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Colchester United
League Two | Gameweek 7
Sep 9, 2023 at 3pm UK
JobServe Community Stadium
Tranmere Rovers

Colchester
2 - 0
Tranmere

Taylor (11'), Ihionvien (87')
Hall (15'), Tovide (45+1')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Hendry (27'), Davies (39'), Jennings (45'), Pike (47')

Preview: Colchester United vs. Tranmere Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's League Two clash between Colchester United and Tranmere Rovers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Both teams will be aiming to move away from League Two's relegation zone when Colchester United host Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.

The two sides have both only gained three points so far this season, although Colchester have played one game fewer than the majority of the division.


Match preview

Swindon Town coach Ben Garner reacts on January 7, 2022© Reuters

Indeed, Colchester had to wait an extra week to kickoff their season after their scheduled opening match against Swindon Town was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, but their season is yet to truly get going.

An impressive 3-0 win away to Gillingham aside, the U's have been beaten four times in the league, while they were defeated on penalties by Cardiff City in the opening round of the EFL Cup.

As such, only goal difference is keeping them ahead of Sutton United in the first relegation spot ahead of this weekend's action, with Ben Garner's side defeated 1-0 by Walsall in their last match.

In truth, there was relatively little to split the two sides, with Isaac Hutchinson's strike five minutes after the hour mark proving to be the difference. Garner, who steered Colchester away from relegation danger following his appointment in March, will sense an opportunity to bounce back at the Colchester Community Stadium this weekend.

Tranmere Rovers' Elliott Nevitt celebrates scoring their first goal on August 24, 2022© Reuters

After all, Tranmere are also on three points themselves, having fallen to a fifth defeat in six league games at home to Wrexham last time out.

Aaron Hayden's goal for the visitors four minutes prior to the hour mark gave them a deserved victory, with Phil Parkinson's side having 23 shots and 17 corners across the course of the encounter, although Tranmere did enjoy more possession of the ball.

Rovers boss Ian Dawes is facing significant pressure having only won three of his 18 games in charge since being appointed in March, with recent cup defeats to Leicester City and Fleetwood Town worsening his disappointing record.

Having finished progressively lower in League Two in their three seasons since being relegated from the third tier, there is a danger that Tranmere are sleeping towards falling out of the EFL altogether once again, making their trip to Essex a hugely important one on Saturday.

Colchester United League Two form:


Colchester United form (all competitions):


Tranmere Rovers League Two form:


Tranmere Rovers form (all competitions):



Team News

Connor Jennings celebrates after scoring the only goal in the League Two playoff final between Tranmere Rovers and Newport County on April 25, 2019© Reuters

Colchester are likely to restore Matt Jay to their starting lineup after surprisingly only using him from the bench against Walsall, with the attacking midfielder potentially replacing Alex Newby to drift inside from the left flank.

Northern Ireland international Cameron McGeehan has joined the club on a free transfer in recent days, but Saturday is likely to come soon for the midfielder to feature.

Tranmere, meanwhile, will travel without the suspended Dan Pike after he was sent off against Fleetwood in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.

Youngsters Jake Leake and James Norris are likely to fight it out to come into the visitors' side at left-back, with Kristian Dennis and Connor Jennings set to continue in attack.


Colchester United possible starting lineup:
Goodman; Greenidge, Kelleher, Hall, Egbo; Fevrier, Read, Chilvers, Jay; Tovide, Taylor

Tranmere Rovers possible starting lineup:
McGee; Yarney, Davies, Turnbull, Leake; Morris, Merrie, Hendry; Dennis, Jennings, Hawkes


SM words green background

We say: Colchester United 1-1 Tranmere Rovers

Neither side has began the season very well, meaning that there is likely to be a lack of confidence on display when the two teams take to the field on Saturday.

Having both lost all bar one of their matches, there could be an element of aiming to avoid another defeat, so we can envisage a share of the spoils ensuing.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data


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Written by
Brett Curtis

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Game History

How you voted: Colchester vs Tranmere

Colchester United
60.0%
Draw
20.0%
Tranmere Rovers
20.0%
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1Walsall19124335191640
2Port Vale2010642619736
3Crewe AlexandraCrewe199732416834
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5Doncaster RoversDoncaster209652823533
6Chesterfield2087535231231
7Grimsby Town2010192730-331
8MK Dons1893630201030
9Gillingham199282016429
10Bradford CityBradford197752419528
11Notts County197752521428
12Salford City197662019127
13Cheltenham TownCheltenham207582728-126
14Bromley195952323024
15Fleetwood TownFleetwood185852423123
16BarrowBarrow196581818023
17Newport CountyNewport196582128-723
18Colchester UnitedColchester1941052322122
19Tranmere RoversTranmere195681426-1221
20Harrogate TownHarrogate2063111730-1321
21Accrington StanleyAccrington194782634-819
22Swindon TownSwindon2037102334-1116
23Morecambe2035121936-1714
24Carlisle UnitedCarlisle1935111532-1714


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