Will surprise shake up improve Tranmere?
In the aftermath of relieving manager Keith Hill of his duties, Tranmere Rovers host Morecambe for the first leg of their League Two Playoff Semi Final. A series of negative post match interviews and a decline in form at the business end of the season led to Rovers falling away from automatic promotion contention and into seventh spot, the board took the decision to sack Hill in looking for a change of momentum with Ian Dawes now temporarily in charge. It has been a season to remember for Morecambe, Derek Adams has transformed the team since coming in to save them from relegation last term. There were doubts about the clubs future in the fourth tier when long serving Jim Bentley departed but Adams has lifted the ceiling and guided them to a very impressive fourth placed finish.
Market
The Shrimpers are the bookies favourites to earn, winning five of their last six matches. Key man Adam Phillips was recalled by parent club Burnley in January, the loss of a man once dubbed the League Two Bruno Fernandes was expected to derail their promotion push. However this group is far stronger than the names that meet the eye and with instrumental attacking midfielders like Carlos Mendes Gomes and Aaron Wildig, they are capable of achieving a dreamy promotion to the third tier of English football for the first time in their 101 year history.
Rovers bring up the rear in terms of the outright odds with Forest Green Rovers, the two come into the playoffs in considerably worse form than the others but with some new ideas coming from the dugout Tranmere will be hoping the change can revitalise them. The sides traded 1-0 wins on the road in their league head-to-heads this term so apart from recent form there is not much to separate them. Morecambe have less expectation from the fans and finished five points the hosts’ superior, they are rightly favourable to qualify.
Goals?
We saw some very cagey EFL playoffs in 2019/20, but the sides had hardly played in months before then, let’s hope for some better entertainment this time around, a goals angle does not excite me.
- Tranmere have scored in five of ten.
- Tranmere have conceded in five of ten.
- Tranmere have seen both teams score in three of ten.
- Tranmere have seen over 2.5 goals in three of ten.
- Morecambe have scored in eight of ten.
- Morecambe have conceded in six of ten.
- Morecambe have seen both teams score in four of ten.
- Morecambe have seen over 2.5 goals in four of ten.
I see reasoning for all three selections, but mainly ones that get the visitors on side, here is one.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
Morecambe won 2-1 at Prenton Park and went on to seal their spot in the final, 3-2 on aggregate.