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As, it's often said, the league season is marathon not a sprint, this Saturday the team play their 42nd match of the season so we're on the home straight now and sprinting for the finish line.

On the 30th of January 2016 Torquay United went to Prenton park for what was the 29th match of the season ending in a 2.1 defeat for The Gulls and there was no way back from relegation surely, however in the time between the away match at Tranmere and the next league game away to Boreham Wood, something changed, something clicked into place as since, Torquay have gone on an incredible run of form, with 7 wins, 3 draws and just 2 defeats since, so we now welcome Rovers to Plainmoor (LWS)

Tranmere Rovers are a massive club at this level, and as some huge clubs who've sunk this low, you really have to question how, why, from our own point of view we know first-hand how mismanagement can lead to serving time in the national league but then we don't have the support base of a Tranmere Rovers, Luton Town or Bristol Rovers.

Tranmere were many peoples favourites, myself included to bounce straight back up to the football league, but The Super White Army haven't had it all their own way, beaten 8 times before Christmas put a huge dent in our visitors chances of challenging for the league title, Although they have recovered form during the second half of the season, losing only 3 match's since the turn of the year.

Last week’s home loss at the hands of relegation threatened Welling was a bitter blow to Rovers although they still hold the all-important 5th place, they have a very slender lead over the 3 teams directly below them, and have played more games, so our visitors will be desperate to win this match.

Tranmere top goalscores

James Norwood 17
Lois Maynard 4
Adam Mekki 4
James Harris 3
Jake Kirby 3
Liam Hogan 2
Michael Ihiekwe 2
Gary Taylor-Fletcher 2
Lee Vaughan 2
Michael Higdon 1
Matthew Hill 1
Jeff Hughes 1
Steven Jennings 1
Jack Mackreth 1
Steve McNulty 1
Liam Ridehalgh 1

Current form

Tranmere Rovers : D-D-D-W-W-L

8 Mar Guiseley 2 - 2 Tranmere
12 Mar Dover Athlet. 0 - 0 Tranmere
19 Mar Tranmere 1 - 1 Forest Green
25 Mar Tranmere 3 - 2 Lincoln City
28 Mar Kidderminster 0 - 2 Tranmere
2 Apr Tranmere 1 - 2 Welling Utd

Last time out

Tranmere 1 - 2 Welling United

1 Davies
7 Vaughan
24 McNulty
4 Jennings
16 Hill
12 Ihiekwe
23 Kirby (Higdon 77'minutes)
8 Harris
20 J Hughes(Mackreth 57'minutes)
9 Taylor-Fletcher (Fenwick 61'minutes)
10 Norwood

Substitutes
13 Turner
14 Mackreth
15 Riley
29 Higdon
37 Fenwick

Tranmere Rovers need win at Torquay


"I think everyone realises the disappointment and I don't think anyone had a good weekend.

"We had a meeting this morning when we all aired our thoughts.

"Now, it's about putting it to bed and learning from the mistakes we made on Saturday and putting it right from now until the end of the season.

"The goal we scored I thought was excellent, but the real disappointment for me was how we were out of possession, nowhere near the standards we've set ourselves and we gifted two goals in a game where we were, rightly so, expected to win.

"This is maybe a kick up the backside we needed and hopefully we can kick on from here.

"The players are passionate and they care and it has hurt them over the weekend.

"We need to pick ourselves up now and hopefully go on another unbeaten run."


From a Torquay United point of view

It's certainly going to be bonus having Andre Wright back in the squad, however think we all know Luke Young will struggle to make this match, I don't know of any other injuries.

As far as the approach for this game, Tranmere are 5th in the table, so everyone connected with our club know their a good side, you don't get to 5th approaching the last few games if your not, however I don't think there's the same quality in the division from top down to 8th place or so, as there was back in 2009, and Tranmere have proved through out the season they're capable of putting in a poor performance on any given day.

There is the temptation here perhaps for Nicho to set the side up with a bit of caution, but I really think if you factor in our form since February, and on the back of two straight wins brining confidence, our team should go into this game not fearing our opponents, same as Tuesday please, that was one the best attacking performances from The Gulls in while, lets go out there Saturday and have go at them.

