Stevenage make the 400-mile round trip to Birkenhead to kick off the 2022/23 campaign against Micky Mellon’s Tranmere Rovers…
Steve Evans will be looking to take plenty of positives from pre-season as he is welcomed by promotion hopefuls Tranmere Rovers.
After an active summer transfer window, many will be hoping to make their competitive debut in a Stevenage shirt this Saturday, whilst Boro’s longest serving senior player, Terence Vancooten, enters his sixth season in SG2.
The Opposition
Despite missing out on the play-offs by just two points last season, Micky Mellon’s Tranmere will be going into this campaign as one of the favourites for promotion. In the 2021/22 campaign, the Merseyside outfit picked up twenty-one victories from forty six games and will be looking to go even further with the same Scotsman in charge.
It’s clear that Micky Mellon has looked ahead to the future this summer, with six of his twelve new recruits being under the age of 21. Despite this, there have also been experienced additions to the squad with established EFL players Jordan Turnbull, Paul Lewis and Jon Nolan being brought in.
Head-to-Head
There have been fourteen encounters between Stevenage and Tranmere over the last decade, with the sides picking up four victories each and the remaining six fixtures ending in draws. The first time the two clubs met was in Boro’s first campaign in League One following the famous consecutive promotions. Mark Roberts and Chris Beardsley found their names on the scoresheet as Graham Westley’s men picked up a 2-1 victory at The Lamex. Furthermore, current Boro star Michael Bostwick appeared in the starting eleven that day.
Fast-forward a decade and the memories against Tranmere continue. In the 2020/21 campaign, Danny Newton grabbed the winner after being brought on as a substitute just ten seconds prior to the ball hitting the net. Then, in the following season Luke Norris’ brace against Micky Mellon’s side confirmed EFL safety on a memorable day at The Lamex.
The Stadium
Tranmere Rovers have been playing their football at Prenton Park in Birkenhead since it opened in 1912. It holds a capacity of 16,587 with a record attendance of 24,424 being set in 1972 as Tranmere faced Stoke City in the FA Cup. The ground underwent major renovations in 1994 as three new all-seater stands were created. Away fans tend to be housed in the ‘Cowshed’ which holds a capacity of 2,500.
The Referee
Jeremy Simpson will be the man in the middle on Saturday and will be alongside assistants Joe Simpson and Billy Smallwood with Daniel Middleton as Fourth Official. Mr Simpson officiated mostly in the Championship last season, dishing out seven red cards in 35 games.
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