Tranmere Rovers host Port Vale FC today.

Tranmere are 7th in the standings, tied with Walsall for the last playoff spot. Their home record is 10-4-5 with a 27-15 GD. Here are their last 5 matches in League 1:

15.03.2008 ENG 3 Tranmere-Hartlepool 3:1

11.03.2008 ENG 3 Swansea-Tranmere 1:1

08.03.2008 ENG 3 Oldham-Tranmere 3:1

01.03.2008 ENG 3 Tranmere-Doncaster 0:1

23.02.2008 ENG 3 Bristol R.-Tranmere 1:1

After 2 draws and 2 defeats against some difficult teams to play against, they managed a home win, but against an unmotivated Hartlepool side. Still, they conceded in every match and it shows some problems in their defensive sector.

Ronnie Moore, Tranmere's coach, stated: "It's a crucial time of the season. Playing on a Thursday night is a bit unusual but we've got an ideal opportunity to put pressure on the sides around us if we win. Results matter at this stage of the season, not performances. It would be great to play like Real Madrid, but at the end of the day its about results. The Port Vale game was a game and a half earlier in the season and we were lucky to come away with 0-0 as they had all the chances. At that stage you thought they'd be a side concentrating more on the top half than the bottom. This league is so tight and you need breaks, and they haven't had them. They've had a lot of injuries but Lee Sinnott has now got them going. They had a great win at Crewe and they twice came from behind to draw with Leeds last weekend. This will be as tough as playing Carlisle, Nottingham Forest or Swansea."

He clearly states that Port Vale will be a very hard match, and he is only interested in the result, so a close win would be more than enough.

Port Vale are on the last spot in the standings, 13 points away from salvation. With 8 games to go, it will certainly be very hard, but not impossible. Port Vale have a 3-2-14 away record with a 17-35 GD. But the visitors tonight actually made a nice start to their salvation fight, by acquiring 4 points in their last 2 games against Crewe and Leeds. Still, before those games, they had lost to Milwall and Oldham by 3-0 and 2-1 away at Doncaster. Nevertheless, the team is on a good move right now, and they can certainly get something out of this match if they put up a good fight.

The first match of the season ended 0-0 and Vale had the most chances to win. Tonight, as Tranmere's coach said, it will be a tough match, and a close victory would please him a lot. But a draw here would also put Tranmere in the playoff spots for the moment, so i believe he wouldn't mind that either. AS for the visitors, they desperately need the 3 points here, and will give all they got to repeat the Crewe performance.

Tranmere defender Ian Goodison and winger Chris Shuker are both in contention after recovering from their respective knee injuries. Forward Craig Curran has shaken off his flu and should be available but striker Steve Davies (knee) is out.

Port Vale defender Adam Eckersley could feature as he continues to recover from an ankle injury. Vale have no other new suspensions or injuries and will select from the squad which drew 3-3 with Leeds.

Tranmere have some problems with their strikers, so i believe tonight they won't score more than two goals. As for the visitors, i believe they can grab one here, as Tranmere have conceded in their last 5 games, so i will be backing the visitors not to lost by more than one goal tonight. Good luck.

Pick : Port Vale +1.5
Odds : 1.44
Stake : 7 / 10
Bookmaker : Betsson
Date : 2008-03-20
Match Result : 2-0
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