So both teams are looking at this as a must win game but also the most winnable of the remaining fixtures, Tranmere didn't play Koumas or Lowe against Crawley even though both are expected to play Friday (well rested) We have won 14 games this season whilst Tranmere have only won 12, unfortunately we have also lost 22 against Tranmere 20, we have scored 55 goals and conceded 74 whilst Tranmere have scored 51 and conceded 73, it all looks very close and a difficult one to call. I keep remembering Crewe who have the worst defensive record in the league and we struggled to score 1 goal, it seemed quite easy letting in 3 though. As we have proven our self to be so poor at defending even with keeping 9 players behind the ball, I want us to attack their defence and outscore them, let's try a new tactic and get our midfield over the half way line. Weston, ***an, Dack, Hess, Cody, Bayo all to start, attack, attack, attack. Nelson in goal and the Tommy T in defence
Can't keep a clean sheet so must score at least two...maybe more. Warm up Keds & Whelps at half time just in case. Legge and Gregs as CB's if poss , with Hess and Linganzi in the engine room.
I've been worried about our right flank as of late, Hewitt was being exposed whilst playing right back a couple of games back and Harriman's torrid time at Brisbane road is pretty visible. If Whelps is fit to play I wouldn't mind him on the right hand side. - Nelson, Hewitt, Legge (if fit), Barrett (Davies isn't back, too vital a game to gamble on McKaine), Martin, Whelpdale, Lee, Hess, Dack, Akinfenwa/***an/Birchall, McDonald. - Subs: Anyone that can get the ball in the net, would welcome Malcolm into the team if he scored a hat trick.
I think Gillingham will line up like this tomorrow................. ----------------------------Nelson----------------------------------- Harriman---------Legge------------------Barrett----------------Martin ---------------------------Gregory----------------------------------- Hewitt-----------------------Lee--------------------------------Weston ----------------McDonald---------------Akinfenwa--------------------- Subs: Baxter (GK), Linganzi, Hessenthaler, Dack, Whelpdale, ***an, Kedwell Against Peterborough United, Rotherham United and Leytpn Orient, Gillingham have lined up with five in midfield to try and restrict these sides from passing there way through us, Tranmere do not have the same level of quality in there side and the onus is on Gillingham as the home side to attack and I think we have to go for it right from the start. Both sides are weak defensively so there is no point sitting back, hopefully Leon Legge is fit enough to start alongside Adam Barrett in the heart of our defence and Steven Gregory starts because we really did miss Legge and Gregory at Brisbane Road last week. I know Michael Harriman put in his worst performance for Gillingham last week but I would still stick with The Hewitt and Harriman partnership down the right side of the pitch, and I can see Charlie Lee being moved back into his more comfortable midfielder role and Cody McDonald and Adebayo Akinfenwa have to both start alongside each other. I know there will be a few wondering why I not named Bradley Dack in the starting line up, reason why I don't think Dack will start is because with Weston, McDonald and Akinfenwa in my line up I don't think we can go all out attack and we do need a balance of attack and defence in our side tomorrow, but I do think Bradley Dack will come on in The Second Half when our midfielders do begin to tire. One thing I make sure the players need reminding off is that we have started poorly and conceded early in our last two home matches and we conceded early against Leyton Orient last week as well, the players need to make sure that when we kick off they are fully focused and ready for the 90+ minutes which could go a long way in securing League One Football next season if Gillingham pick up all three points.
A massive game.Hopefully we can get the win we need today to secure our safety.There will be a big crowd today,so hopefully the players respond and put in a much better performance than last week.
