In a crucial match in League Two's relegation battle, Tranmere Rovers are set to host Accrington Stanley at Prenton Park on Tuesday.

Both teams will have gone a full month without a win by kick off, and they will be desperate to distance themselves from the drop zone by taking maximum points against a fellow struggling side.

Match preview

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Nigel Adkins's Tranmere are in exceptionally poor form having picked up just three points from their last 11 League Two matches, and it is concerning that the relegation candidates have won just one match since the start of 2025.

Last time out, Rovers were beaten 2-1 on the road by Notts County, though it would be fair to say that they were unlucky to have walked away empty handed given they were the better side for long periods and conceded with only 10 minutes left on the clock.

Regardless, that loss left Adkins's side 22nd in the fourth tier with 28 points to their name, just two more than Morecambe in the relegation zone.

As the threat of demotion looms, Tuesday's hosts will take heart from the fact that they have only tasted defeat on their own turf on one occasion since November, and the boss will feel confident of securing a positive result in midweek.

With that in mind, a win could see Tranmere leapfrog their opponents and move to within two points of 20th-placed Harrogate Town with a game in hand on the Sulphurites, where they could be five points above the bottom two by the next matchday.

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Meanwhile, John Doolan's Accrington have avoided defeat just once in their five most recent matches, and the manager will be concerned that their February form has dragged them down after a strong January in which his team won three, drew one and lost one of their league games.

Last time out, Stanley were beaten 2-1 by promotion-chasing Doncaster Rovers, but they could feel hard done by considering that they missed out on a share of the spoils due to an own goal from defender Benn Ward just minutes after their equaliser.

That loss extended the Reds' winless streak in League Two to six matches, and has left them in 21st place with 30 points - four more than Morecambe - ahead of their trip to Tranmere.

Away from the Crown Ground, Tuesday's visitors have lost their last three on the bounce and failed to score in their last two, though they have earned more points on the road than at home in 2025 and produced back-to-back wins in their first two away matches this year.

In midweek, Doolan's side may be low on confidence given their recent form, but a win could see them climb above Harrogate and even move them a strong seven points clear of the drop zone should results elsewhere prove favourable.

Team News

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Tranmere may be without midfielder Sam Finley in midweek after he was taken off with an injury against Notts County, and Josh Williams could take his place in the XI if he is unavailable.

Adkins's side kept the promotion candidates at bay for 80 minutes last time out, and the boss is likely to turn to Lee O'Connor, Tom Davies and Jordan Turnbull to protect Luke McGee between the sticks once again on Tuesday.

As for Accrington, they will miss centre-back Sonny Aljofree after he was withdrawn in the first half against Doncaster.

To make matters worse, fellow centre-back Farrend Rawson and left-back Jake Thomas Batty have been out of action since their side's loss against Bradford City on February 11.

In their absence, midfielder Benjamin Woods may be shifted into the backline given that Doolan opted to bring on striker Josh Woods for Aljofree last time out rather than a defender.

Tranmere Rovers possible starting lineup:
McGee; O'Connor, Davies, Turnbull, Norman, Williams, Merrie, Garrett, Patrick; Davison, Jennings

Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:
Crellin; Matthews, B Woods, Ward; O'Brien, Love, Conneely, Whalley; Walton, J Woods, Caton

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We say: Tranmere Rovers 1-0 Accrington Stanley

Neither side are in the best form at the moment, though Tranmere's home record suggests that they are likely to avoid defeat at the very least on Tuesday.

Fans can expect a close-fought game with both teams desperate to stay as far as possible ahead of Morecambe, but it is notable that Accrington have failed to find the back of the net in their last two away matches, and they may find it difficult to recover should they fall behind.


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