The Official Tranmere Rovers Match Thread (Sponsored by Duncan Jupp "for all your "if we won there with him playing, we can win tomorrow" needs")

Three games in and signs of positivity are slowly increasing with each Gills performance, all this without a single new signing even making it onto the bench yet. Despite an unfortunate defeat on penalties in the League Cup on Tuesday night, we proved to be the better side for the majority of the game against higher level opposition, being only the width of the goal line away from a 2-1 win in normal time following McKenzie's effort off the bar.

Tomorrow's opponents had Tuesday night off, a powercut in the Birkenhead area forced the late postponement of Tranmere's tie against Burton Albion. The Rovers have started the season well, in large part due to a 4-0 thumping they doled out to a dismal Shrewsbury side last weekend. Their fans must be hoping for an improved campaign from last season where they finished in 20th place. In fact, it's been a series of diminishing returns for Tranmere fans in recent years, each season since relegation from League One in 2019-20 resulting in progressively lower placed finishes with last season raising the dreaded spectre of non-league football again before a late run of form saw them steer clear.

Rovers have seen some change to their ranks over the summer, 10 players left at the end of their contracts (two with Gills connections - Luke Norris (79apps 15goals) and former loanee Declan Drysdale (10apps)) and have recruited solidly with their incoming players largely very familiar with the demands of League Two. Add in the dangerous Connor Jennings, Omari Patrick and Kristian Dennis, all of whom are off the mark in terms of goals already, and it's another tough away day for us tomorrow.

I've quickly learned that speculating on our possible line-up under GA's leadership is pointless, but I'm going to do it anyway to fill space. It's become clear that our injured could appear in the starting XI or be weeks away from fitness, the only person who really knows is Gareth. One player who will almost certainly be on the bench but raring to get on the pitch is Josh Andrews, who is being carefully managed as he returns from his injury travails. It is no coincidence that his arrival off the bench in our three games so far have resulted in us finding the net in pretty short order after his arrival. Defenders must hate him and he has a keen eye for a pass too. If there's two opponents battling to keep him in check, that's one less on one of our more creative players. Sam Gale made it back into the starting line-up and won the corner for our goal on Tuesday with a barnstorming run, he really is going to be some player. Khumbeni and Wyllie were both given a chance against Wimbledon but neither really covered themselves in glory and will be fortunate to make the squad this weekend and for the latter it feels like time might be running out.

The head to head has us trailing Tranmere with just 10 wins from 42 fixtures as well as 15 defeats and 17 draws. The two sides didn't meet at all between 1979 and 2000 and in the ten fixtures at Prenton Park this millennium we've registered just two wins, the first of which was our maiden victory on the Wirral and arriving as an early Christmas present on 23rd December 2006. An incredible opening 20 minutes saw a Baz Savage-inspired (14apps 1goal) Gills fight back from two goals down inside the opening five minutes (I imagine the atmosphere in the way end at that point was as bleak as the weather), Gary Mulligan (133apps 18goals) firing in a brace before Ben Chorley (27apps 1 goal) netted the winner just before half-time. On-loan 'keeper Dean Brill (8apps) getting pelters from the commentator for his culpability in the second Tranmere goal raised a smile.

Hopefully Gills will be backed by another decent turnout tomorrow. 600+ to Accy on the opening day was some feat, I suspect we might not quite reach that level but the vast majority of our 406- seat allocation had gone as of yesterday and POTD is available, although a 2 quid increase applies over advance sales.

Safe travels if you're making the trip, I'll be tuning in while cheating on Gills by taking in an FA Cup Preliminary Round match on the outskirts of Northampton as Sileby Rangers take on Corby. I pray for the opportunity to make a scene with each and every Gills goal in a thumping away win. Or even just the one goal in a 0-1 away win. I'm not picky.

Enjoy the game and...

COYG!!!