2018–19 Tranmere Rovers F.C. season
Tranmere Rovers 2018–19 football season
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2018–19 season was Tranmere Rovers' 135th season of existence and their first back in EFL League Two following promotion from the 2017–18 National League.[1] Along with competing in League Two, the club participated in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.
| 2018–19 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Mark Palios | |||
| Manager | Micky Mellon | |||
| Stadium | Prenton Park | |||
| EFL League Two | 6th (promoted via play-offs) | |||
| FA Cup | Third round | |||
| EFL Cup | First round | |||
| EFL Trophy | Group stages | |||
| Biggest win | 5–1 vs Crawley Town, League Two, 27 October 2018 | |||
| Biggest defeat | 0–7 vs Tottenham Hotspur, FA Cup, 4 January 2019 | |||
|
| ||||
The season covers the period from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019
Transfers
Transfers in
| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Fee | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 July 2018 | AM | Ollie Banks | Oldham Athletic | Free transfer | [2] | |
| 1 July 2018 | RB | Jake Caprice | Leyton Orient | Free transfer | [3] | |
| 1 July 2018 | CB | Mark Ellis | Carlisle United | Free transfer | [4] | |
| 1 July 2018 | CB | Manny Monthé | Forest Green Rovers | Undisclosed | [5] | |
| 1 July 2018 | CF | Paul Mullin | Swindon Town | Undisclosed | [6] | |
| 18 July 2018 | LB | Zoumana Bakayogo | Crewe Alexandra | Free transfer | [7] | |
| 2 August 2018 | CF | Cole Stockton | Carlisle United | Free transfer | [8] | |
| 13 September 2018 | CM | Ryan Williams | Free transfer | [9] | ||
| 5 January 2019 | DM | David Perkins | Rochdale | Undisclosed | [10] | |
| 7 January 2019 | CM | Harvey Gilmour | Sheffield United | Undisclosed | [11] | |
| 7 January 2019 | CF | Ishmael Miller | Oldham Athletic | Free transfer | [11] | |
| 31 January 2019 | CF | Chris Dagnall | Bury | Free transfer | [12] |
Transfers out
Loans in
| Start date | Position | Nationality | Name | From | End date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 July 2018 | LM | Jonny Smith | Bristol City | 31 May 2019 | [30] | |
| 13 July 2018 | MF | Harvey Gilmour | Sheffield United | 7 January 2019 | [31][11] | |
| 24 July 2018 | GK | Shamal George | Liverpool | January 2019 | [32] | |
| 17 August 2018 | RM | Dylan Mottley-Henry | Barnsley | January 2019 | [33] | |
| 20 August 2018 | DM | Luke McCullough | Doncaster Rovers | 31 May 2019 | [34][35] | |
| 22 August 2018 | CF | Franklyn Akammadu | 31 May 2019 | [36] | ||
| 22 January 2019 | LM | Ben Pringle | Preston North End | 31 May 2019 | [37] | |
| 28 January 2019 | LW | Kieron Morris | Walsall | 31 May 2019 | [38] | |
| 29 January 2019 | CB | Sid Nelson | Millwall | 31 May 2019 | [39] |
Loans out
| Start date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | End date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 August 2018 | MF | Jay Devine | Colwyn Bay | September 2018 | [40] | |
| 18 August 2018 | GK | Paddy Wharton | Colwyn Bay | September 2018 | [40] | |
| 22 October 2018 | GK | Paddy Wharton | Stalybridge Celtic | November 2018 | [41] | |
| 23 November 2018 | GK | Paddy Wharton | Marine | December 2018 | [42] | |
| 27 November 2018 | CF | George Waring | Kidderminster Harriers | January 2019 | [43] | |
| 21 December 2018 | RM | Ben Tollitt | 16 February 2019 | [44][45] | ||
| 7 January 2019 | CF | Cole Stockton | 31 May 2019 | [46] | ||
| 8 January 2019 | GK | Paddy Wharton | Stalybridge Celtic | 31 May 2019 | [47] |
Competitions
Friendlies
Tranmere Rovers announced friendlies with Dunfermline Athletic, Liverpool, Wigan Athletic, Warrington Town, Fleetwood Town, Chorley and Rochdale.[48]
| 7 July 2018 Friendly | Dunfermline Athletic | 0–4 | Tranmere Rovers | Dunfermline, Scotland |
| 15:00 BST | Report | Cole Soukouna Walker-Rice Long |
Stadium: East End Park Attendance: 723 |
| 10 July 2018 Friendly | Tranmere Rovers | 2–3 | Liverpool | Birkenhead |
