Tranmere Rovers vs Mansfield Town Match Analysis and Prediction

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Tranmere Rovers and Mansfield Town face each other at Prento Park on Friday with the opportunity to move into third position on the League Two standings.

However, there are contarsting moods at the respective teams, with the hosts on a five-match winless run and having played three games more than Mansfield, who are level on points with their hosts.

Tranmere have plenty of work ahead of them if they are to gain a spot in League One for next season, as they appear to have lost their way, recording four defeats and conceding 10 times from just five matches.

Still just one point adrift of third spot, there are reasons to remain optimistic, but Micky Mellon will be concerned with how seven goals have been shhipped at Newport County and Northampton Town.

On a positive note, a side who have struggled for goals all season have scored five times in three games, even with none of this squad still not moving past five efforts for the campaign.

While much has been made of Tranmere’s form recently, four wins have come from their last six matches on Merseyside, the only defeat coming against leaders Forest Green Rovers.

Although they still sit down in sixth spot in the table, Mansfield are currently on one of the most impressive runs in English football, winning 14 of their last 18 league matches.

Nigel Clough recently witnessed his team record three draws in four matches, but Mansfield have since responded with victories over Bradford City and Exeter City.

The competitiveness of the division means that anything could happen going forward, although there is a strong discussion that Mansfield are favourites for automatic promotion now that they trail second-placed Northampton Town by four points with three games in hand, although goals remain somewhat of an issue within the club.

Tranmere Rovers vs Mansfield Town head to head

The two teams have previously met on 10 occasions in all competitions, where Mansfield have taken four victories while Tranmere have won two, and they have drawn in four. Mansfield have scored 14 goals and conceded seven. In their last five meetings, Mansfield have won twice and they have drawn in three.

Tranmere Rovers 0-0 Mansfield Town 21/08/18

Mansfield Town 3-0 Tranmere Rovers 26/01/19

Mansfield Town 0-0 Tranmere Rovers 12/09/20

Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Mansfield Town 27/03/21

Mansfield Town 2-0 Tranmere Rovers 30/10/21

Tranmere Rovers latest home form

Tranmere have recently been on a relatively poor run of form at home, as they have won just two of their last five matches. They recently lost 2-0 to Vauxhall Motors in the Cheshire Senior Cup. In their five most recent matches, they have scored five goals and conceded seven.

Tranmere Rovers 0-4 Forest Green Rovers 29/01/22

Tranmere Rovers 1-0 Stevenage 01/02/22

Tranmere Rovers 3-0 Swindon Town 08/02/22

Tranmere Rovers 0-2 Vauxhall Motors 16/02/22

Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Port Vale 19/02/22

Tranmere Rovers latest away form

Tranmere have recently been on a poor run of form on the road, having lost in each of their four most recent away matches. Their last away victory came on January 22 when they defeated Crawley Town 1-0. In their last five, they have scored five goals and conceded 10.

Barrow 1-1 Tranmere Rovers 05/02/22

Walsall 1-0 Tranmere Rovers 12/02/22

Hartlepool United 1-0 Tranmere Rovers 15/02/22

Newport County 4-2 Tranmere Rovers 26/02/22

Northampton Town 3-2 Tranmere Rovers 05/03/22

Mansfield Town latest home form

Mansfield have been on a good run of form at home, and they have been unbeaten in their five most recent matches. Their last home defeat came on January 8 when they lost 3-2 to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup. In their last five, they have scored 11 goals and conceded four.

Mansfield Town 3-2 Swindon Town 11/01/22

Mansfield Town 2-0 Walsall 15/01/22

Mansfield Town 2-0 Leyton Orient 29/01/22

Mansfield Town 2-1 Colchester United 08/02/22

Mansfield Town 2-1 Exeter City 04/03/22

Mansfield Town latest away form

Mansfield have been on a good run of form on the road, and they have been unbeaten in their eight most recent away matches. Their last away defeat came on November 23 when they lost 2-0 to Sutton United. In their last five, they have scored six goals and conceded two.

Barrow 1-3 Mansfield Town 22/01/22

Harrogate Town 0-0 Mansfield Town 01/02/22

Bristol Rovers 0-0 Mansfield Town 12/02/22

Newport County 1-1 Mansfield Town 19/02/22

Bradford City 0-2 Mansfield Town 26/02/22

Tranmere Rovers news

Mellon is likely to makes changes to his Tranmere side, with Paul Glatzel likely to return to the starting XI for Jake Burton.

Callum McManaman may drop down to the substitutes’ bench, allowing Josh Hawkes to start at left wing-back and Kieron Morris move to the opposite flank for this game.

Mansfield Town news

As Clough may be prepared to stick with the Mansfield starting lineup from the win over Exeter, there is scope to make a change.

Longstaff has been deployed in both central midfield and the right flank since his arrival, and George Maris is on standby if he moves further forward.

Prediction and Odds

Tranmere enter the contest winless in their six most recent matches, a record they will be looking to correct especially as the play on their home ground.

However, Mansfield come as the favourites having recently been on a good form, and we expect them to overcome their hosts to take the victory.

Odds: 1 2.45 X 2.20 2 1.80