More than 2,000 Tranmere Rovers supporters are expected to head across to Greater Manchester on Tuesday night as Micky Mellon’s side take on Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park.
Having already sold out an initial allocation of 1,700 tickets for the fixture, a further 1,000 tickets are available on the day as the Super White Army are getting fully behind their team who currently occupy fifth position in Sky Bet League Two.
With a large and no doubt noisy backing behind the players, added to the fact that there is a small bit of local rivalry between the two clubs, it is a hugely anticipated fixture as we fast approach the climax to an exciting season.
Saturday’s victory over Carlisle United was Tranmere’s seventh success in consecutive league matches for the first time since 1990, as Rovers look to achieve back-to-back promotions after getting out of the National League via the play-offs last term.
There is a buzz around the club at the moment and, with just seven matches remaining, each game becomes vitally important.
So, next up is Oldham, a rearranged fixture after heavy rain meant the originally scheduled game on March 16 was postponed, and Rovers’ game in hand on some of their promotion rivals.
The Latics may be stranded in no man’s land (in 15th position, they won’t get dragged in to a relegation battle but they are also too far adrift of the play-off places), but they’ll make things difficult for Mellon’s men on Tuesday evening.
It’s been a turbulent season for them which could have turned out so differently.
Club legend Frankie Bunn enjoyed a good start to his reign as manager at Boundary Park. He guided the team into the upper echelons of the league table before a little slump and a heavy defeat to Carlisle on Boxing Day saw him out of work.
Caretaker manager Peter Wild steadied the ship, helped them to a FA Cup giantkilling over Premier League side Fulham before former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes took the reins in February.
Scholes’ spell in charge was shortlived, 31 days to be precise, before he walked away from the club with Wild the man back in the dugout for the remainder of the campaign.
There always seems to be a rivalry when the two clubs meet, and that will only add to the occasion on Tuesday night. Throw into the mix Ollie Banks and Jose Baxter and that’s added to even more!
Those of you who have been to Boundary Park before will not be surprised to be told that it is likely to be very cold there on Tuesday evening with temperatures forecast to be between 3 and 5 degrees centigrade for match night.
So, it’s another important match but one that Rovers are more than capable to getting three points from, especially if they play as well as they did against Carlisle last weekend, particularly the second half display which was dominant.
Luke McCullough limped off during the early stages of Saturday’s game and it’s unlikely he’ll feature on Tuesday, with ex-Oldham striker Ishmael Miller also absent with his long term hamstring injury and so unable to face his former club.