| 19:30 BST | Smith Soukouna |
Report | Camacho Ojo Lallana |
Stadium: Prenton Park |
| 14 July 2018 Friendly | Tranmere Rovers | 1–2 | Wigan Athletic | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 BST | Norwood |
Report | Grigg Walker |
Stadium: Prenton Park |
| 17 July 2018 Friendly | Warrington Town | 0–2 | Tranmere Rovers | Warrington |
| 19:30 BST | Report | Mullin Castaño |
Stadium: Cantilever Park |
| 21 July 2018 Friendly | Tranmere Rovers | 0–2 | Fleetwood Town | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 BST | Report | Dempsey Evans |
Stadium: Prenton Park |
| 24 July 2018 Friendly | Chorley | 0–1 | Tranmere Rovers | Chorley |
| 19:30 BST | Report | Jennings |
Stadium: Victory Park |
| 28 July 2018 Friendly | Tranmere Rovers | 1–3 | Rochdale | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 BST | Gilmour |
Report | Camps Inman Wilbraham |
Stadium: Prenton Park Referee: Peter Wright |
EFL League Two
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 69 | 41 | +28 | 76 | Qualification for League Two play-offs[a] |
| 5 | Forest Green Rovers | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 68 | 47 | +21 | 74 | |
| 6 | Tranmere Rovers (O, P) | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 63 | 50 | +13 | 73 | |
| 7 | Newport County | 46 | 20 | 11 | 15 | 59 | 59 | 0 | 71 | |
| 8 | Colchester United | 46 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 65 | 53 | +12 | 70 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results [49]
(O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Notes:
- Four teams play for one spot and promotion to EFL League One.
Results summary
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 63 | 50 | +13 | 73 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 33 | 13 | +20 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 30 | 37 | −7 |
Last updated: 4 May 2019.
Source: BBC
Results by matchday
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Matches
On 21 June 2018, the League Two fixtures for the forthcoming season were announced.[50][51]
| 4 August 2018 1 | Stevenage | 2–2 | Tranmere Rovers | Stevenage |
| 15:00 BST | Ball Byrom Hunt |
Report | Norwood |
Stadium: Broadhall Way Attendance: 3,315 Referee: Charles Breakspear |
| 11 August 2018 2 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–0 | Cheltenham Town | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 BST | Norwood |
Report | Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 6,736 Referee: Ben Toner |
| 18 August 2018 3 | Swindon Town | 3–2 | Tranmere Rovers | Swindon |
| 15:00 BST | Adebayo Richards Romanski |
Report | Smith Norwood Harris |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 6,106 Referee: Alan Young |
| 21 August 2018 4 | Tranmere Rovers | 0–0 | Mansfield Town | Birkenhead |
| 19:45 BST | Report | Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 5,466 Referee: Thomas Bramall |
| 25 August 2018 5 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–0 | Port Vale | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 BST | Norwood |
Report | Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 6,488 Referee: Dean Whitestone |
| 1 September 2018 6 | Northampton Town | 1–1 | Tranmere Rovers | Northampton |
| 15:00 BST | Morias |
Report | Norwood |
Stadium: Sixfields Stadium Attendance: 4,916 Referee: Nick Kinseley |
| 8 September 2018 7 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–1 | Colchester United | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 BST | Norwood |
Report | Pell |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 5,885 Referee: Robert Lewis |
| 15 September 2018 8 | Carlisle United | 0–2 | Tranmere Rovers | Carlisle |
| 15:00 BST | Report | Parkes Mullin |
Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 5,187 Referee: Matt Donohue |
| 22 September 2018 9 | Tranmere Rovers | 0–1 | Newport County | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 BST | Report | Franks |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 5,745 Referee: Carl Boyeson |
