Tranmere Rovers - Gateshead

Tranmere and Gateshead meet tonight at Prenton Park for a regular round of the English (UK) National League. Tranmere will be without a number of players. The club's website reported: Jeff Hughes would continue his suspension, while Michael Ihiekwe and Steven Jennings also picked up ban in last round's 0-0 draw at Dagenham & Redbridge; Adam Mekki and Connor Jennings will miss out again through injury, but Jay Harris could be in line for a return to action, since picking up an injury against Sutton United last month. For the opposition Gateshead, Danny Johnson will miss out on a return to Prenton Park, as he serves the first of a 3-match suspension. Also missing for the Heed will be forward Toby Ajala through injury. In their last game at home Tranmere defeated Woking by 3-1. They are 7th in the table with 24 pts., and a win tonight will send them in the Top 5 teams in the league. Gateshead lost badly their last game 0-3 to Aldershot Town away from home. They are 13th in the table with 18 pts., and did not do much in away games this season. With that, I am expecting the home side to do better than the visitors, so I pick Tranmere to win in the Money Line (ML) with an Option "Draw No Bet". 

UPDATE October 05, 2016 - FINAL Result:  Tranmere Rovers  0-1  Gateshead.  A very surprising home loss for Tranmere, as this game was considered a "lock win" for them - [a report from Tranmere's official website] - Sam Jones scored the only goal of the game as Tranmere Rovers fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to Gateshead.  Tranmere's Assistant Manager, Paul Carden, was forced into making 4 changes from the team which started Saturday's goalless draw at Dagenham & Redbridge, as Michael Ihiekwe and Steven Jennings missed out through suspension.  The reserves Mitchell Duggan, Eliot Osborne, Ethan Jones came into the side for their full Tranmere debuts, but it was not enough. It was the visitors who started the brighter and saw Nyal Bell head over from Mitch Brundle's cross before Sam Jones was allowed to advance through midfield and curl a shot well wide of Scott Davies' net.  Sutton had the best chance of the opening half for Tranmere, slamming wide after the visitors failed to clear their lines from Liam Ridehalgh's free-kick.  There was plenty of effort from Rovers, but little end product - midfielder Jay Harris "said it all" during the post-game interview - see here.  Andy Cook collected Duggan's cross, but could only find the side-netting with his shot, thus, Tranmere Rovers slipped to their 2nd home defeat of the campaign, and missed the chance to go Top 5 in the league.