Tranmere Rovers can put a little distance between themselves and relegation when they visit Mazuma Stadium to battle Morecambe in League Two action on Tuesday.
An injury-time goal on Saturday gave the Shrimps a 3-2 victory over Sutton United, moving them up to 10th in the table, while Tranmere were beaten 2-1 by Doncaster as they currently sit in 21st, above the relegation line on goal difference.
Match preview
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Over the weekend, Morecambe extended their winning run to three matches in all competitions as they inch closer towards a potential promotion.
After 14 domestic encounters, they are in the top half of the table and only three points away from a promotional playoff, unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions, with points in five successive league fixtures.
Through the early portion of the League Two campaign, Derek Adams's men had difficulty finding the back of the net, going goalless in two of their first three games, but this month, they have been a lot more decisive in the attacking third, scoring three times in each of their last three competitive fixtures.
They have yet to lose a league contest at home this season, conceding a goal or fewer in five of those six encounters, including three clean sheets.
In their last five competitive fixtures, the Shrimp have only conceded one goal in the opening half, while they have not been behind in any of those encounters.
Morecambe are unbeaten over this domestic campaign when scoring first but have only claimed one point in league play when conceding the opener, collecting a 2-2 draw at home to Swindon Town.
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Another shaky opening 45 minutes on Saturday put Tranmere behind the eight-ball this past weekend as they lost for the third successive time in all competitions.
This team have conceded at least one goal within the opening half-hour in their last four competitive fixtures, while they have not claimed a single point domestically in 2023-24 when allowing the opening goal.
At the same time, Rovers have not always been great when drawing first blood, losing three times in this season's competition when doing so.
Under interim manager Nigel Adkins, Tranmere have found the back of the net in five of their six domestic affairs but have also conceded multiple goals in four of their previous five league contests.
For the moment, their improved form in the attacking third is what is keeping them above the relegation line, as they are currently in a three-way tie with Colchester United and Forest Green Rovers for the second relegation spot but are above them both on goal difference.
Although they have yet to claim a point away from home this season, Tranmere Rovers have never lost a road fixture versus Morecambe, playing them to a 1-1 draw in a promotional playoff at Mazuma Stadium in May 2021, while defeating them 1-0 when they visited there in January of that same year.
Team News
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Morecambe welcomed back Yann Songo'o from suspension as the midfielder came on for Farrend Rawson in the second half on Saturday, while Rawson was the only one who began their EFL Trophy match against Barrow (3-1) to keep his place in the starting 11 versus Sutton United.
They made one change to their starting 11 from their 11th to 12th match in League Two, with Rawson beginning in central defence this past weekend instead of James Connolly.
Michael Mellon and Adam Mayor netted in the opening half on Saturday, while Joel Senior was the hero, with his fist of the domestic campaign in stoppage time holding up as the winner.
We saw three newcomers in the Rovers starting 11 on Saturday as Joe Murphy began in goal in place of the suspended Luke McGee, while Jordan Turnbull and Kristian Dennis came in for Tom Davies, who himself was suspended and Charlie Jolley.
Captain Connor Jennings has scored in two of his last three games for Tranmere, netting their only strike over the weekend against Doncaster.
Jennings is tied with Josh Hawkes for the team lead in goals (four) during the 2023-24 domestic campaign, though the latter has not scored since notching a brace in their 2-0 win over Accrington Stanley on September 23.
Morecambe possible starting lineup:
A. Smith; Senior, Stokes, Bedeau, Tutonda; Love, McKiernan; Bloxham, Mayor, Slew; Mellon
Tranmere Rovers possible starting lineup:
McGee; Pike, Turnbull, Yarney, Wood; Jennings, Hendry, Apter; Saunders, Jolley, Hawkes
We say: Morecambe 2-0 Tranmere Rovers
The home side still have work to do when it comes to closing out a game, but they are in fine attacking form right now, while Tranmere have struggled to maintain their composure away from home with a red card in consecutive domestic road fixtures.
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Top tip
Joel Lefevre
