Football Insight: Tranmere Rovers Prepare For Salford City

Tranmere Rovers: Kane Hemmings

Tranmere's leading scorer is Kane Hemmings, with 8 games throughout the season for Rovers.

After his arrival at Prenton Park from Burton Albion in January 2022, he was slow off the mark but finally hit form, notching up 7 strikes in the run-in to the back-end last season. He's continued his goal-scoring prowess this season, netting 8 times and has been ever-present for Micky Mellon up-front.

Hemmings' recent form in-front of goal has been partially clinical, netting 4 in Tranmere's last 8 encounters; his most recent strike, a penalty in a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Stockport County – the spot-kick brought the game level at 1-1.

Conor McAleny: Salford City

Salford’s danger comes from the right wing, as McAleny, on fine form, could be key in their attack, linking up with Matt Smith and Louie Barry, the former Aston Villa and Barcelona youth player.

McAleny had a tough start to life in Manchester, but has proved to be the Ammies top scorer from the wing, netting eight times. His form since the turn of the year has been electrifying, notching up strikes against Northampton Town, Colchester United, Rochdale and doubles against Bradford City and Sutton United after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

He could prove to be Salford’s biggest threat and the shaky Rovers back-line of late will have to be on top form to stop the tricky winger.

Josh Dacres-Cogley (Tranmere Rovers)

A prime example of a player's development at a club is Josh Dacres-Cogley, who’s been instrumental for Tranmere since his arrival from Birmingham City. Since dropping down from the Championship side, the right-back has been excellent in White and Blue.

Effective overlaps, ceasless runs down the right, dangerous balls, and ultimately a key provider for Tranmere's goal, Dacres-Cogley has been outstanding and has had his praises sung by the crowd throughout the campaign as he keeps a consistent level of form.

He's had a recent blip as has the whole Tranmere side after recent displays, but a prime example of what he can do, and his qualities of a higher-up player was the home game against league leaders Leyton Orient. The ultimate creation of the game's winner, Dacres-Cogley left fans waxing lyrical about his ability to look threatening down the right.

Manager Micky Mellon heaped praise on the young defender and he believes he is a valuable asset to the side.

“Fantastic”, he said about Dacres-Cogley. ”He's was excellent, he certainly has the quality and potential to move up the league.”

Louie Barry (Salford City)

A graduate of Aston Villa and Barcelona's academy, Barry will prove a threat to Tranmere.

A little over two years ago, Barry was netting against Liverpool, now he's on his third EFL loan in a row as he put pen-to-paper with Salford from Villa. He hasn't hit the back of the net and got his loan spell up and running, but any glimpses of his form with Aston Villa could see his loan spell turn affective.

He joins the Ammies after un-impressing in League One with MK Dons, but sparks of quality have seen him earn another Football League move, and he has starred in a two-minute cameo for his debut and started his first game on the weekend in the 2-1 win over Rochdale.

Micky Mellon (Tranmere Rovers)

Scottish manager Micky Mellon is into his second spell as Tranmere Rovers manager, and is under pressure as a barren run of results has seen the fans turn against their manager.

After leaving Sunny Scotland for the Wonderful Wirral in 2021, he was on course to take Tranmere back to League One after being in the promotion places for most of last campaign, but a poor string of results saw Rovers slipped out of promotion and even out of the play-offs, ending 9th.

This season was meant to be another push of igniting Tranmere's promotion push and after many topsy turvy runs – 3 wins in 18 games and a 5 game winning streak to name a few – has seen the Super White Army slip into mid-table mediocrity and questionable tactics and inability to chalk up three points in crucial encounters has seen for his head to be called on several occasions. A positive, the league looks that compact that a good run could see Tranmere in the play-off places within a matter of weeks, so not all is doom and gloom.

Neil Wood (Salford City)

Into his first proper managerial experience, Wood has posed Salford's biggest threat in their bid to instate a spot in League One.

Wood's only previous managerial experience was taking over at Manchester United U23's and has impressed as his spell at Salford sees them 5th, comfortably in the play-offs and only a win off Carlisle United in the automatic promotion zone.

Salford have always knocked on the door for promotion since their maiden voyage in the Football League back in 2019/20, but have always narrowly missed out on a place in the Top 7. Now, the Ammies look a force to be reckoned with as a spot in League One looks to be a fine proposition and one with a good end to the season, is realistic for Salford.