| 29 September 2018 10 | Milton Keynes Dons | 1–1 | Tranmere Rovers | Denbigh |
| 15:00 BST | Aneke |
Report | Smith |
Stadium: Stadium mk Attendance: 7,048 Referee: Lee Collins |
| 2 October 2018 11 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–0 | Lincoln City | Birkenhead |
| 19:45 BST | Norwood |
Report | Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 5,467 Referee: Andy Haines |
| 6 October 2018 12 | Morecambe | 3–4 | Tranmere Rovers | Morecambe |
| 15:00 BST | Oates Oliver Leitch-Smith |
Report | Banks Gilmour Smith Jennings Buxton McCullough |
Stadium: Globe Arena Attendance: 2,793 Referee: Trevor Kettle |
| 12 October 2018 13 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–0 | Macclesfield Town | Birkenhead |
| 19:45 BST | Gilmour |
Report | Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 6,797 Referee: Anthony Backhouse |
| 20 October 2018 14 | Yeovil Town | 0–0 | Tranmere Rovers | Yeovil |
| 15:00 BST | Report | Stadium: Huish Park Attendance: 3,007 Referee: Chris Sarginson |
| 23 October 2018 15 | Forest Green Rovers | 3–1 | Tranmere Rovers | Nailsworth |
| 19:45 BST | Brown Shephard Campbell |
Report | Mullin |
Stadium: The New Lawn Attendance: 2,181 Referee: Antony Coggins |
| 27 October 2018 16 | Tranmere Rovers | 5–1 | Crawley Town | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 BST | Jennings Norwood Buxton Mullin |
Report | Francomb Palmer |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 5,445 Referee: Tom Nield |
| 3 November 2018 17 | Tranmere Rovers | 2–0 | Exeter City | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 GMT | Norwood |
Report | L. Martin Moxey |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 6,209 Referee: Thomas Bramall |
| 17 November 2018 18 | Crewe Alexandra | 3–2 | Tranmere Rovers | Crewe |
| 15:00 GMT | Ainley Kirk |
Report | Norwood Banks |
Stadium: Gresty Road Attendance: 5,154 Referee: Carl Boyeson |
| 24 November 2018 19 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–1 | Oldham Athletic | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 GMT | Jennings |
Report | Branger |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 7,150 Referee: Sebastian Stockbridge |
| 27 November 2018 20 | Grimsby Town | 5–2 | Tranmere Rovers | Cleethorpes |
| 19:45 GMT | Clifton Thomas Davis Rose Embleton |
Report | Norwood Mullin |
Stadium: Blundell Park Attendance: 3,293 Referee: Darren Drysdale |
| 8 December 2018 21 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–0 | Cambridge United | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 GMT | Norwood |
Report | Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 5,016 Referee: Ollie Yates |
| 15 December 2018 22 | Notts County | 3–2 | Tranmere Rovers | Nottingham |
| 15:00 GMT | Stead Hemmings Fitzsimons |
Report | Smith Jennings |
Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 6,535 Referee: Robert Lewis |
| 22 December 2018 23 | Bury | 2–1 | Tranmere Rovers | Bury |
| 15:00 GMT | Maynard Lavery |
Report | Sutton |
Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 4,748 Referee: Andy Haines |
| 26 December 2018 24 | Tranmere Rovers | 3–1 | Morecambe | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 GMT | Stockton Norwood Harris Ellis |
Report | Wildig Mills Cranston |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 7,483 Referee: Scott Oldham |
| 29 December 2018 25 | Tranmere Rovers | 0–0 | Yeovil Town | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 GMT | Ridehalgh |
Report | Dickinson |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 5,782 Referee: Charles Breakspear |
| 1 January 2019 26 | Macclesfield Town | 1–1 | Tranmere Rovers | Macclesfield |
| 15:00 GMT | Grimes Arthur |
Report | Jennings Monthé |
Stadium: Moss Rose Attendance: 3,398 Referee: Michael Salisbury |
| 12 January 2019 27 | Cheltenham Town | 1–3 | Tranmere Rovers | Cheltenham |
| 15:00 GMT | Broom Varney |
Report | Banks Norwood Miller McCullough Banks Harris |
Stadium: Whaddon Road Attendance: 3,104 Referee: Anthony Coggins |
