Tranmere Rovers vs Wigan Athletic Match Analysis & Prediction
14/11/2023 10:00 pm
Tranmere Rovers will be hoping to bow out of the EFL Trophy with a positive result when they host Wigan Athletic at Prenton Park on Tuesday night.
The visitors, who have already booked their spot in the knockout rounds, would leapfrog Fleetwood Town into the top of Group D with a victory here.
After just 19 matches in charge, Ian Dawes was relieved from his position as Tranmere manager in early September, with the former Southampton head coach Nigel Adkins drafted in as his replacement.
The Birkenhead-born boss has taken time to stamp his ideas on his local club, with six defeat from nine league matches seeing them occupy the relegation spots ahead of their home encounter with Forest Green on Saturday.
However, they secured a hugely crucial 3-0 victory, leapfrogging their opponents in the table and moving outside of the bottom two on goal difference in the process.
Tyrese Omotoye’s early own goal sent the hosts on their way, with second-half strikes from Kristian Dennis and Rob Apter helping calm any potential nerves at Prenton Park.
With a trip to rock-bottom Sutton United to come at the weekend, Tuusday’s cup tie could provide the chance for some fringe players to prove they are worthy of receiving more opportunities in the coming weeks and months.
Meanwhile, Wigan will be keen to beat their lower-ranked opponents and finish top of Group D in the process. In theory, this would give them a kinder draw in the first knockout round, as they would face a group runners-up as opposed to a group winner.
Despite receiving an eight-point deduction for financial irregularities following their relegation from the Championship last season, Wigan have managed to move outside of League One’s relegation spots by winning eight and drawing two of their 17 league matches.
Their 1-1 draw away to Cheltenham Town on Saturday was only the second time Wigan have had to share the points so far this season, with Liam Sercombe’s penalty cancelling out Lewis Freestone’s early own goal in the first half.
Shaun Maloney, who is something of a club legend having won the FA Cup with Wigan in 2013, with be hoping to add more silverware to both his and the club’s trophy cabinet this season.
As such, with promotion back to the Championship likely to prove a tall order, the EFL Trophy could prove to be a nice distraction for them across the course of the campaign.
Tranmere Rovers vs. Wigan Athletic Head to head
In the seven previous meetings between these two teams, Tranmere have claimed two victories while Wigan have won three, and they have drawn in two. Wigan have scored 10 goals and conceded seven in the process.
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17/09/2002Tranmere Rovers0Wigan Athletic2League One
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04/03/2003Wigan Athletic0Tranmere Rovers0League One
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14/07/2018Tranmere Rovers1Wigan Athletic2Club Friendlies
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11/11/2020Tranmere Rovers(P)2Wigan Athletic2EFL Trophy
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28/07/2023Tranmere Rovers1Wigan Athletic1Club Friendlies
Tranmere Rovers Team News
Given they have already been elimnated and they are facing another relegation rival in League Two on Saturday, Adkins could make 11 changes against Wigan for what is essentially a dead rubber for Tranmere.
As such, the likes of Kieron Morris, Harvey Read Saunders, Sam Taylor and Dan Pike will all be confident of receiving starting berths after apprearing off the bench during the win over Forest Green.
Tranmere Rovers's Last 5 Matches
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20/10/2023Tranmere Rovers1Doncaster Rovers2League Two
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24/10/2023Morecambe1Tranmere Rovers0League Two
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28/10/2023Stockport County2Tranmere Rovers0League Two
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04/11/2023Stevenage4Tranmere Rovers3FA Cup
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11/11/2023Tranmere Rovers3Forest Green Rovers0League Two
Wigan Athletic Team News
Wigan will remain without the services of Gary Kerr, with the defender continuing his long recovery from a cruciate ligament injury.
Maloney could opt for several changes given his side have already booked their spot in the knockouts, with the likes of Callum McManaman and Josh Magennis capable of freshening up the visitors’ attack.
Wigan Athletic's Last 5 Matches
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28/10/2023Wigan Athletic2Shrewsbury Town0League One
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31/10/2023Wigan Athletic2Charlton Athletic3League One
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04/11/2023Exeter City0Wigan Athletic2FA Cup
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07/11/2023Wigan Athletic2Peterborough United1League One
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11/11/2023Cheltenham Town1Wigan Athletic1League One
Tranmere Rovers vs. Wigan Athletic: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
1X2: 2
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