Match Insight Stevenage v Tranmere

Jordan Roberts (Stevenage)

Stevenage has been a free-flowing side this season, with the goals shared across the squad, but the one to watch is Jordan Roberts.

Roberts has netted eight times and is a midfielder who can spark dangerous attacks with his creativity.

After his spell in the Scottish Premiership with Motherwell, his return to England has been impressive, however, his goals have dried up of late.

Today's game against Rovers brings a great opportunity for Roberts to shine in the engine room once more.

Kane Hemmings (Tranmere Rovers)

Tranmere's leading scorer - eight 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 of 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, with 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.

The forward needs to find a consistent run of form in front of goal and Saturday presents him with a great opportunity - bearing in mind Hemmings features.

Carl Piergianni (Stevenage)

An experienced centre-back and as proved, clinical, Piergianni is an aerial threat so a leaky Tranmere defence of late will need to defend astutely to keep him out.

Piergianni is a unit in Stevenage’s back-line and has chipped in at the other end of the field, netting six times in thirty appearances.

The defender has formed part of a sturdy back-three with Dan Sweeney and multiple other players, but for Tranmere, he is one of many danger man up and down the pitch to keep an eye on.

Jay Turner-Cooke (Tranmere Rovers)

An impressive introduction for Turner-Cook has granted him regular cameos, as Tranmere may have found a spark in their engine tank as Turner-Cooke will be looking to start his first game.

The youthful midfielder’s drive and vigor gives Tranmere something different in the centre of the park.

He’s had to wait patiently for an appearance after picking up an injury for parent club Newcastle but is back in the fray and looks dangerous.

Steve Evans (Stevenage)

Vastly experienced manager Steve Evans has worked wanders at Boro after taking charge in Hertfordshire this season.

With more than 15 years of Football League experience, he has been successful on the managerial front, taking two sides to the Football League and was part of one of the most remarkable League One play-off finals, when his Rotherham United side took on Leyton Orient and produced a fine comeback to reach the Championship.

He joined Stevenage in 2022 and has taken a side used to relegation battles to promotion favourites with an outside chance of the title, with many supporters waxing lyrical about their Scot.

Micky Mellon (Tranmere Rovers)

Scottish manager Micky Mellon is into his second spell as Tranmere Rovers manager, and is under pressure with a barren run of results.

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 three points could see them realistically touching 7th spot, so a run of form is mandatory for Tranmere if their aims are promotion.