Both looking to respond following poor results last time out, Tranmere Rovers and Salford City will lock horns at Prenton Park for a League Two clash on Friday night.

The Superwhites suffered a heavy defeat at the home of Colchester United last weekend, whilst the Ammies were the latest victims of an in-form Walsall side.

Finishing 16th in League Two last season, Tranmere Rovers were marooned in mid-table by the end of the campaign, with the mission this time around to potentially challenge for a spot in the top seven, although Friday's hosts have endured a mixed start to their 2024-25 schedule.

Since returning from the first international break of the season in early September, the Superwhites have lost back-to-back away contests at promotion contenders Gillingham and Colchester by an aggregate scoreline of 6-0, highlighting Rovers' serious frailties away from Prenton Park.

As was the case a week earlier at Priestfield Stadium, Tranmere dominated proceedings in terms of possession at Colchester but failed to pose a significant threat on the hosts' net, with a Lyle Taylor brace and a second-half strike from Samson Tovide securing the points for the U's.

After failing to collect any points since the turn of the month, the Superwhites have dropped down to 16th place in the fourth-tier standings, five points behind seventh-placed Crewe Alexandra and five ahead of Accrington Stanley in the highest of the relegation spots.

Finding the net on just three occasions from six matches so far this season, Tranmere currently possess the least potent attack in the division, with all of those strikes being converted by Omari Patrick, who is stepping up to the plate for the Rovers after scoring only five across the entire campaign for Sutton United in 2023-24.

Salford City were unable to make it successive wins at the Peninsula Stadium on Saturday afternoon, when third-placed Walsall arrived in the North-West and collected maximum points courtesy of second-half goals from striker Nathan Lowe and midfielder Charlie Lakin.

Focusing on away form ahead of a trip to Prenton Park on Friday night, the Ammies are unbeaten in two outings at the start of the 2024-25 League Two calendar, playing out a goalless draw at Bradford City on August 17 before earning a point from a 1-1 scoreline with Chesterfield on August 24.

Making the net ripple on just four occasions so far this campaign, Salford have the second-poorest attack in the division behind Friday's hosts Tranmere, with former Doncaster Rovers forward Hakeeb Adelakun leading the club's early Golden Boot race with a mere two strikes.

Looking Back: A Tale of Two Teams

Last term's meetings between Tranmere and Salford were particularly memorable, with the fixture at Prenton Park throwing up a seven-goal thriller in August 2023, with the visiting Ammies securing a dramatic 4-3 win largely thanks to a sensational Callum Hendry hat-trick.

Ahead of kicking off the League Two action on Friday, Salford sit above Tranmere on goal difference, with a victory at Prenton Park enough to propel the Ammies to as high as eighth if they can manage a five-goal swing.

Team News and Tactical Approaches

Tranmere Rovers

If that is the case, the likes of Kristian Dennis and 23-year-old Sol Solomon will be targeting rare league starts for Friday night's hosts.

Replaced during the half-time interval on the weekend, right-back Cameron Norman is likely to drop out to make room for Irishman Lee O'Connor.

Salford City

Once of Everton's academy, Luke Garbutt is expected to continue on the left side of a back four for the Ammies at Prenton Park on Friday.

Predicted Lineups

Tranmere Rovers possible starting lineup: McGee; O'Connor, Bradshaw, Turnbull, Wood; Jennings, Khan, Hendry, Patrick; Dennis, Norris

Salford City possible starting lineup: Jones; Mnoga, Negru, Tilt, Garbutt; Chesters, Woodburn, Austerfield, Fornah; Kouassi, Adelakun

A Tight Encounter

Possessing identical records after six matches, there is little to separate Tranmere and Salford ahead of their Friday night clash at Prenton Park.

The Superwhites' home advantage is sure to help, but we feel that the attacking quality of the Ammies will be enough to secure the visitors a share of the points on the road.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

A Night of Celebration

TRANMERE manager Nigel Adkins is relishing the prospect of playing Salford City in what will be the 400th Friday night match under the Prenton Park lights.

Rovers have an excellent record in these unique occasions winning 212 of those 399 games so far, losing just 97 with 91 ending in a draw.

Adkins: said: "I've played in a few myself - they're special and I'm really looking forward to the game. We've been away from home for more or less a month but at last we're back at Prenton Park and it's an opportunity for everyone to come together and get behind the mighty Rovers."

Looking back to his time as a Rovers supporter before he became a player and then manager, Adkins said: "My mum didn't like it sometimes because it was a bit violent back in those days but you'd go and stand behind the goal and you learned to run quickly and you got a bit of a smack now and then but they were special days and if you win it makes for a great weekend. 

"It's the atmosphere and there's often a bit of dew on the pitch so it's quicker. Sometimes when it's 3pm on a Saturday the ball will move slower because it's not slick and then of course it's dark and you have the floodlights. It's special and the players have been made aware of that"

Rovers return to Prenton Park following three consecutive league games on the road, where Adkins' side initially picked up a 2-1 win at Carlisle United, but have subsequently gone on to suffer back-to-back 3-0 losses at Gillingham and last weekend at Colchester United.

Adkins said: "Unfortunately the last couple of results have gone against us but we really appreciate the supporters who came down to Gillingham and Colchester. We couldn't back up the great win we had at Carlisle.

"It's an opportunity and we now have back to back home games having had a month away - we have to capitalise on this and it's about the harmony between the players, the staff and the supporters all willing each other to do well 

"We work hard and train hard and yes we need to score some more goals but we started the season well it's fair to say and we could have won both the last away games but unfortunately we conceded the first goal early in both and that changes the complexion. 

"We also had one or two players under the weather and had one or two who were ill during the game but that's sport and that's what happens and everyone seems to have settled down now."

Salford have had a similar start to the season to Tranmere with both having eight points from their first six games but Adkins knows results must improve after the last two defeats.

Rovers have also only scored three games in those six games with all of them coming from new striker Omari Patrick. 

He said: "Karl Robinson has come in at Salford and he's an experienced manager and they'll probably play a number of different formations but there are things we think we can cause them a problem with 

"We've been very good defensively and hard to break down - what's happened in the last two games is we've conceded an early goal and the opposition have then defended deep.

"We've actually had more possession in the last two games than we had in any games last season but we've lost.

"It's now about turning that possession we've got in the attacking third of the pitch into better possession to create better chances and likewise by being adventurous and not leaving ourselves open to the counter attack.

"We know we've got to score more goals and turn that possession into goalscoring opportunities."

Tranmere Rovers v Salford City, Friday, September 27. 7.45pm. For tickets click here.