Preview: Crewe Alexandra

7 March 2019

Friday night Football returns to Prenton Park for a second time this season when Tranmere Rovers host Crewe Alexandra under the lights, kick-off 7:45pm.

Micky Mellon’s side head in to the home fixture full of confidence after securing a third straight win in Sky Bet League Two last Saturday.

Forward James Norwood struck his 25th goal of the campaign in a 1-0 triumph away at Exeter City, with the result lifting TRFC in to the Play-Off places and up to sixth.

Crewe visit the Wirral after two defeats on the spin, going down 2-0 against Northampton Town at Gresty Road last weekend.

Team news

Rovers have no fresh injury concerns going into the game however Kieron Morris will be asssessed following missing out last week with a muscle strain.

The Railwaymen’s season so far

Currently sitting mid-table in the fourth-tier, it has been a stable season for Crewe, with manager David Artell guiding the Railwaymen to 15th position.

From their 35 fixtures played so far this term, the Cheshire club have won 13, drawn seven and lost 15.

Prior to the two defeats in a row, Crewe went on a run of seven games unbeaten, form which saw them shoot up the division to the cusp of the top seven and earned Artell a Manager of the Month nomination for January.

Recent home defeats at Gresty Road to Exeter City and Northampton has left the Alex eight points from the Play-Offs with 11 games remaining.

One to watch

Wigan-born forward Chris Porter is currently Crewe Alexandra’s top goalscorer so far this season.

Beginning his career at Bury, Porter scored 18 goals in 71 league appearances in two years with the Shakers before moving across Greater Manchester to join Oldham Athletic in 2005, where he netted 28 times in 66 games at Boundary Park.

In 2007, he joined Scottish outfit Motherwell, spending two years at Fir Park prior to returning to England.

Further stints followed at Derby County, Sheffield United, Shrewsbury Town, Chesterfield and Colchester.

In May 2017, the 35-year-old signed for Crewe on a free-transfer and leads the goal chart for the Railwaymen this term with 11 strikes to his name.

Tickets

Fancy heading down to Prenton Park and help 'Pack the Park' this Friday night to watch some affordable football and cheer on Micky’s lads as TRFC welcome Crewe Alexandra to the Wirral?

Match tickets for our home game against the Railwaymen 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.

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: Martin Coy

Assistants: Gareth Mellor and Alix Pashley

Fourth Official: Natalie Aspinall

Match coverage

Can’t make it to Rovers’ home game against Crewe Alexandra on Friday night? 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 1-0 Crewe

8 March 2019

Tranmere Rovers made it four wins in a row in League Two with a 1-0 win against neighbours Crewe Alexandra in front of nearly 8,000 fans at Prenton Park.

Striker James Norwood scored his 26th goal of the season late in the second half to secure the win as Friday night football returned to Tranmere with a bang!

Manager Micky Mellon named the same team that claimed a 1-0 win at Exeter City last Saturday.

The league’s top goal scorer, James Norwood, had an early sight on the visiting goal after Connor Jennings harassed the defence into a mistake, but unfortunately the striker got his bearings wrong and miscued his strike.

Jonny Smith nipped in behind the Crewe defence to have Tranmere’s next chance in the 12th minute, after Norwood slipped the winger in, however, Smith’s effort was scuffed wide.

Tranmere were working hard, both in possession and without the ball, but in the 27^th minute, a long ball from the left hand side caught out the TRFC defence, and Chris Porter was left alone at the back post, but Scott Davies quickly closed Crewe’s number seven down to make the save.

The first change of the game for Rovers came in just the 38th minute, as former Crewe man Zoumana Bakayogo was replaced by fellow full back, Adam Buxton.

Tranmere’s number two looked to make an impact straight away, striking a 30-yard effort on target, but keeper Ben Garratt made a comfortable save.

A quiet first half came to a close with the score still 0-0. Into the second half, Tranmere smashed the post in the first six minutes, as Davies long ball upfield landed to Norwood in the penalty box, on the turn, the striker hit a fierce low strike against the left stick.

The second Rovers change came in the 62nd minute, Ollie Banks introduced into the fray for winger Smith.

B&M February Player of the Month Connor Jennings linked up well with sub Buxton, collecting the defender’s pull back from the left, but hammered over the frame into the Essar Kop Stand.

Tranmere’s patience paid off and in the 72nd minute, Sky Bet League Two’ leading goal scorer Norwood scored his 26th of the campaign. The striker perfectly took down Davies’ pass from his own half, and by doing so, turning the Crewe and firing into the far corner.

Our third change came in the 76th minute, Harvey Gilmour coming on for Ben Pringle.

TRFC were finding openings as Crewe pushed forward but a world class save from captain Scott Davies preserved our lead. Doing what he does best, the keeper made himself big to cover the goal with Crewe’s Shaun Miller three yards out from goal, and pushed away to safety. Incredible.

The lads held out for the win as they collected their fifth win in six games and third consecutive 1-0 triumph. The next game is on Tuesday night at Prenton Park against Grimsby Town with tickets available via www.trfctickets.co.uk.

Tranmere: Davies, Caprice, Ellis, Monthe, Bakayogo (Buxton 38), Smith (Banks 62), Perkins, McCullough, Pringle (Gilmour 76), Jennings, Norwood.

Attendance: 7,898

Match Reports

Tranmere Rovers Football Club

Standings

Preview: Crewe Alexandra

Report: Tranmere 1-0 Crewe

Standings

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