Tranmere Rovers Preview

Last updated : 26 March 2004 By Rob Davies
Team News

Iain Hume
Tranmere
should give a debut to Jamaican striker Paul Hall, who was one of the many 'given' away by Rushden & Diamonds on deadline day yesterday.

The scousers also lost their striker, Iffy Onoura, on deadline day to Huddersfield so Hall is expected to at least take up a seat on the bench.

Brian Little's men- fresh from their recent Cup exploits- are without full-backs Gareth Roberts & Ryan Taylor and also have a doubt over veteran goalkeeper John Achterberg.

Canadian striker Iain Hume is the dangerman, and should NOT be put up against the slower than slow Tony Barras, because he'll run riot.

Notts manager Gary Mills has major doubts over on-loan pair David Pipe (boo!) and Pegguy Arphexad (hurray!).

Deadline day signings Jonathan Bewers and Mark Briggs are both in the squad, with Bewers expected to start should Pipe fail his late fitness test.

Stuart Garden is back from his rib injury, so Mills has a decision to make in-goal should Arphexad be fit, though he earlier appeared to hint that Garden- who was on good form up until his injury- will get the nod.

Garden- Back in action
"I had made up my mind who I was going to play before Pegguy picked up his injury." Mills told the Evening Post.

"We will see what my options are tomorrow."

Andy Parkinson returns to the club where he spent 6 years for the first time, so it'll be interesting to see how the pacey winger responds to that.

Notts' other loss, ofcourse, is the now departed Darren Caskey, who left for Bristol City yesterday.

Notts (Probable): Garden, Bewers, Fenton, Barras, Richardson, Parkinson, Bolland, Oakes, Scully, Heffernan, Williams.

Subs (From): Deeney, Arphexad, Pipe, Baraclough, McHugh, Baldry, Briggs, Riley, Scoffham, Harrad.


Looking Ahead

The size of this game should not be under-estimated, with Notts dropping two points at home to Chesterfield last week, this now falls under that "Must Win" category.

It's essential that we play to our strength's and, with the probably that Heffernan will be paired upfront with new boy Matty Williams, that means playing the ball on the deck.

Theee defence has to watch Hume, and Mills simply has to pick Garden ahead of Arphexad, it sends out completely the wrong message otherwise.

Prediction

For once, a bit of optimism from me. I can see us winning this by the odd goal, with it written in the script that Prenton Park old boy Andy Parkinson will score the winner.

Tranmere Rovers 0-1 Notts County


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