six-year absence.

Ticket details

The SWA have been given an initial allocation of 1000 standing tickets and 379 seated tickets.

Prices are as follows:

Seated:

Adults: £22

Seniors (65+): £17

Under 25: £12

Under 18: £6

Under 12: £3

Terrace:

Adults: £15

Seniors (65+): £12

Under 25: £12

Under 18: £6

Under 12: £3

Tickets will completely go off sale on 31st December at 12pm.

Tickets can be bought online here or in store now.

If you want to jump on the supporters’ coach to the Moss Rose on New Year’s Day, then you can purchase your travel here: https://www.trfctickets.co.uk/away-matches

Match Coverage

Can’t make it to Rovers’ away game at Macclesfield Town on New Year’s Day? Don’t worry as you can keep up with goings on at the Moss Rose.

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

Macclesfield 1-1 Tranmere

1 January 2019

Tranmere Rovers started 2019 with a well deserved point at Macclesfield Town after a 1-1 draw at Moss Rose. Connor Jennings scored the opener against his former employers but it was cancelled out just before the half time whistle courtesy of Koby Arthur.

Manager Micky Mellon brought in Manny Monthe, Adam Buxton and Jonny Smith for the game against the relegation threatened Silkmen. Steve McNulty was on the bench alongside Cole Stockton, Ritchie Sutton not included in the matchday squad.

An early change for the division’s joint top goal scorer James Norwood, bearing down on goal, the striker turned his marker inside out, put his close-range effort was pushed away by Kieran O’Hara.

Macclesfield were not causing Rovers any real threat in the early proceedings in the final third, as Tranmere dominated the ball. Defender Mark Ellis, who has come close on a couple of occasions in the past few matches, put too much power on a header form a right wing cross to send high and wide.

Winger Smith got a shot on target in the next goal scoring opportunity, but his angle was too tight and the keeper made a low save.

It was all Tranmere, as Norwood won a free-kick from 25-yards, for Buxton to take range and shoot, only for a last ditch save from the Macclesfield shot stopper.

Two free-kicks in a minute for our number 2, this time after Jay Harris was fouled. A bit closer, from roughly 23 yards, Buxton curled over the cross bar into the TRFC supporters.

Tranmere’s pressure finally paid off as a composed team move was rounded off by an excellent finish from former Macclesfield man Jennings. The midfielder escaped a last ditch Silkmen tackle to bend a 20-yard strike past the goalkeeper in front of the travelling support.

Against the run of play, the hosts scored an equaliser with their first chance of the game. Midfielder Arthur unmarked in the penalty box to stab the ball home as the half time score was 1-1.

Into the second half, and the first opportunity of the 45 came to Norwood as he picked up a lofted pass from midfield, but his effort was over the goalkeeper’s crossbar.

Jay Harris had Tranmere’s second opportunity of the half, hammering a fantastic right footed shot from the edge of the box, looking destined to nestle in the top corner, it took a last second deflection off a home shirt to go wide.

The first Rovers change came in the 66^th minute, Larnell Cole replacing winger Smith. Number nine Scott Wilson got goal side of the TRFC defence and the visitors nearly paid the price, but the striker’s effort was tame and went wide of the mark.

The tempo of the game was slowing down as both teams looking for a winning goal to start 2019 in perfect fashion. Wide man Caprice tried a clever shot with the outside of his boot from 25 yards but it was caught by O’Hara with ease.

However, neither team could find the winner and TRFC settled for a point in their first match of 2019. Attention now turns to Friday night's FA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur at Prenton Park.

Tranmere: Davies, Buxton, Ridehalgh, Ellis, Monthe, Caprice, Jennings, McCullough, Harris, Smith (Cole 66), Norwood. Unused subs: George, Bakayogo, McNulty, Gilmour, Stockton, Mullin.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Macclesfield Town ticket details

30 December 2018

Tickets for our away game at Macclesfield on Tuesday 1st January are now on sale.

We have been given an initial allocation of 1000 standing tickets and 379 seated tickets

Due to the expected demand for tickets, they will be sold in tiers.

Tier Three - 10/12/18 to 12/12/18: Season ticket holders or TROSC members with 16 points or more (must hold either card

Tier Four - 13/12/18 onwards: General sale

Prices are as follows:

Seated:

Adults: £22

Seniors (65+): £17

Under 25: £12

Under 18: £6

Under 12: £3

Terrace:

Adults: £15

Seniors (65+): £12

Under 25: £12

Under 18: £6

Under 12: £3

Tickets will completely go off sale on 31st December at 12pm. Postage tickets will go off sale on 21st December.

Tickets can be bought online here or in store now.

Tranmere Rovers Football Club

Standings

Preview: Macclesfield Town

Macclesfield 1-1 Tranmere

Macclesfield Town ticket details

Standings

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