Kick Off: 6pm GMT, Thursday 20th May, Prenton Park, League Two Playoff Semi Final 1st Leg
Last 5 Games:
- Tranmere Rovers DWWLD
- Morecambe WWLWW
This game is the first leg in the Playoff Semi Final as Tranmere host Morecambe at Prenton Park, with both teams looking to give themselves an advantage as they try to climb into League One.
Tranmere finished 7th in the league, with a draw with Colchester on the final day guaranteeing their place in the Playoffs. They finished the season on 73 points, similar to Forest Green Rovers and Newport County, who also booked themselves a place in the playoffs.
Tranmere will see some changes before their game against The Shrimps. On May 11th, Tranmere announced that Keith Hill would relieved of his duties, with Ian Dawes and Andy Parkinson coming into replace Hill.
Tranmere have found success in this position before, winning the 2018/19 League Two playoffs, beating Newport County 1-0 at Wembley, thanks to a extra time winner from Connor Jennings.
For the away side, they beat Bradford City 2-0 on the last game of the season, and they came agonisingly close to gaining automatic promotion. They were only 1 point off Bolton, who claimed the last automatic place.
Morecambe have had an impressive season this year, and have hit back after finishing 22nd last season. This season, Derek Adams has been able to lift his players this season and bring them to new heights.
A playoff success would see Morecambe get to League One, for the first time in their history. The closest they have come before was in the 2009-10 season, when they reached the playoff’s, but lost in the Semi Finals to Dagenham & Redbridge.
When the teams met each other in the league this season, both games saw close encounters. In October, Morecambe took the three points, thanks to an Adam Phillips penalty.
In the reverse fixture, Tranmere got the points, when Kaiyne Woolery headed in the winner in the second half. With both games being tightly contested, will there be more of the same on Thursday?
Key Players
Liam Feeney: Feeney joined on loan from Blackpool in the summer, and has had a consistent season for Tranmere.
Feeney has scored 3 and assisted 8 this season, as he’s been a major threat for Tranmere this season. If Tranmere are able to create chances, it’s likely Feeney will be the man.
Carlos Mendes Gomes: Gomes has been crucial to Morecambe’s success this season, and was also recently voted Morecambe’s Supporters Player of the Season.
The winger has scored 15 goals, along with 3 assists in the league this season. He will be a major threat to Tranmere’s playoff hopes.
Prediction: Tranmere 2-2 Morecambe
Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay
Final Whistle 