Tranmere vs Rochdale Predictions

• Tranmere had the worst defensive record in League Two last season, conceding 79 goals
• Rochdale’s last five games have seen both teams score
• Tranmere were beaten finalists in this competition 26 years ago

Both teams to score with two teams in transition

Just 13 days after the World Cup final, the English domestic season kicks off with Tranmere hosting Rochdale in the preliminary round of the EFL Cup.

The visitors are back in the EFL after an incredibly dramatic end to last season in which they had their National League title hopes snatched away by a last-minute York winner.

They got immediate amends however with a penalty win over Boreham Wood in the play-off final to return to League Two.

Tranmere were on the other side of the coin, having narrowly stayed in the fourth tier last season, securing safety by two points.

Both teams have had a major turnover of their squad in the off-season so this game may have a real pre-season feel, especially considering it will be the first game in charge for two new managers.

Darrell Clarke has taken over at Tranmere while Ian Watson has replaced the departing Jimmy McNulty at Rochdale.

There have been plenty of changes in both teams’ defences and they could be leaky as a result. No team in League Two conceded more goals than Tranmere’s 79 last season and they may pick up where they left off.

Both teams have scored in Rochdale’s last five competitive games and a repeat of that is fancied in this cup clash.

The last two meetings between these two have ended in stalemate and a 1-1 draw is the pick, with penalties potentially needed to separate these two.