Current form

Torquay United; D-W-L-L-W-W

15 Mar Torquay Utd 0 - 0 Halifax Town
19 Mar Torquay Utd 1 - 0 Southport
26 Mar Dover Athlet. 5 - 0 Torquay Utd
28 Mar Torquay Utd 0 - 1 Eastleigh
2 Apr Gateshead 1 - 2 Torquay Utd
5 Apr Torquay Utd 2 - 0 Chester

Last time out

Torquay United 2 - 0 Chester

26 Moore
25 Verma
5 MacDonald
10 Racchi
3 Butler
18 Smith
4 Rees
17 Blissett (Gerring 90+1'minutes)
7 Allen
14 Ajala (Richards 75'minutes)
19 Chaney (Harrad 65'minutes)

Substitutes
1 Fisher
12 Harrad
16 Richards
22 Gerring
23 Hancox

Kevin Nicholson urges Torquay United not to be distracted from relegation fight

"It is a bit harder not to get carried away when you start reading and hearing nice things about yourself," he said.

"But they also realise there's a job to be done and we haven't done it yet."

"In fairness to them, most of the time they get the message, most of the time they come into training, win lose or draw, with the same attitude, the same character and the same work rate," player-boss Nicholson told BBC Radio Devon.

"I try and do that myself because the last thing you need to see is a manager over the moon one minute and absolutely full-on depressed the next, but there's work to do."

Head to Head meetings


English Division Three (old)

22.09.1960 Torquay United 5-2 Tranmere Rovers
26.09.1960 Tranmere Rovers 2-2 Torquay United


English Division Four (old)

17.09.1962 Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Torquay United
01.05.1963 Torquay United 1-0 Tranmere Rovers
24.08.1963 Torquay United 1-1 Tranmere Rovers
14.12.1963 Tranmere Rovers 3-1 Torquay United
30.10.1964 Tranmere Rovers 3-1 Torquay United
13.03.1965 Torquay United 2-1 Tranmere Rovers
26.11.1965 Tranmere Rovers 0-1 Torquay United
23.04.1966 Torquay United 2-1 Tranmere Rovers


English Division Three (old)

19.08.1967 Torquay United 1-0 Tranmere Rovers
15.12.1967 Tranmere Rovers 2-3 Torquay United
16.09.1968 Tranmere Rovers 0-1 Torquay United
07.04.1969 Torquay United 2-5 Tranmere Rovers
27.08.1969 Torquay United 5-1 Tranmere Rovers
03.04.1970 Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Torquay United
01.02.1971 Torquay United 4-2 Tranmere Rovers
12.02.1971 Tranmere Rovers 0-0 Torquay United
22.10.1971 Tranmere Rovers 2-0 Torquay United
12.02.1972 Torquay United 0-1 Tranmere Rovers


English Division Four (old)

03.10.1975 Tranmere Rovers 7-1 Torquay United
10.03.1976 Torquay United 2-1 Tranmere Rovers
30.11.1979 Tranmere Rovers 2-0 Torquay United
19.04.1980 Torquay United 3-1 Tranmere Rovers
19.09.1980 Tranmere Rovers 1-0 Torquay United
01.03.1981 Torquay United 2-1 Tranmere Rovers
17.10.1981 Torquay United 1-2 Tranmere Rovers
06.03.1982 Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Torquay United
06.11.1982 Torquay United 3-0 Tranmere Rovers
18.03.1983 Tranmere Rovers 2-0 Torquay United
03.09.1983 Torquay United 1-1 Tranmere Rovers
07.01.1984 Tranmere Rovers 3-0 Torquay United
27.10.1984 Tranmere Rovers 3-1 Torquay United
02.03.1985 Torquay United 1-1 Tranmere Rovers
09.11.1985 Tranmere Rovers 2-0 Torquay United
12.04.1986 Torquay United 1-2 Tranmere Rovers
03.10.1986 Tranmere Rovers 2-2 Torquay United
28.03.1987 Torquay United 0-2 Tranmere Rovers
03.11.1987 Torquay United 1-0 Tranmere Rovers
22.04.1988 Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Torquay United
29.10.1988 Torquay United 3-2 Tranmere Rovers
13.03.1989 Tranmere Rovers 3-0 Torquay United


