Match Preview: Stevenage

22 April 2022

After a huge win on home soil last time out, the stakes are even higher heading into the final three games of the season as Rovers travel to face relegation-battlers Stevenage on Saturday afternoon.

The hosts sit four points above 23^rd placed Oldham Athletic with a game-in-hand and would hope to pick up a couple of positive results between now and the end of the season to steer themselves clear of the threat of relegation to the National League.

But Rovers have climbed back into the play-off places with a crucial 2-0 win over 2^nd placed Exeter City last time out thanks to goals from Josh Hawkes and Elliot Nevitt.

With three games to go, four points separate 4^th and 8^th in Sky Bet League Two meaning one of the sides are set to miss out on a play-off spot come the first week of May.

Team News:

Calum MacDonald and Kieron Morris serve the final of their four game ban this weekend.

Nat Knight-Percival missed out on the matchday squad last week through injury and will be assessed ahead of the trip

One to Watch: Elliot List

After breaking through at Crystal Palace, he went on trial with Gillingham before earning himself a one-year-deal in May 2015.

His four-year long stay with the Gills ended in 2019 when he left the club to join Stevenage which is where he has enjoyed his football, picking up the club’s ‘Player of the Year’ accolade last year.

This year despite being a tough one for his side, has been on the whole quite impressive with him getting into double figures for goals and being the club’s joint top-scorer with 4 games left to play.

Manager: Steve Evans

After a run of nine games without a win, Stevenage announced the club had parted ways with manager Paul Tisdale and was ready to announce the appointment of experienced EFL manager Steve Evans.

Born in Glasgow, Evans spent all his playing career North of the border, his longest stint being with Albion Rovers.

But since being in management, Evans made the move to England and in 2007 he joined Crawley Town in a move which lasted for the following five years.

After winning a promotion with Crawley, he earnt a move to Yorkshire side Rotherham United which saw him lead the Millers to play-off glory in 2014.

Since then, he has endured some less successful spells at the likes of Leeds United, Mansfield and Gillingham before being appointed manager of Stevenage in mid-March.

Despite losing his first two games in charge, Evans now has his side unbeaten in their last three games and will be hoping that continues as they look to avoid a relegation fight which still could go down to the wire.

Match Coverage:

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

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Match reaction from Micky Mellon and a player will follow on our website and YouTube channel.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Stevenage 2-0 Tranmere Rovers

23 April 2022

Tranmere Rovers suffered another defeat on the road on Saturday afternoon as Stevenage came out 2-0 winners.

A goal either side of the interval for the hosts was enough to comfortably see off Rovers.

It was a cagey opening 15 minutes with the only pressure from either side coming from set pieces or long throws.

Stevenage opened the scoring on the 21st minute. Josh Hawkes was judged to have handled a cross from the right and Luke Norris buried the resulting corner into the bottom right corner past Ross Doohan.

Very few clear cut chances followed in the remaining minutes of the half, however the home side continued to keep Rovers mainly in their own half.

Tranmere started the second half brighter and put a few testing crosses into the Stevenage box to no avail.

A mix up between Ross Doohan and Josh Dacres-Cogley following a through ball nearly led to the home side doubling their lead however Clarke was there to pick up the pieces and clear.

Shortly after, the hosts did grab a second. No Tranmere player closed down Coker as he crossed from the left and Luke Norris leapt highest at the back post to divert his header into the top corner.

Tranmere had a glorious chance with 15 minutes left to halve the deficit. Maynard turned well in the box but lost his footing with a free shot at goal from 10 yards out before Hemmings blazed over the bar.

Rovers first tested Pym in the Stevenage goal in added time as Sam Foley’s volley was well tipped over the bar.

A bitterly disappointing result and performance leaves Rovers in 8th place whilst Stevenage secure their safety in League Two.

Tranmere team: Doohan, Dacres-Cogley, Clarke, Foley, Merrie, Hawkes (Spearing 45’), Warrington, O’Connor (Maynard 73’, McManaman, Nevitt, Hemmings