Tranmere Rovers travel to Port Vale tonight looking to get back in the race for the League Two playoffs.
In what is a game in hand on many of the teams around them in the top half of the table Micky Mellon’s side will be looking to build on positive results in their last two outings, a victory over Stevenage at Prenton Park ten days ago followed by a point at Cambridge at the weekend.
A win at Vale Park could see Rovers move back to within three points of the top seven in League Two, depending on other results, with three other matches taking place this evening.
However, Rovers are without a win in the league on their travels since beating Cheltenham Town 3-1 in January and have only picked up three points away from home on three occasions this campaign. They rank 18th in the division for results away from Prenton Park. The Super White Army have not won in Burslem since 2007 when a Kevin Ellison strike secured all three points.
Boss Micky Mellon played down talks of a playoff place when talking to the Liverpool Echo before the game. He said “We don’t have any big agenda to make the playoffs,” but added that wouldn’t stop them giving there all in pursuit of a top seven finish “I don’t want disappointment to build all of a sudden on a, so far, fantastic season. We are new to this division and are doing really, really well. We will have a right good blast at getting into the playoffs, which would be a major achievement for a team that’s new to this level.”
Defeat at home to Morecambe on Saturday left recently appointed manager John Askey still searching for his first win as Port Vale boss. Indeed, the Valiants remain without a win at home since October and have picked up just one point in their last five League Two outings, form which leaves them looking nervously over their shoulder at teams below them in the table.
Despite starting his reign with back to back defeats, Vale boss John Askey felt his side were not far away from getting a much-needed victory. He told port-vale.co.uk “We haven’t been playing poorly and it’s not as if we haven’t been creating opportunities. The players who have played for me have worked really hard, and on other occasions, they would’ve got wins.”
“It hasn’t quite gone for us so far, but there isn’t a lot to change. I’m always looking for ways to improve and if that means an alteration somewhere or a change of system so be it, but you’ve got to have the players to fit that.
“All that matters now is the next game. It doesn’t matter whether you’re at the top or the bottom of the table, all we can do now is focus on Tranmere.”
Our View
Both sides will be desperate for a win for differing reasons but a team with terrible home form against a team that has not travelled well this season would appear to point to a share of the spoils being the most likely result.
Port Vale are in trouble, and Askey needs to quickly get some wins under his belt with teams below them picking up points. A draw will not be enough to ease the Vale supporters worries who know their next two fixtures are difficult trips to Cheltenham and improving Notts County.
By contrast Mellon, with a new contract in his locker, is under no real pressure and while a playoff position this season would be a great achievement, Rovers are undoubtedly looking to build for a proper tilt at promotion next season.
