Tranmere vs Blackpool Predictions

• Tranmere are League 1’s sixth-best team in terms of shots for at home this season.
• Tranmere are League 1’s fourth-best team in terms of shots on target for at home this season.
• Blackpool are League 1’s fifth worst team in terms of shots on target away from home.

Prenton Park the key

It’s not been a particularly fruitful campaign for Tranmere, who’re only two points above the drop-zone, but there are reasons why Micky Mellon’s men can be upbeat. One of those reasons is form at Prenton Park.

Tranmere have struggled on the road, there’s no two ways about that, but at home, Rovers have performed respectably, winning three, drawing four and losing three of their ten matches on their own patch. Last time out at this venue, Mellon’s men recorded a 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon, while they recorded a reasonable draw against Accrington prior to that. Moreover, after losing somewhat unjustly to Rochdale first time out, Tranmere went four unbeaten at this venue, beating the likes of Burton and drawing to Peterborough, while they’ve only lost twice since, losing two tough sides in Shrewsbury and league leaders Wycombe.

A quick glance at the league table would suggest that Tranmere are a side to be dismissed, but scratch beneath the surface and you find that they’re a side capable of tussling with most at home.

Seasiders tough to beat

Blackpool are enjoying a good season, but they’ve gone off the boil a bit of late. Having drawn with Sunderland a few weeks ago, the Seasiders will have fancied themselves ahead of two home games. Unfortunately, neither of those home matches yielded any points for Simon Grayson’s men.

Not only have Blackpool lost each of their last two, scoring no goals in the process, but they’re without a win in five on the road. They’ve lost none of those five and are clearly not easy to beat, but such form isn’t likely to strike fear into the hearts of the hosts.

Rovers overlooked

Blackpool are not an easy side to get the better of, though their recent efforts suggest that they’re on the slide. More importantly, Tranmere look a better side at home than the current odds suggest, so a small play on the home win offers punters some value. Not only have Rovers performed well at home against some useful sides, but their most recent home win bodes well ahead of a match against a Blackpool side that has started to struggle in the final third. In addition, Tranmere have also performed well at home in terms of shots on target, so much so that their average of 5.6 for makes them League 1’s fourth-best team in that respect. Blackpool are League 1’s fifth worst on the road.

In the ‘Correct Score’ market, a 1-0 home win appeals. Blackpool have failed to score in each of their last two, both of which they lost by a goal to nil, while they’ve also been shut out in two of their last four on the road. The hosts have notched exactly once in three of their last four at home.