Ah, Prenton Park on a balmy Spring evening, with the cry of the seagulls complimenting the lapping of the waves on the seashore. Pity it never happens isn’t it? Yes, it’s a trip up a twenty mile long cul de sac to a ground where it’s almost bound to be cold and, probably, wet, and where we have to put up with plastic scousers and those that think living on the south bank of the Mersey means that they are part of the county set. Never mind, eh?

After three tough away games (Colchester, Southend and Swansea) and three draws, comes a visit to Tranmere and a team more at our own level.

Kevan Broadhurst will have Ian Roper back in defence following his suspension, but there is still no news of Danny Fox, criticised this week for not being able to make his mind up about his fitness. Pablo Mills will be available prior to his two match ban for picking up ten bookings, so the defence should come from:-

Oakes, Pead, Roper, Gerrard, Westwood, Mills, Fox and Smith.

The midfield resources are also looking better, with only Darren Wrack out with his long term injury, as Dean Keates should have recovered from the strain which kept him out at the Liberty Stadium and Mads Timm is fit again. Like Mills, Simon Osborn will be playing his last game before a suspension, so the middle of the park looks like coming from:-

Wright, Devlin, Osborn, Leary, Keates, Smith (if not at full back), Timm, Demontagnac and Standing (wherever he might have disappeared to).

Up front, no new striker has appeared and James Constable has had an injury which resulted in him being pulled off in the reserve game, but should be fit to play. Expect a choice between:-

Devlin, Timm, (both if not playing in midfield, of course), Barrowman, Constable, Fitzgerald.

Whatever the personnel, it seems that Broadhurst favours 4 4 2 and I don’t expect a formation change. His major selection dilemma may revolve around not being able to pick all six loan players for the match day squad!

What about our opponents? Well, the only long term injury they have is to goalkeeper John Achterberg and they don’t seem to have any other selection problems for Friday night.

Their main dangerman is former Sjoke striker Chris Greenacre, now trying to rebuild his formerly impressive reputation after a poor time at the Potters. He’s got 16 goals this season. However, they also have the big, awkward Calvin Zola, the pacy Delroy Facey and the midfield goalscoring prowess of Sam Aiston. A team to be watched.

Predictions?

Tranmere stand in 11th place, just eight points ahead of the Saddlers, in what has been a poor season for them. The team was widely expected to be challenging for the play offs again this year, but, after selling some key players and not properly replacing them, only a good recent run has made them look respectable (they have had back to back wins against Swindon and Chesterfield). They are 14th in the home form table, having played 18, but they have drawn 8 of those and lost 4. In fact, their home form is very comparable to our own (we are 17th in the home standings), so it’s not that bright. I feel moved to predict another away draw.