Preview: Tranmere Rovers vs. Rochdale - prediction, team news, lineups

The home side could move into the playoff places with a victory, while the visitors will be wanting to steer themselves clear of the relegation zone.

Match preview

Tranmere are currently ninth in the League Two standings, two points off seventh-placed Carlisle United, who they face next Saturday.

Micky Mellon has really managed to get his side playing recently, winning five games in a row without conceding a goal, before a 1-1 draw away at Harrogate Town at the weekend.

Matty Daly was the man who finally managed to get the better of the Rovers defence, opening the scoring late in the first half, but Jordan Turnbull scored his first Tranmere goal just after the break to ensure that his side took a point back to the Wirral.

The Super White Army boast the second-best defensive record in the league, conceding just 10 goals in the league during this campaign, largely due to the fantastic centre-back partnership of Jordan Turnbull and Dynel Simeu.

Having only picked up one point in games where they have conceded so far this season, the Tranmere defence will need to continue to be at its best on Tuesday night.

Rochdale come into the game off the back of a 2-1 defeat at home to AFC Wimbledon at the weekend, a result that leaves them 22nd in the League Two standings, just two points above the relegation zone.

Wimbledon took the lead through a first-half Ayoub Assal goal, with Josh Davison doubling the lead just after the hour mark, a lead that The Dale were unable to recover from, even though Tyrese Sinclair scored to offer them a route back into the game.

Despite the result, Jim Bentley has managed to improve his side's form in recent matches, winning three of the four matches prior to their weekend outing to move out of the relegation zone.

Now two points clear of 23rd-placed Colchester United, largely due to a 1-0 win at the Colchester Community Stadium at the end of September, Rochdale will be looking to put some much-needed daylight between themselves and the relegation zone on Tuesday night.

Tranmere Rovers League Two form:

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Tranmere Rovers form (all competitions):

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Rochdale League Two form:

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Rochdale form (all competitions):

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Team News

Dynel Simeu and Jordan Turnbull have been the key components in Tranmere's recent good run of form, and they are both set to start again at centre-back on Tuesday.

Either side of them will be Josh Dacres-Cogley and Ethan Bristow, full-backs who are particularly flourishing going forward, with Dacres-Cogley bagging himself an assist in his side's 3-0 win against Crewe Alexandra.

Paul Lewis is looking likely to again miss out with a hamstring injury, so Elliott Nevitt is expected to play in attack, next to captain Kane Hemmings.

Tyrese Sinclair replaced the injured Scott Quigley in the lineup at the weekend, and the striker is set to lead the line again for his side after scoring his second goal of the season, with Connor Malley playing just behind him.

Devante Rodney has looked good playing on the right side of midfield recently, assisting Sinclair's goal on Saturday and weighing in with three goals and two assists so far in the league.

On the opposite side will be Abraham Odoh, who has played in every match for The Dale in this season's league campaign, with Liam Kelly and Toumani Diagouraga likely to get the nod in the centre of midfield.

Tranmere Rovers possible starting lineup:

Doohan; Dacres-Cogley, Simeu, Turnbull, Bristow; Morris, O'Connor, Merrie, Hawkes; Hemmings, Nevitt

Rochdale possible starting lineup:

O'Donnell; Seriki, Graham, Ebanks-Landell, Keohane; Kelly, Diagouraga, Rodney, Malley, Odoh; Sinclair

We say: Tranmere Rovers 1-0 Rochdale

Tranmere have developed a habit of winning games by narrow margins in recent matches, and we think that they will do the same here. Rochdale are showing signs of improvement under Jim Bentley, and they will make it tough for their opponents, but they will just about come up short.

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