PREVIEW: Tranmere

With these two sides being drawn out of the FA Cup hat to face each other this is now the first of two meetings within the space of eight days.

Tranmere went into Tuesday night's home game against Rochdale on a run of six league games unbeaten. 

Five of those had been wins - a set of results that had seen them motor their way up the table. 

They didn't get it all their own way though in midweek as Ian Henderson put Dale in front. Kane Hemmings levelled things up just four minutes later.

Tranmere dominated for long periods, but they had to settle for the point on what became a frustrating night.

Striker Elliott Nevitt has had to do things the hard way, by remaining patient as he kept his head down on the non-league circuit.

Three goals from the bench against Crewe (two in the league and on on the Papa Johns) earned him a start for last Saturday's 1-1 away draw at Harrogate.

He now has six goals for the season and will be looking to carry that on.

I think it also goes without saying that we're all looking forward to seeing Dynel Simeu.

Click HERE to purchase an audio match pass which will allow you to listen to this game via our streaming iFollow service.

With match commentary provided by BBC Radio Cumbria, this is a fantastic way to follow your team through the season.

Match audio passes are available for ALL EFL league games - click HERE to find out more about this season’s iFollow United service.

It was a game you couldn't take your eye off in April 2022 with Calum MacDonald and Kieron Morris sent off for the hosts. Kane Hemmings and Elliott Nevitt had twice put them ahead, with Omari Patrick and Tobi Sho-Silva doing the honours with the equalisers to make it a 2-2 outcome.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Carlisle were undone by an own goal just after half-time in October 2021 as Tranmere went away from Cumbria with a one-goal win.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

A game that could have gone either way saw James Vaughan grab a late winner as Tranmere took the spoils home in February 2021. Vaughan had also scored in the first half, as did Kane Woolery, with Josh Kayode and Nick Anderton bagging for the Cumbrians.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

These teams met at Prenton Park in November 2020 with Keith Hill newly-appointed as manager. It was a tight game, but Corey Taylor netted the only goal of the encounter just after the break.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

It was a comfortable three-goal home victory for Rovers in March 2019 when Ollie Banks broke the deadlock just before half time. Oliver Norwood and Manny Monthe completed the scoring after the break.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Tranmere took all three points home from their trip to Cumbria in September 2018. The Blues had 15 minutes to forget at the end of the game as a penalty miss was followed by an own goal from Tom Parkes, and a killer blow from Paul Mullin just before the final whistle.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Our last meeting prior to that was in February 2015, at Prenton Park, when a quickfire double from Charlie Wyke just after the break secured a 2-0 away victory for the Blues. It came at a price as Kyle Dempsey received his marching orders deep into time added on.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

The league meeting at Brunton Park earlier that season was a tense affair, but a nice finish from David Amoo with just 20 minutes left to play proved to be the difference as the Cumbrians battled their way to a hard-earned three points.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

The trio of meetings from that season was completed, again at Prenton Park, when the sides came together in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. Brad Potts got on the end of a good move to cancel out a first half Max Power goal, but it was Tranmere who progressed as they got the better of the penalty shoot-out, winning by 5-4 at the end of a very long night.

Watch the highlights of that game here:

Referee - Carl Boyeson
Assistant Referee 1 - Abbas Khan
Assistant Referee 2 - Jake Topp
Fourth Official - Nik Barnard
Observer - Muhammed Matada

Our referee for this game is Mr Carl Boyeson. He has been the man in the middle for six games so far this season showing 17 yellow cards and no reds.

Carl was the referee for Paul Simpson's first game in charge of his second spell as gaffer at the club - a 1-0 away win at Leyton Orient. Omari Patrick scored with just five minutes on the clock and Theo Archibald was shown a red to make matters worse for the home team. Jack Armer, Joe Riley, Dynel Simeu and Corey Whelan were all booked for the Blues.

He was in charge for the home game against Oldham in February 2021 when a Josh Kayode opener was cancelled out and overtaken by three away goals. George Tanner and Nick Anderton were shown yellows on the day.

He was at Boundary Park in September 2020 for the Carabao Cup game where Nick Anderton, Aaron Hayden and Rod McDonald all went in the book.

A regular for Carlisle United fixtures, we saw him just once in 2019/20. That was for the August 2019 visit of Mansfield when Danny Rose and Nicky Maynard put the visitors two goals to the good before the break. That was how the game ended, but it was a day for cards as three of the away side were joined by Byron Webster for United with yellows to their name.

Season 2018/19 put him in charge of our games on three different occasions. He was the man in the middle for our 3-0 away defeat at Stevenage in April - a day which also saw Gary Miller and Tom Parkes go in the book.

Prior to that he was our match referee in January when he took charge of the home game against Cheltenham. Early second half goals from Jamie Devitt and Hallam Hope bagged us the victory, and there were no United names taken on the day.

Also, in November 2018, he officiated for our home game against Forest Green in November. Ben Morris and Carl Winchester had given the visitors a two-goal cushion, but a late Jamie Devitt penalty turned out to be nothing more than a consolation as Rovers claimed their victory. Anthony Gerrard was the only Carlisle name to be logged.

Think back a little further and he was in charge of a game that turned into a thriller for all the wrong reasons when we made the trip to face Wycombe in February 2018. A horrible first half saw the Blues go two goals behind as Matt Bloomfield and Luke O'Nien bagged quickfire goals either side of the half hour mark.

The tide changed at the start of the second half when O'Nien was sent off, and a penalty from Danny Grainger brought United right back into the game. Jamie Devitt and Cole Stockton turned it well and truly on its head, and the visitors appeared to have secured the three points as the clock ticked in to time added on.

That was when the world fell apart for the Cumbrians as Marcus Bean and Paris Cowan-Hall pounced within seconds of each other to leave the away side pondering what might have been.

We have been allocated seated tickets in the Cowshed Stand which is situated behind the goal.

There will be no ticket price increase on the day of the game.

You can pre-book parking at a reduced price of £6 by contacting Tranmere Rovers directly on 03330 144 452 or you can pay £7 on the match day which operators on a first come first served basis.

Prices

Ambulant disabled supporters pay the reduced price of £15 with the carer free of charge. Wheelchair supporters pay the relevant price with the carer free of charge.

Dates of sale

Methods of purchase:

• In person – come to the main ticket office at the designated time.
• Phone – ring the ticket office 03300 945 930 option 1 at the designated times and pay with a credit / debit card.
• Internet – buy online HERE.

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If you wish to purchase bus travel you can organise this by calling CUSAT on 07563 700 987.