Tranmerevs.Doncaster

The visitors only trail the automatic promotion spots on goal difference, while their hosts have moved all but clear of the threat of relegation.

Match preview

Tranmere Rovers return to action on Friday aiming to move out of sight of the threat of League Two relegation, having taken major steps to guarantee their safety in recent months.

When Andy Crosby took temporary charge in late February following Nigel Adkins's departure, they sat in a concerning position above the bottom two on just 28 points from 33 outings on the back of a 10-match unbeaten run, but he has overseen an inspired run since.

Indeed, from nine games under the interim boss, the Rovers have added 16 points to their tally, only suffering one defeat away at Harrogate Town at the beginning of April before they bounced back in style by thrashing playoff-chasing Chesterfield 4-0 at Prenton Park.

Crosby's men continued to fend off the bottom two in a trip to 21st-placed Accrington Stanley at the weekend, as despite trailing 3-0 heading into the final 15 minutes, they were able to snatch an unlikely point as Omari Patrick netted a brace alongside a Kristian Dennis goal, with the leveller coming in the 11th added minute.

Now sitting 21st in League Two, two places and seven points above the relegation zone with four matches remaining, Tranmere Rovers can cement their place in England's fourth tier for next season and continue a much-improved run under Crosby by making it three games unbeaten with a win on Friday.

They face a tough test, though, as the visitors arrive with the automatic promotion spots in their sights in the final run-in.

Aiming to bounce back to England's third tier in their third straight League Two campaign, Doncaster Rovers have found themselves in the top-three picture throughout the term, having earned 72 points from 42 games, including a league-high tally of 35 points from 21 away matches.

While Grant McCann's side do head into the weekend in the midst of a seven-match unbeaten run in League Two, they have failed to solidify a top-three position, with five of those games ending in draws including their last two outings, having shared the points at home to fellow promotion-chasers AFC Wimbledon last weekend.

The Yorkshire outfit then visited Salford City on Tuesday in their game in hand with the chance to go second with a victory, but they again had to settle for a share of the spoils, having been pegged back by a 27th-minute Luke Garbutt leveller in a 1-1 draw after Rob Street's opener six minutes earlier.

While that draw was not enough to send Doncaster Rovers into the top three in League Two, they do now only trail Walsall on goal difference, Bradford City by one point and leaders Port Vale by four with four games remaining, and they will aim to take a major step towards automatic promotion with a return to winning ways on the road on Friday.

Tranmere Rovers League Two form:

W

D

W

L

W

D

Doncaster Rovers League Two form:

D

W

D

W

D

D

Team News

Tranmere Rovers should field a similar starting XI from their dramatic draw with Accrington Stanley last time out, with Declan Drysdale, Saidou Khan, Sol Solomon and Brad Walker again set to miss out through injuries.

One change could be enforced in defence, though, after Connor Wood was forced off in the first half of that game, and he will be replaced by Tom Davies if not deemed fit to feature.

Regan Hendry and Kristian Dennis will continue their attacking partnership, while Omari Patrick is a danger man having moved onto 10 league goals for the season in that 3-3 draw.

Doncaster Rovers may only be without defender Joseph Olowu For Wednesday's trip to Prenton Park due to an ongoing injury.

Veteran striker Billy Sharp will return to contention after serving a red-card suspension last time out, although he may have to settle for another substitute appearance with Rob Street having notched up eight goals in 18 appearances since his January loan arrival.

Ahead of the midfield pairing of Owen Bailey and George Broadbent, Luke Molyneux, Harry Clifton and Jordan Gibson should continue in support of the lone striker, with Molyneux boasting tallies of 13 goals and 11 assists in England's fourth tier this term.

Tranmere Rovers possible starting lineup:

McGee; O'Connor, Turnbull, Wood; Hawkes, Merrie, Finley, Jennings; Patrick, Hendry, Dennis

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:

Sharman-Lowe; Sterry, Anderson, McGrath, Senior; Broadbent, Bailey; Molyneux, Clifton, Gibson; Street

We say: Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Doncaster Rovers

Written by

Sam Varley

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