Tranmere Rovers vs Luton Town - Match Preview

Team News

Luton
Luton boss Kevin Blackwell has very few injury worries for tonight's match against Tranmere Rovers. The only player that will miss out tonight is striker Sam Parkin, who is still injured from the first round of the Carling Cup. Richard Langley is also still out of course with his season long injury. All of the other Luton players are thought to be available for selection, although

Spring: After penalty #3 last week

David Edwards may miss out, having been on international duty in the week. Despite not playing for Wales midweek, Edwards has still had to fly back from Slovakia on Wednesday night, and won't have trained with the players for a couple of weeks. Blackwell may also reshuffle the team from the side that were defeated at home to Bristol Rovers two weeks ago.

David Forde or Dean Brill will play in goal, hopefully Brill after Forde's comedy performance two weeks ago. However, Luton manager Kevin Blackwell is unlikely to put either keeper on the bench, meaning if one of our keepers is injured during the match, then we're in trouble. Blackwell obviously hasn't learned his lessons from the pre-season campaign in Norway. Blackwell has hinted that the defence is likely to stay the same for the match tonight, after saying that we looked well organised and strong in defence, although I'm not sure which defence he is watching. Alan Goodall will probably stay at left-back, as Sol is out of favour, Keith Keane is pushing for a place at right-back, but unfortunately he probably won't start. Chris Perry and Chris Coyne, who don't seem to be working well together at the back, should keep their places in the centre ahead of Bolton loanee Jaroslaw Fojut. The midfield may be very similar to the last match. David Bell is almost certain to keep his place, as is Matthew Spring. There is a question mark over whether Steve Robinson or Dave Edwards will play in the centre of midfield with Spring, although it will probably be Edwards. Darren Currie should retain his place on the wing, with Brko cruelly overlooked again. Up front is likely to be Furlong and Talbot, although Peschisolido may compete for a place instead of Drew Talbot. Calvin Andrew and Paul McVeigh may be on the bench, but neither are likely to start.

Predicted Team: Brill (GK), Goodall (DL), Jackson (DR), Coyne (DC), Perry (DC), Currie (ML), Bell (MR), Spring (MC), Edwards (MC), Furlong (SC), Talbot (SC)

Tranmere
Tranmere have got some injury problems for tonight's match, and the opinion of some of their fans is that the biggest test will be overcoming the injury problems they have rather than overcoming Luton. Two players who are definitely out are Calvin Zola and Gareth Taylor. John Mullin is also expected to miss out with an ankle problem. The injuries of strikers Taylor and Zola means that Rovers may only have three fit strikers, and one of them, Chris Greenacre, once linked with Luton, is also doubtful. Another player previously linked with Luton, Chris Shuker, is also a doubt for the match, but should be passed fit in time for the match. Captain Ian Goodison is also a fitness doubt, but again should be passed fit in time for the match.

Since two defeats in the opening week of the season, Tranmere haven't lost this season, unless you count a defeat in the Mickey Mouse Trophy, with away wins at Carlisle and Gillingham, and a home win against Brighton. This has left Tranmere second in the league at this early stage in the season. Their top scorer is Chris Greenacre with three goals so far this season, the same number as Matthew Spring and Paul Furlong.

Connections
There are a number of players who have played for both clubs, although there doesn't appear to be many notable players who have appeared for both clubs. There are two players currently playing for Luton and Tranmere who have played for both clubs. Stephen O'Leary had a loan spell at Tranmere

Feuer: Great American keeper for Luton

Rovers during the 2005-06 season, where he played 21 times and scored 3 goals, which earned him a lot of praise from the Tranmere manager Brian Little apparently. He has only played eight more times for Luton in a six year career so far, and the 22-year old's future at Luton doesn't appear to be a bright one. Although he is quite small, so he'd fit well into this team. Tranmere also have Paul McLaren in their side at the moment. McLaren played in all of Tranmere's league games last season, starting 42 of those and scoring once. He played 166 times for Luton in 7 years, scoring 4 times before leaving to join Sheffield Wednesday, and arrived at Rovers last season via Rotherham. As well as O'Leary and McLaren, three goalkeepers have played for both teams. Dino Seremet had a loan spell at Tranmere whilst at Luton, where he was first choice keeper, but they didn'd decide to sign him permanently. Dino is now playing at Kerkyra FC in Greece. Two more able keepers have played for both clubs as well. Alec Chamberlain had a loan spell at Tranmere from Everton in the 1987-88 season, playing 15 games. The next season, he moved to Luton, where he stayed for five years making over 100 appearances. Ian Feuer also had a week-to-week contract at Tranmere, playing two games. Feuer was a popular keeper with Luton fans, and the big American is now at Beckham's club LA Galaxy as a goalkeeping coach.

Past Meetings
Luton have only played Tranmere Rovers 25 times in their history, with over

Brkovic: Just play him Blackwell

half of those meetings coming since 1990. Luton have played at Prenton Park 12 times, winning a respectable 4 out of 12 matches played at Tranmere, including the first ever meeting between the two teams in 1938, and the last occasion that Tranmere were beaten at home by Luton was under Joe Kinnear, with goals from Matthew Spring, Ahmet Brkovic and Steve Howard giving Luton a 3-1 win, after Gareth Roberts had scored the opener after a penalty save from Cedric Berthelin. Only Matthew Spring and Steve Robinson are likely to start out of the team that played that day, with Sol Davis overlooked and Brkovic cruelly left out of the team. Tranmere's last win at home to Luton came the following season, with a Gary Jones goal enough to see off Luton. The last meeting at Prenton Park saw Chris Coyne equalise in the last 15 minutes to give Luton a 1-1 draw. Overall, Luton have won almost half of the matches between Luton and Tranmere, 12, with Tranmere winning 9. Four have ended in draws, and Luton have scored 40 goals compared to Tranmere's 31 goals.

Prediction

Greenacre: May be among the goals tonight

I believe that the team can give Tranmere a good game tonight, but I don't think that the defence will be organised and strong enough to keep a clean sheet, and we don't have any obvious candidates for scoring goals - we haven't been clinical enough. 2-1 to Tranmere.