The Opposition View: Tranmere Rovers

Last updated : 29 November 2014 By Jim Bonner

The last time Pompey played at Prenton Park Tranmere were top of League One. How did it go so wrong, so fast?

Although it's fair to say we were certainly exceeding everyone's expectation topping League One for six months, for things to unravel so spectacularly was equally unprecedented. Last season was the stuff that nightmares are made of - relegated to the bottom tier for the first time in 25 years, having our manager involved in a betting scandal and two of the squad linked with a match fixing scandal.

This season, expectations were higher, with the club undergoing a change of direction in appointing a young manager, Rob Edwards, and promising exciting attacking football. Unfortunately, it didn't really work out for Edwards, and we find ourselves at the wrong end of the table with a squad that new manager Micky Adams lacks any faith in, going by his comments to the media.  

What do you make of the appointment of Micky Adams as Tranmere manager?

I was more than happy with his appointment, especially given his track record of saving clubs from relegation and then pushing on, like with Port Vale most recently. It's certainly a better appointment than we could have hoped for under previous owner Peter Johnson, who appointed the club physio as manager for three seasons, amongst the complete farce of hiring John Barnes. 

Who are the key performers in this Rovers side?

Jason Koumas is technically our best player, but the rest of the team don't give him much support, and he's had little impact this season. We are noticeably lacking a goal scorer though, and a few players who impressed at the start of the season (such as Baggie) appear to have been frozen out under Adams.  

What are the major weaknesses in your team that Pompey could exploit on Saturday?

Well, to call our strikers goal shy would probably be a compliment! Add in a leaky defence and we've got problems at both ends of the pitch. 

Peter Brezovan and Josh Thompson were once on Pompey's books. What do Tranmere fans make of them?

Brezovan seems a decent keeper from what I've seen of him, although he made a complete howler at Accrington in front of the away fans that has stuck in the memory of a few. Thompson injured himself at Luton, and is likely to be out for the rest of his loan spell at a guess. 

How confident are you of getting a result given that Portsmouth have an atrocious away record and have only scored three league goals on the road all season?

Not confident at all, we're winless in the league since August, so a good chance for Pompey to end their away day blues. 

What kind of match can we expect on Saturday?

Hard to predict, to be honest. Performances under Adams have been an improvement on the previous regime, but last week's showing against Southend was dire. Based on our poor form and Pompey's lack of joy on the road, I would expect a scrappy affair 

Predict the outcome of the game.

Tranmere 1 Portsmouth 1