Game on as Rovers look to tame Terriers
Tuesday 23rd February, 2010
By Richard Ault

The Prenton Park playing surface has passed an afternoon pitch inspection so tonight's match with promotion-chasing Huddersfield Town can go ahead.

Tranmere go into the game in the strange position of being outside the relegation zone - the first time they've enjoyed that luxury since August!  Les Parry, Shaun Garnett and Wayne Allison have done a terrific job of turning around the fortunes of the team, and with the lowest budget in the entire league.  If they could summon another victory tonight, they could be as many as five points clear of the relegation zone come 10pm.

A slick first half performance against Leyton Orient on Saturday was enough to see Rovers take all three points, despite the habitual late onslaught from the visitors.  That sets them up to entertain a strong Huddersfield Town side who are living up to their billing as pre-season promotion candidates.

Having seen his side held by a battling Rovers earlier in the season during a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Galpharm Stadium, Town boss Lee Clark is fully aware of the threat Les Parry's side pose.  Refreshingly, he was also quick to lavish praise on Tranmere as a whole, including their fans.  A pleasant and unexpected compliment from someone in an opposition camp.

Clark told Huddersfield's official website this week:

"Tranmere have a lot to fight for and they will fight hard, because the man they have in charge will demand that. Les Parry has come in and done a brilliant job. I like him a lot - whenever I have been to watch Tranmere, his desire and passion has been tremendous and he has got his side really fit. Les has been at Tranmere and they all respect him - he will have his players fired up for the game.

"If they can't win games, they are not losing; they have taken seven points from a possible nine. Prenton Park is always a tough place to go, so we know we are in for a tough game.

"I've seen that the Tranmere supporters are trying to raise money for a loan player, which is terrific - supporters care for their Club and will do anything to help them. Financially things are a bit tight at Tranmere, so their fans are doing their best to help the Club and that is indicative of the togetherness they seem to have over there. Tranmere is a terrific club full of great people."

Opposite number Les Parry knows tonight's match will be a tough one.  Speaking at his Monday press conference, he gave clues as to how Rovers will approach the game, on the counter-attack.

Les said:

"I like to set us little targets and we haven't had back to back wins so that's a good target and we'll be going for it tomorrow night. If we're to achieve that it would be brilliant.

"Huddersfield like to play football and like to get forward, but if you're committing men forward you can't have as many in defence and we'll be hoping to capitalise on that tomorrow.

"They've got some great players and most of them could play at a level higher than our division. If they were to get promoted I think they cope in the Championship without changing any of their players. They've got a bench that probably cost them the same as our total wage bill, but they're sitting on the bench and they can only put 11 on the pitch."

Kick-off at Prenton Park tonight is at 7.45pm.