Match details. League Two, Regular Season - 10. Kick-off is Sat 10 Oct, 15:00 Lagos time. It is played at Prenton Park, Wirral.
What's at stake. Tranmere Rovers FC are 12th on 11 points after 9 games, 2 points behind Rochdale, level on points with Swindon Town. A win would take them above Rochdale. Rochdale AFC are 11th on 13 points after 9 games, level on points with Gillingham, 2 points clear of Tranmere. A win would take them above Gillingham.
Form. Tranmere Rovers FC have won three, drawn five and lost two of their last ten, 1.4 points a game. Their last five, newest first: L D W D L. Rochdale AFC have won four, drawn two and lost four of their last ten, 1.4 points a game. Their last five, newest first: L W W D W.
The numbers. Tranmere Rovers FC score 1.6 and concede 0.6 a game in their last five at home, with three clean sheets. Tranmere Rovers FC average 9.4 shots (3.4 on target), 3.3 corners and 2.6 cards a game, with 48% of the ball. Rochdale AFC score 1.3 and concede 1.6 a game over their last ten, with four clean sheets and three games without a goal. Rochdale AFC average 5.0 shots (2.1 on target), 4.6 corners and 1.7 cards a game, with 51% of the ball.
Head to head. In the last seven meetings Tranmere Rovers FC have won two, drawn three and lost two. Two of the seven went over 2.5 goals and both teams scored in three. In the last four, Tranmere Rovers FC won one, two were drawn and Rochdale AFC won one. The last time they met, on 18 Apr 2023, it finished Tranmere Rovers FC 2-2 Rochdale AFC: Tranmere Rovers FC had 10 shots to 14, 48% of the ball, two yellow cards.
The case against. Rochdale AFC's record still gives them 35% to win.
The read. Tranmere Rovers FC or the draw. A draw is live. A tight game. Nothing separates them clearly enough to back a side. Their goals for and against point to a tight game. Their records put over 2.5 goals at 40%. Five of the last seven meetings went under 2.5.
The bets. Best bet: Under 3.5 Goals at 1.32, 73% on the records (Tranmere Rovers FC: under 3.5 goals in 6 of 9; Rochdale AFC: under 3.5 goals in 7 of 8). Backup: Under 2.5 first-half goals at 1.09. It often rescues the bet, but it is no guarantee. Leave: Over 1.5 Goals (no overs on a tight read); Tranmere Rovers FC Over 0.5 goals (Rochdale AFC's own games don't back it (4 of 8)); Over 0.5 Goals (no overs on a tight read). Predicted score: Tranmere Rovers FC 1-1 Rochdale AFC (13% chance).
Every score's chance from both teams' checked games, never cut or rescaled. The lit square is the likeliest score that fits the read (the call and a tight game).