Tranmere Rovers v Doncaster Rovers: Prediction, Tips and Odds

There will be plenty on the line when Tranmere Rovers and Doncaster Rovers meet at Prenton Park on Friday in a match that could have huge implications at both ends of the League Two table.

In-form Tranmere have eased their relegation worries after losing just once in nine matches, but they are not completely safe and could get dragged back into the battle to survive if results go against them over Easter weekend.

Doncaster are in need of the points for entirely different reasons, as they are pushing for automatic promotion. However, they missed a chance on Tuesday to move into the top three following a 1-1 draw at Salford City, a result that leaves them behind third-placed Walsall only on goal difference.

Tranmere Rovers v Doncaster Rovers betting tips and predictions

Draw - 12/5

It was a dark winter for Tranmere, who appeared to be plummeting towards relegation following a 10-match run from the 11th January to the 25th February that yielded no wins and just three points.

The final match of that sequence - a 1-0 home defeat to fellow strugglers Accrington Stanley - led to the club parting ways with former boss Nigel Adkins, with Andy Crosby subsequently taking charge on an interim basis.

Since then Rovers have not looked back, losing just once and winning four times under Crosby, while Saturday's 3-3 draw, ironically against Accrington, would have felt like a win as they came from 3-0 down, with Omari Patrick scoring the equaliser 11 minutes into second-half stoppage time.

That draw leaves Tranmere seven points clear of the relegation zone with four matches left to play and they could guarantee their survival if results go their way on Friday, but that would include them beating Doncaster, which may be easier said than done despite their resurgent form.

Doncaster are also in good nick, as they are unbeaten in seven and have lost only one of their last 11 league games, although three draws in their previous four - including Tuesday's stalemate at Salford - have slightly dented their automatic promotion hopes.

Grant McCann's side will take confidence from their impressive away record - no team has accumulated more points on the road in League Two this season than Doncaster - while they are also on a four-match winning streak against Tranmere, a run that includes December's 3-1 success at the Eco-Power Stadium.

That record would suggest that Donny perhaps should win this game, but this is a much-improved Tranmere side that have yet to lose on home soil under Crosby and they may prove difficult to break down.

With both sides having drawn plenty of matches of late - four in nine for Tranmere and five in seven for Doncaster - this contest could well finish all square, a result that would likely favour the hosts more than the visitors.

Omari Patrick to score at any time - 10/3

Winger Patrick was Tranmere's saviour against Accrington. Not only did he score the equaliser deep into stoppage time, but he also got his side's first goal of that contest and set up the second for Kristian Dennis.

That brace has taken Patrick's tally for the season in all competitions to 12, which makes it the best scoring campaign of his career, while he is also Tranmere's leading marksman.

Having also scored in the recent clash with Harrogate Town, Patrick now has four goal involvements in his last three games and he could have a key role to play on Friday as well.

Over 11 corners in the match - 11/8

The corner count could well be high in this Birkenhead clash as no team has won more corners in League Two this season than Doncaster's total of 264.

That tally includes the 12 they earned in Saturday's draw with promotion rivals AFC Wimbledon, while along with Walsall, they are the only side averaging six or more corners per game in the division.

Tranmere are not far off that mark with an average of 5.31, and perhaps surprisingly given their position in the lower reaches of the table, only four teams have won more corners than the Merseysiders in the fourth tier.

With that in mind, backing over 11 corners on Friday could prove shrewd, with both teams likely to play on the front foot given their respective need for the points.

Read more football betting tips and predictions on site.

Tranmere Rovers v Doncaster Rovers odds

Tranmere Rovers - 13/5
Draw - 12/5
Doncaster Rovers - 19/20

View the full market and more odds for Tranmere Rovers v Doncaster Rovers on site.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.

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