Tranmere Rovers will continue their League Two survival bid when they welcome Cheltenham Town to Prenton Park on Friday evening.
The hosts are down in 22nd place in the League Two table, while the visitors head into the contest in the comfort of 14th position.
Match preview
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Tranmere were sitting just two points clear of the drop zone when they opted to part ways with Nigel Adkins at the end of February.
However, they have now established a six-point buffer to the bottom two after putting together a five-game unbeaten run under Andy Crosby, who was initially placed in caretaker charge for his first three games, before it was confirmed he will remain in his role until the end of the season.
Crosby began his interim tenure with consecutive 1-1 draws against Port Vale and Grimsby Town, laying the platform for his side to clinch back-to-back victories over Bromley and Bradford City.
They were unable to make it three successive victories last weekend, but they did at least claim a second straight clean sheet with a goalless away draw against Fleetwood Town.
After playing two games on the road, Tranmere will now return to the familiar surroundings of Prenton Park, where they have the chance to claim consecutive home league victories for the first time since March 2024.
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Cheltenham may have harboured hopes of securing an immediate return to the third tier after being relegated from League One last season.
However, they look like may have to settle for League Two stability, sitting in 14th place after winning 13, drawing 11 and losing 14 of their 38 matches this season.
Michael Flynn‘s side are nine points adrift of the playoffs with eight games left to play, and while that is a significant gap, they will continue to push until it is mathematically impossible to finish in the top seven.
If they are to move up the standings, Cheltenham will have to improve upon their recent run of form, having won just one of their previous seven matches (D3, L3), with that run of games including a 1-0 home defeat to MK Dons in Saturday’s home clash.
Perhaps, Tranmere could be the perfect opponent for the Robins, given the fact they have won their previous three head-to-head meetings by a combined 8-0 scoreline since losing 3-1 in January 2019.
Team News
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Tranmere are still unable to call upon long-term absentees Saidou Khan, Sol Solomon, Declan Drysdale and Brad Walker.
Tom Davies and Luke Norris are stepping up their respective recoveries, although the pair are unlikely to be ready for Friday’s contest.
There are also doubts surrounding Connor Wood‘s availability after the defender was a notable absentee from last weekend’s matchday squad.
As for the visitors, they are without the services of Ryan Haynes, Harry Pell and Darragh Power due to injury.
Defender Tom Bradbury is set to return to Cheltenham’s backline after missing the defeat to MK Dons through suspension.
The forward duo of Ashley Hay and George Miller are pushing for recalls after dropping down to the bench last weekend.
Tranmere Rovers possible starting lineup:
McGee; O’Connor, Turnbull, Bradshaw; Norman, Finley, Hendry, Patrick; Hawkes, Morris; Jennings
Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:
Day; Bakare, Stubbs, Bradbury, Adedokun; Thomas, Kinsella, Dieng; Archer; Hay, Miller
We say: Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Cheltenham Town
Tranmere have proven to be a much tougher team to beat since Crosby took over the reins, and we think they will extend their unbeaten run to six games by playing out a draw in Friday’s meeting with Cheltenham side that is struggling to pick up victories at the moment.
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