Match Preview: Salford City

10 February 2023

Tranmere Rovers look to bounce back from Tuesday evening’s disappointing defeat at Doncaster Rovers, as Salford City visit Prenton Park in League Two.

The visitors, Salford City, sit 5th in the table – and look to further cement their place in the play-offs with a win on the Wirral this weekend.

Tranmere come into the game in 15th place, with the majority of teams around them having games in hand. With a win, Rovers could climb to 10th, putting them just a point from play-offs – but results must go their way, and the Whites must get three points.

A poor performance on Tuesday night at the Eco-Power Stadium meant Micky Mellon’s side returned to Merseyside without a point, with goals from Ben Close and Kyle Hurst sending Doncaster above TRFC in the league.

Salford City come into the game with back-to-back wins, as a win last Tuesday against Walsall was built on with a win at Rochdale last weekend.

A win would lead Tranmere nicely into a game away at Bradford on Tuesday evening.

One To Watch: Conor McAleny

Conor McAleny is a forward who plays for Salford City. The Englishman has scored 8 goals and had 2 assists so far this season.

Fairly close to home, McAleny was born in Prescot and joined Everton’s Academy at aged 11, and signed his first professional contract aged 18. He made 2 appearances for the first team, against Arsenal and Norwich City – however was on the bench for numerous fixtures, including Europa League and Premier League matches.

He enjoyed loan spells between 2012 and 2017 at multiple clubs, including Scunthorpe United, Brentford, Cardiff City, Charlton Athletic, Wigan Athletic and Oxford United.

He left Everton in 2017 and signed for Fleetwood Town, where he made 55 appearances in 3 years, scoring 9 goals – as well as loans at Kilmarnock and Shrewsbury Town.

He signed for Oldham Athletic in 2020 and scored 17 goals in 40 matches, where he later left after just a season for Salford City, where he has played 37 times so far – scoring 9.

The Manager: Neil Wood

Neil Wood is a manager who has had a good playing career across 9 years, which mainly consisted of loan deals.

Wood began his career at Manchester United in their Academy, before signing his first professional contract aged 18.

He failed to make an appearance for the First Team, however enjoyed loans at Royal Antwerp, Peterborough United and Burnley.

He later signed for Coventry City where he featured 17 times in the heart of the City midfield, before enjoying a loan at Blackpool. He then signed permanently for Blackpool, before leaving just a year later.

Towards the end of his career, he signed for multiple teams such as Oldham Athletic, Atherstone Town and Bosnian side, Zaljeznicar.

He retired in 2010 and went straight into coaching, where he took up a role in the Aston Villa Academy. He moved back to Manchester United, where he started as an Academy Coach and built up to U23 manager in 2019, where he stayed until last year.

He left Manchester United to take up the managers role at Salford City, where he has done a good job so far, leading the Ammies to 5th place.

Match Coverage:

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Match Previews

Match Reports

Tranmere Rovers 1-0 Salford City

11 February 2023

Tranmere Rovers returned to winning ways after a well earned 1-0 victory over Salford City.

A solitary first half goal from Kieron Morris was enough to clinch all three points in a keenly fought contest.

It was a quick start to proceedings when Louis Barry let rip from 25 yards, producing a shot which didn’t find the target before Kieron Morris glanced a header onto the roof of the net, all within the first five minutes.

A Salford corner led to Ryan Watson hitting a shot on the half volley which whistle just past Hewelt’s left hand post.

In the 9th minute, Josh Hawkes beat his man and got inside the Salford box before having his heels clipped and going to ground but the ref waved play on.

Midway through the first period, Rovers broke the deadlock. Hawkes and Bristow combined well down the left before Morris was well placed at the back post to fire home Bristow’s pinpoint delivery.

A period of sustained Tranmere pressure followed when crosses from Hemmings and Dacres-Cogley were both scrambled away by the visitors.

Just before half time, Harvey Saunders did all he could to double the advantage. Firstly, a low drilled shot was turned around the post by Alex Cairns before an overhead kick from the resulting corning dropped inches past the far post.

The Ammies’ immediately went in search of an equaliser at the start of the second half. Louis Barry came forward down the right before cutting back to McAleny who curled just wide of the post.

Just past the hour mark, Rovers somehow kept their clean sheet intact. Barry found space in behind the Tranmere defence before sliding the ball underneath Hewelt before Bristow recovered just in time to canon the ball off the post and Smith followed up with a header but there was Tom Davies to deny Salford once again.

With the clock ticking away, Rovers were still searching for the two goal cushion. Kieron Morris’ fierce strike from outside the box was firmly palmed away by Cairns.

Rovers kept Salford at arms length and secured an important three points in front of a pleased Prenton Park crowd. Next up is a trip the Bradford on Tuesday.

Tranmere team: Hewelt, Dacres-Cogley, Davies, Turnbull, Bristow, Morris, O’Connor, Hendry (Turner-Cooke 77’), Hawkes (Chalmers 69’), Saunders (Mumbongo 77’), Hemmings (Merrie 69)

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