Tomorrow afternoon Crewe Alexandra host Tranmere Rovers at the Alexandra Stadium, the visitors’ playing squad containing former Alex midfielder Brad Walker.
This Season:
This season sees The Rovers sit in 18th place in the league having won against Walsall, Carlisle United and Bromley, they have drawn against Notts County, Port Vale, Salford City, Swindon Town and MK Dons while they have lost against Gillingham, Colchester United, Bradford City and Grimsby Town.
They lost against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup 2nd Round (after knocking out Accrington Stanley in the previous round) while they have beaten Accrington and lost against Everton’s Under-21s in the EFL Trophy to sit 3rd in their group.
Transfers:
They have signed goalkeeper Reuben Egan, defenders Cameron Norman and Declan Drysdale, midfielders Sam Finley and Josh Williams while forwards Josh Davison, Sol Solomon and Omari Patrick complete their permanent signings. Defender Zak Bradshaw and midfielder Saidou Khan have both joined on season-long loans.
Leaving the club this summer were Reece McAlear, Charlie Jolley, Dan Pike, Paul Lewis, Rhys Hughes, Ben Hockenhull, Mikey Davies, Jean Belehouan, Josef Yarney, Ousmane Kane, Luis Lacey, Conor Robson and Joe Starbuckall left when their deals expired.
Coaches Thoughts:
Here are the thoughts of the two sets of coaching staff heading into the game:
Head-to-Head:
Alex Wins: 47
Tranmere Wins: 61
Draws: 34
Biggest Alex Win: 6-1 at Prenton Park in December 1961
Biggest Tranmere Win: 6-1 at Prenton Park in February 1937
Last Meeting
Tranmere Rovers 0-0 Crewe Alexandra, 3rd February 2024
The two teams would play out a goalless draw in the Wirral back at the start of the year although the Reds would lose Tom Booth to a rib injury.
Crewe: Booth (Davies 46); Billington (Holicek 74), Turns, Demetriou, Adebisi; Thomas, Offord; Tracey (Leigh 74), Rowe (Kirk 90), Long; Nevitt (Baker-Richardson 74)
Booked: Nevitt 47, Long 61, Thomas 76, Baker-Richardson 90
Tranmere: McGee; Lee, Davies, Turnbull, Wood; Apter (McAlear 83), Walker, Hendry, Morris (Hawkes 77); Jennings, Jolley (Saunders 65)
Booked: Turnbull 57, Walker 87
Played for Both:
The following players have been contracted to both teams:
Goalkeepers: Owain fon Williams, Andy Gorton, Tom Poskett, Paul Rachubka
Defenders: Zoumana Bakayogo, Marlon Broomes, Donervon Daniels, Adam Dugdale, Steve Edwards, Mark Ellis, Steve Foster, Eric Hornby, Stephen Hughes, Mike Jackson, Mark McCarrick, Chris McCready, John McMahon, Dave Miller, Jon Otsemobor, George Ray, Ritchie Sutton, Andy Taylor, Danny Woodards, Wilf Yates
Midfielders: Chris Atkinson, Eddie Bishop, Junior Brown, Steve Craven, Clive Evans, Dan Gardner, Tony Grant, Jim Harvey, Lee Molyneux, Alan Navarro, Mark Palios, Alex Russell, Brad Walker
Forwards: David Amoo, Owen Brown, Chris Dagnall, Bernard Evans, Kane Hemmings, Michael Higdon, Lee Jones, Ossie Jones, Mark Leonard, Ryan Lowe, John Manning, Nicky Maynard, Malcolm Moore, Elliott Nevitt, James Roberts, Stan Rowlands, Gareth Taylor, Stephen Walker, Albert Wood, Calvin Zola
Officials:
The EFL have announced that James Durkin is tomorrow’s referee with Alistair Nelson and Joseph Pettitt assisting him and Jason Roberts the fourth official. This is the first Crewe game that Durkin has refereed.
