- Chesterfield have won four of their last five League Two games and lost only one of their last two at home.
- Tranmere Rovers have lost four consecutive League Two fixtures, taking just one point from their last five.
- Chesterfield have scored 33 goals and conceded 22 in 20 home games, Tranmere Rovers have scored 28 in 20 away games.
Tranmere’s tough trip to promotion-chasing Spireites
The Spireites have an excellent recent record against Tranmere Rovers, taking one win, one loss, and one draw from the last three head-to-head meetings in League Two. Their most recent clash was a 1-1 draw at Tranmere Rovers five months ago and since then, Peter Wild has taken the reins at Prenton Park. Wild has looked to reinstate defensive structure and organised pressing from the front in transition to stabilise his new squad, who have picked up just 36 points from 41 games this season.
The Rovers sit 21st in the table at the time of writing, with Chesterfield having accrued 68 points and sitting 7th after 41 games. Chesterfield have won nine, drawn seven, and lost just four of their 20 home league games this term, and are in excellent form, winning four of their last five in League Two, including three consecutive victories. In contrast, Tranmere Rovers have won five, drawn four, and lost 11 of their 20 games on the road.
In-form Spireites to edge out the visitors
The bet that stands out for this game is the home win at 1/2, which seems a bit on the short side for two clubs at opposite ends of the table. Chesterfield have won one and lost one of their last two home games, but they are generally solid on home soil and should have enough quality to edge out the struggling Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.
Tranmere have lost their last four matches, and they’ve failed to score more than a goal in their last three. The odds for ‘Under 2.5 goals’ come in at 1/1, but a cagey encounter seems likely here, and that’s the selection. ‘BTTS - No’ is also a favourable price at 83/100.
A tale of two tactically sound sides
Chesterfield are a typical Paul Cook side, set up in an asymmetric 4-2-3-1 system that allows them to control the ball and dictate the tempo of the game through central creativity and long passing lines. Lee Bonis has made the most of his chances in a crowded front-line this term, scoring eight goals in 40 League Two appearances, and has the reliable presence of Will Dickson, who has scored two of the Spireites last six goals. Tranmere Rovers set up with a back-three, deploy wing-backs and operate a mid-block, with Wild looking to get his players pressing and forcing turnovers to build a platform to attack from.
It’s a match of two relatively equally matched but tactically sound teams, and it will be an interesting tactical battle. Tranmere will look to overload the wide areas and hit on the break when they have the ball, while Chesterfield will look to control the game through possession and build up through the centre of the pitch, making a cagey, low-scoring affair the most likely outcome.