English League One

25.09.2004 Torquay United 1-2 Tranmere Rovers
03.01.2005 Tranmere Rovers 4-1 Torquay United


English National League

30.01.2016 Tranmere Rovers 2-1 Torquay United


English League Cup

03.09.1969 r2 Tranmere Rovers 2-1 Torquay United

Not expecting anything here tbh - although we've only played them a few times recently I've generally associated us with getting a drubbing of sorts at the hands of Tranmere. Would be nice if we could reverse that trend

Was at the away game earlier in the season. The team was still in transition then - I think the first time that Harrad and Blissett played together. At 1-0 down they were going for an equaliser and got hit on the break for 2-0. Pulled one back but couldn't find another. Chaney played well as a sub but then got subbed himself for Ex to come on to try and get some long throws in to the box. Didn't quite work out though.

Different 11 this Saturday with belief. Past results mean nothing. Don't see why they can't win it.

I'm not expecting much from this match. We have some tired players at the moment, and a key must-MUST-win match on Tuesday. Will these thoughts feature in Nicho's planning? Possibly, but he says he's only focused on the next match. In fairness to this hard-working side, who are just about coping with the loss of Durrell, and the sword of Damocles hanging over Gus, I think a point will be a good result.

No, I don't think so. Thus:
TUFC (0) 0
Tranmere Rovers (0) 2

Att: 2002

I think it is too close, like most other matches in this division. I would be delighted with a point.

Tranmere do have the third best away record in the division, and have only lost 3 times on the road so far.

However, they have drawn 10, and have had a number of 0-1 wins which suggest they tend to be involved in tight games on their travels.

A 0-0 draw would be most welcome here

Would take a draw here.

Torquay 1-1 Tranmere

2201 (300 away)

We'll win by the odd goal. I feel it in my bones, and if I had a spare £ I'd bet on it..

Admiral wrote:Would take a draw here.

Torquay 1-1 Tranmere

2201 (300 away)

Tranmere are bringing 500+ apparently!

I don't see anything other than this being a really close match. Are Tranmere beatable? - despite their good away record, yes they are. The advantage they didn't have is that we played in the week and they didn't.

Should we rest a couple and go for the win against an equally tired Altrincham? - clearly that's not an option at all.

A fresh Richards for Chaney would be the change for me with Harrad starting and possibly Richards for either Ajala or Allen.

We have Wright back as well so actually more options off the bench as well.

We are due a penalty so with a bit of luck I can see us winning this one.

Torquay 3

Blisett hat trick

Tranmere 1

Attendance 2760

Some huge games this weekend!

Guiseley v Cheltenham
Altrincham v Bromley
Boreham Wood v Southport
Halifax v Aldershot
Lincoln City v Chester
Welling v Kidderminster

brucie wrote:I don't see anything other than this being a really close match. Are Tranmere beatable? - despite their good away record, yes they are. The advantage they didn't have is that we played in the week and they didn't.

Should we rest a couple and go for the win against an equally tired Altrincham? - clearly that's not an option at all.

A fresh Richards for Chaney would be the change for me with Harrad starting and possibly Richards for either Ajala or Allen.

We have Wright back as well so actually more options off the bench as well.

We are due a penalty so with a bit of luck I can see us winning this one.

Torquay 3

Blisett hat trick

Tranmere 1

Attendance 2760

You want Richards to play in the middle and either flank?

I feel our confidence is up but a 1-1 draw would be fine.

Expecting a good game.

On Tuesday they stated that we played 4-1-4-1 but I think we ended up playing 4-2-3-1 with Racchi and Rees playing in front of the back four Rees was playing more alongside Racchi than in front. Chaney needs to play as he's the one that can make things happen going forward I think Richards gives the ball away to easily.
Harrod did well on Tuesday when he came on.