Tranmere Rovers and Notts County take to the pitch for the first time in 2024 when they square off at Prenton Park in a thrilling New Year's Day showdown in League Two.
Both sides head into the game off the back of a strong end to last year and we anticipate an end-to-end affair as they look to keep the juggernaut rolling.
Match preview
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It has been a sensational festive season for Tranmere Rovers who rounded off their schedule for 2023 with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Harrogate Town at the EnviroVent Stadium on Friday.
Following a relatively uneventful first half, Charlie Jolley broke the deadlock in the 54th minute to put the visitors in front before 31-year-old Tom Davies put the result beyond doubt with a 70th-minute effort.
Nigel Adkins's men have now won three games on the bounce — scoring nine goals and conceding twice — and are unbeaten in eight of their last nine league outings since the start of November.
This upturn in form has seen the Superwhites pull clear of the danger zone as they now sit 17th in the League Two table, level on 30 points with 18th-placed Newport County and 13 points above the relegation zone.
Tranmere now return home where they are currently on a four-game winning streak in the league and have lost just one of their last eight, picking up six wins and one draw since early September.
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Notts County, on the other hand, could not have hoped for a better way to close out the year as they cruised to an emphatic 5-0 victory over Morecambe at Meadow Lane on Friday.
English striker Macaulay Langstaff single-handedly put the Shrimps to the sword as he grabbed a first-half hat-trick, with Daniel Crowley and Jodi Jones adding to the scoresheet to cap off a superb team performance.
This signalled renewed confidence within Luke Williams's side, who had lost four consecutive matches — including a 3-2 defeat against Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup on December 1 — before beating Doncaster Rovers 3-0 on Boxing Day.
After two dominant displays in front of their home supporters, the Magpies will now have to show their mettle away from home, where they have lost each of their last four matches since scraping a 2-1 victory at Gillingham on October 21.
Notts County have now picked up 13 wins from their 25 league matches while losing nine and claiming three draws to collect 42 points and sit fifth in the league table, four points off the automatic promotion places.
Team News
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Connor Jennings took his goal involvement to 11 for the season with his assist against Harrogate and the 32-year-old should lead Tranmere's attack once again, alongside strike partner Harvey Saunders.
On the injury front, veteran striker Kristian Dennis came off injured in December's game against Walsall and the 33-year-old is ruled out of the New Year's Day clash.
He is joined on the Superwhites' injury table by 23-year-old midfielder Jean Leroy-Belehouan, who is also set to sit out a third consecutive game after picking up an injury in December.
With his hat-trick against Morecambe, Langstaff now leads the league scoring chart with 18 goals so far and the 26-year-old will certainly be one to keep an eye on.
Langstaff, who has also chipped in four assists this season, should be joined in the Notts County attack by Jones and Aaron Nemane, while Richard Brindley, Aden Baldwin and Kyle Cameron should form the back three shielding Aidan Stone in goal.
However, the Magpies remain without a few players down the spine of the team as Geraldo Bajrami, midfielder Matt Palmer and forward Cedwyn Scott all continue their spells on the sidelines.
Tranmere Rovers possible starting lineup:
McGee; Wood, Turnbull, Davies, O'Connor; Morris, Hendry, Walker, Apter; Saunders, Jennings
Notts County possible starting lineup:
Stone; Brindley, Baldwin, Cameron; Crowley, Bostock, Austin; McGoldrick; Nemane, Jones, Langstaff
We say: Tranmere Rovers 2-1 Notts County
Tranmere and Notts County enjoyed a strong finish to the first half of the season and will look to hit the ground running in the new year. The Superwhites' home form has been key in their recent resurgence and we fancy them to claim a fourth straight win at Prenton Park.
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Top tip
Joshua Ojele
