Preview: Tranmere Rovers vs. Hartlepool United - prediction, team news, lineups

Tranmere Rovers will be looking to end a run of four League Two games without a win when they host Hartlepool United on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors, meanwhile, could climb to the top of the table with a victory and if other results in the division were to go their way.

Match preview

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Goals have been at a premium in games involving Tranmere Rovers so far this season, with the team scoring only once and conceding twice in their opening five league matches.

Their only goal came on the opening day when a Callum McManaman strike secured a narrow 1-0 victory against Walsall. Since then, the Super White Army have not been living up to their nickname, claiming two goalless draws against Port Vale and Swindon Town, before losing by 1-0 scorelines against Newport County and Scunthorpe United.

Micky Mellon, who returned to the club this summer after a year away in Scotland with Dundee United, will have been disappointed with his side's most recent performance against Scunthorpe, having dominated possession with 73% of the ball but failing to have a single shot on target.

Tranmere's form in front of goal needs to improve if they are to climb up from their current position of 19th, just two points above the relegation zone.

Mellon's men face a challenging fixture on Saturday against newly-promoted Hartlepool, who they have failed to beat in each of their last five meetings.

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Hartlepool, meanwhile, have made a bright start to life back in the Football League, with three victories from their opening four league matches.

All three wins have been on home soil, beating Crawley Town, Walsall and Carlisle United, with their only away encounter ending in defeat against Barrow.

David Challinor's men currently sit fifth in League Two, just three points behind leaders Forest Green Rovers with a game in hand.

The Monkey Hangers travel to Tranmere off the back of a 4-3 defeat on penalties against Carlisle in the EFL Trophy group stage, following an entertaining 3-3 draw in 90 minutes.

After scoring 10 goals from their opening six matches across all competitions, Hartlepool will be confident of finding the net on Saturday, as they aim to claim their first victory on the road since beating Stockport County in the National League playoff semi-finals in June.

Team News

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Tranmere made four signings on Deadline Day – Nicky Maynard, Mark Duffy, Lee O'Connor and Stephen Walker – and they will all be in contention to make their debuts this weekend.

Defender Nathaniel Knight-Percival will serve a one-match suspension for this game, so Tom Davies is expected to play alongside 39-year-old centre-back Peter Clarke.

Either Joe Maguire or Calum MacDonald is likely to start at left-back, while former Liverpool and Bolton Wanderers midfielder Jay Spearing is set to play alongside Ryan Watson.

As for Hartlepool, 18-year-old forward Joe Grey is close to returning to first-team action after a six-month absence with a back injury.

Millwall loanee Tyler Burey has had a bright start with the Monkey Hangers, scoring three goals in his opening five matches, and he is set to start in attack with either Mark Cullen or Will Goodwin.

Central midfield trio Mark Shelton, Nicky Featherstone and Gavan Holohan are all expected to keep their places in the starting lineup, though Luke Molyneux – who is yet to start a league game this season – will be hoping he can force his way into the first XI.

Tranmere Rovers possible starting lineup:
Murphy; Dacres-Cogley, Clarke, Davies, MacDonald; Watson, Spearing; McManaman, Feeney, Glatzel; Maynard

Hartlepool United possible starting lineup:
Killip; Byrne, Liddle, Francis-Angol; Sterry, Featherstone, Shelton, Holohan, Ferguson; Goodwin, Burey

We say: Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Hartlepool United

Tranmere head into this fixture out of form, but having recruited four new players to bolster their squad, Mellon will be hoping they can provide a much-needed spark to get them back on track.

However, with little to separate the hosts and Hartlepool, a score draw could be on the cards at Prenton Park.

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