| 19 January 2019 28 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–2 | Swindon Town | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 GMT | Norwood Monthé Buxton |
Report | Richards Doughty |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 5,847 Referee: Ross Joyce |
| 26 January 2019 29 | Mansfield Town | 3–0 | Tranmere Rovers | Mansfield |
| 15:00 GMT | Grant Walker |
Report | McCullough McNulty Banks Monthé |
Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 4,885 Referee: Ben Toner |
| 5 February 2019 30 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–2 | Northampton Town | Birkenhead |
| 19:45 GMT | Norwood |
Report | Hoskins O'Toole Pierre Facey |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 5,098 Referee: Paul Marsden |
| 9 February 2019 31 | Tranmere Rovers | 2–0 | Stevenage | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 GMT | Morris Norwood |
Report | Byrom Nugent Adebayo |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 5,283 Referee: Eddie Ilderton |
| 16 February 2019 32 | Cambridge United | 0–0 | Tranmere Rovers | Cambridge |
| 15:00 GMT | Halliday |
Report | Bakayogo Perkins |
Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 4,872 Referee: Brett Huxtable |
| 19 February 2019 33 | Port Vale | 1–2 | Tranmere Rovers | Burslem |
| 19:45 GMT | Hannant Smith Whitfield Gibbons |
Report | Norwood Caprice Monthé Jennings Perkins Gilmour |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 3,835 Referee: Craig Hicks |
| 23 February 2019 34 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–0 | Notts County | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 GMT | Perkins Jennings |
Report | Hemmings Doyle |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 6,559 Referee: Scott Oldham |
| 2 March 2019 35 | Exeter City | 0–1 | Tranmere Rovers | Exeter |
| 15:00 GMT | Report | Norwood Perkins Bakayogo McCullough |
Stadium: St James Park Attendance: 4,855 Referee: John Busby |
| 8 March 2019 36 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–0 | Crewe Alexandra | Birkenhead |
| 19:45 GMT | Perkins Jennings Norwood |
Report | Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 7,898 Referee: Martin Coy |
| 12 March 2019 37 | Tranmere Rovers | 4–1 | Grimsby Town | Birkenhead |
| 19:45 GMT | Jennings Monthé Norwood Davies |
Report | Thomas Woolford |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 5,269 Referee: Graham Salisbury |
| 23 March 2019 38 | Colchester United | 0–2 | Tranmere Rovers | Colchester |
| 15:00 GMT | Kent |
Report | Norwood Ellis Perkins Jennings |
Stadium: Colchester Community Stadium Attendance: 2,800 Referee: Ross Joyce |
| 30 March 2019 39 | Tranmere Rovers | 3–0 | Carlisle United | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 GMT | Banks Norwood Monthé |
Report | Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 8,095 Referee: Scott Duncan |
| 2 April 2019 40 | Oldham Athletic | 2–0 | Tranmere Rovers | Oldham |
| 19:45 BST | Lang Edmundson |
Report | Ridehalgh Perkins |
Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 5,143 Referee: Matt Donohue |
| 6 April 2019 41 | Newport County | 0–0 | Tranmere Rovers | Newport |
| 15:00 BST | Labadie Butler Poole O'Brien |
Report | Ridehalgh Norwood Banks Monthé |
Stadium: Rodney Parade Attendance: 3,170 Referee: Alan Young |
| 13 April 2019 42 | Tranmere Rovers | 2–1 | Milton Keynes Dons | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 BST | Perkins Jennings Harris |
Report | Agard Martin Lewington Aneke |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 8,357 Referee: John Brooks |
| 19 April 2019 43 | Tranmere Rovers | 0–1 | Forest Green Rovers | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 BST | Norwood |
Report | Mondal McGinley |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 9,468 Referee: Dean Whitestone |
| 22 April 2019 44 | Lincoln City | 0–0 | Tranmere Rovers | Lincoln |
| 15:00 BST | Akinde |
Report | Norwood |
Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 9,658 Referee: Anthony Backhouse |
| 30 April 2019 45 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–1 | Bury | Birkenhead |
| 19:45 BST | Norwood Jennings Banks |
Report | Stokes Mayor |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 9,145 Referee: David Webb |
| 4 May 2019 46 | Crawley Town | 3–1 | Tranmere Rovers | Crawley |
| 12:30 BST | Nathaniel-George Morais Camará |
Report | Norwood Buxton |
Stadium: Broadfield Stadium Attendance: 3,183 Referee: Andy Haines |
Play-offs
| 10 May 2019 Semi-final first leg | Tranmere Rovers | 1–0 | Forest Green Rovers | Birkenhead |
| 19:45 BST | Banks |
Report | Gunning |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 9,579 Referee: John Busby |
| 13 May 2019 Semi-final second leg | Forest Green Rovers | 1–1 (1–2 agg.) | Tranmere Rovers | Nailsworth |
| 19:45 BST | Mills Winchester |
Report | Banks Norwood |
Stadium: The New Lawn Attendance: 4,492 Referee: Eddie Ilderton |
| 25 May 2019 Final | Newport County | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | Tranmere Rovers | Wembley Stadium, London |
| 15:00 BST | Matt O'Brien Poole |
Report | Perkins Jennings |
Attendance: 25,217 Referee: Ross Joyce |
FA Cup
The first round draw was made live on BBC by Dennis Wise and Dion Dublin on 22 October.[52] The draw for the second round was made live on BBC and BT by Mark Schwarzer and Glenn Murray on 12 November.[53] The third round draw was made live on BBC by Ruud Gullit and Paul Ince from Stamford Bridge on 3 December 2018.[54]
| 10 November 2018 First round | Tranmere Rovers | 3–3 | Oxford City | Birkenhead |
| 15:00 GMT | Jennings Norwood |
Report | Tshimanga |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 4,206 Referee: Daniel Middleton |
| 20 November 2018 First round replay | Oxford City | 0–2 | Tranmere Rovers | Marston |
| 19:45 GMT | Report | Norwood Mullin |
Stadium: Court Place Farm Attendance: 1,172 Referee: Craig Hicks |
| 2 December 2018 Second round | Tranmere Rovers | 1–1 | Southport | Birkenhead |
| 14:00 GMT | Smith |
Report | Bauress |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 4,701 Referee: Anthony Backhouse |
| 17 December 2018 Second round replay | Southport | 0–2 | Tranmere Rovers | Blowick |
| 19:45 GMT | Report | Jennings Harris |
Stadium: Haig Avenue Attendance: 5,414 Referee: Thomas Bramall |
| 4 January 2019 Third round | Tranmere Rovers | 0–7 | Tottenham Hotspur | Birkenhead |
| 19:45 GMT | Report | Aurier Llorente Son Heung-min Kane |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 12,553 Referee: Andre Marriner |
EFL Cup
On 15 June 2018, the draw for the first round was made in Vietnam.[55]
| 14 August 2018 First round | Tranmere Rovers | 1–3 | Walsall | Birkenhead |
| 19:45 BST | Cole |
Report | Ferrier Ginnelly Ismail |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 3,817 Referee: Michael Salisbury |
EFL Trophy
On 13 July 2018, the initial group stage draw bar the U21 invited clubs was announced.[56]
| Pos | Lge | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L1 | Shrewsbury Town | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 8 | Round 2 |
| 2 | ACA | Manchester City U21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 7 | |
| 3 | L2 | Crewe Alexandra | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 3 | |
| 4 | L2 | Tranmere Rovers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 11 | −8 | 0 |
| 4 September 2018 Group stages | Tranmere Rovers | 3–4 | Crewe Alexandra | Birkenhead |
| 19:45 BST | Harris Stockton Mullin |
Report | Nicholls Porter Jones |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 2,174 Referee: Graham Salisbury |
| 9 October 2018 Group stages | Shrewsbury Town | 6–0 | Tranmere Rovers | Shrewsbury |
| 19:00 BST | John-Lewis Docherty Beckles Okenabirhie |
Report | Stadium: New Meadow Attendance: 1,379 |
| 30 October 2018 Group stages | Tranmere Rovers | 0–1 | Manchester City U21 | Birkenhead |
| 19:00 BST | Report | Matondo |
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 747 |