Tranmere Rovers vs Rochdale - prediction, team news, lineups

Tranmere Rovers play big to Rochdale successful the preliminary circular of the EFL Cup connected Saturday afternoon.

Whoever prevails from this necktie volition marque the travel to League One nine Bradford City successful the archetypal circular adjacent weekend.

Match preview

Having lone survived successful League Two by a two-point borderline successful 2025-26, everyone associated with Tranmere is hoping for a much-improved campaign.

In the circumstances, ending the play with 5 points from arsenic galore matches was a respectable return, and experienced EFL brag Darrell Clarke being appointed arsenic manager up of 2026-27 is simply a connection of intent.

There has people been an array of incomings and outgoings, with the signings of erstwhile Wrexham prima Jordan Davies and Watford winger Tom Ince large coups astatine this level.

The level being stepped up has shown successful their pre-season results, with a 2-0 triumph implicit Blackpool being followed by a 3-0 triumph implicit a beardown PFA XI.

Although a 3-1 decision has since been posted against Altrincham, determination is optimism that Tranmere volition look arsenic a promotion contender with Clarke astatine the helm.

As for Rochdale, they are going done somewhat of a transitional play aft manager Jimmy McNulty near the newly-promoted broadside for Stockport County.

South Shields brag Ian Watson has been selected arsenic his replacement, the people being endurance successful their archetypal twelvemonth backmost successful League Two.

Nine players person been added to the squad, with winger Cian Hayes a notable summation aft contributing 7 goals from 64 games for Peterborough United crossed the past 2 campaigns.

However, Rochdale's pre-season results person been disappointing, failing to triumph immoderate of their 4 fixtures and losing to the likes of FC United of Manchester and FC Halifax Town.

Tranmere Rovers signifier (friendlies):

W W W L

Rochdale signifier (friendlies):

L D D L

Team News

Goalkeeper Harrison Male could marque an contiguous debut for Tranmere having signed earlier this week.

Lincoln City loanee Zane Okoro is pushing for a commencement successful the last third, but the 19-year-old whitethorn person to bide his clip down much experienced players.

Will Jenkins volition miss retired for Rochdale aft being stretchered disconnected successful the caller affable against FC Halifax.

Harvey Gilmour is an enactment to regenerate the erstwhile South Shields midfielder successful the motor room.

Forty-one-year-old guardant Ian Henderson netted successful the erstwhile lucifer to enactment himself into contention for a commencement down the mediate of the attack.

Tranmere Rovers imaginable starting lineup:

Male; Senior, O'Connor, Turnbull, Smith, Slater, Finley, Davies, Whitaker, Ince, Ironside

Rochdale imaginable starting lineup:

Waller, East, Silcott-Duberry, Francis, Pettit, Edwards, Hannant, Moss, Gilmour, Sherring, Henderson

We say: Tranmere Rovers 2-1 Rochdale

At this signifier of the season, games specified arsenic this 1 are hard to predict, and determination volition stay an constituent of this being a pre-season fixture with a competitory edge. With the location broadside the established League Two outfit, we tin lone foretell a hard-fought triumph for Clarke's team.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.