Preview: Tranmere Rovers vs. Sutton United - prediction, team news, lineups

Tranmere Rovers and Sutton United meet in the next round of League Two matches, with both sides firmly in pursuit of plying their trade in the third tier of English football next season.

With only two points separating Micky Mellon's side and their visitors to Prenton Park this weekend, a victory for either side could propel them further into the mix of the intensely-competitive playoff battle.

Match preview

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Tranmere Rovers sit in 15th position in the fourth tier of English football, only five points adrift of the top seven following two victories in their last three matches.

The Super White Army's recent resurgence began at the beginning of the festive footballing period as goals from Kane Hemmings, Kieron Morris and Paul Lewis saw Mellon's side easily overcome Doncaster Rovers at Prenton Park on Boxing Day.

Tranmere celebrated a 2-1 victory over Barrow at Holker Street on December 29, despite the late drama of the final 15 minutes of the second half. Despite having the aforementioned Lewis shown a straight red card with the match level at 1-1, Hemmings led by example, netting the game's winning goal six minutes later.

However, on New Year's Day, the Super White Army dressing room momentum was brought back to earth when Charlie Colkett's first-half strike proved enough for Crewe Alexandra to emerge victorious at The Mornflake Stadium.

In the wake of collecting 17 points from a possible 33 on offer at Prenton Park this season, another three-point haul would be enough to leapfrog Sutton United.

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In pursuit of a fourth consecutive victory, Sutton United will be full of confidence in leaving Merseyside with a win this weekend.

A hat-trick of victories commenced on December 26 when a goal from Joseph Kizzi and a penalty from Robert Milsom in the 75th minute secured a 2-1 win over Crawley Town at Broadfield Stadium.

Matt Gray's side continued their upward trajectory three days later when Gillingham became the latest victim of The Us' upturn in form.

Despite Robbie McKenzie bringing Neil Harris's side to within sight of a much-needed point, Craig Eastmond shattered those dreams deep into second-half injury time to secure all three points for Sutton.

Sutton secured their third successive victory against AFC Wimbledon at the VBS Community Stadium on January 1, with Omar Bugiel netting the game's winning goal after Josh Davison cancelled out Will Randall's opener.

With one more league victory than Tranmere Rovers this season (10), albeit with only two of those victories coming away from the home comforts of the VBS Community Stadium, Gray's side should not be underestimated.

Team News

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In the wake of scoring the joint-lowest number of goals among the sides submerged in the heavily-congested playoff positions, but incidentally, the same number as Sutton United, Tranmere Rovers manager Micky Mellon could decide to name Joel Mumbongo in his starting XI.

After coming on as a second-half substitute in the defeat to Crewe Alexandra, the Swedish striker could replace either Elliott Nevitt or Kane Hemmings in the Super White Army's 11. With Hemmings currently in possession of the Tranmere armband, it is more likely that Nevitt will drop to the bench prospectively.

Sutton top scorer Will Randall has scored six goals in League Two this season and should provide an additional line of support behind Omar Bugiel and Donovan Wilson.

After conceding only three goals in the same number of matches and showing their exploits at the other end of the field, Joseph Kizzi, Louis John, Ben Goodliffe and Robert Milsom should take their places in an unchanged back four for the visitors.

Tranmere Rovers possible starting lineup:

Doohan; Dacres-Cogley, Davies, Turnbull, Bristow; Morris, Merrie, O'Connor, Hawkes; Hemmings, Mumbongo

Sutton United possible starting lineup:

Rose; Kizzi, Goodliffe, John, Milsom; Boldewijn, Eastmond, Smith, Randall; Bugiel, Wilson

We say: Tranmere Rovers 1-2 Sutton United

In pursuit of a double-digit amount of League Two victories, we can envision Tranmere Rovers coming up short against one of the in-form sides in League Two across a tightly-contested contest at Prenton Park.

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