Barrow travel to Prenton Park in a must-win encounter as Tranmere cling to automatic hopes

Prenton Park- Sean Kelly

Tranmere play host to Barrow on Saturday with both sides looking for a win to boost their vastly different aims going into the crunch period of the season.

With Rovers having just three games of the league season left, Keith Hill will know now is the time for victories and will be hoping to build on the midweek success over Bradford.

Tranmere find themselves caught between chasing automatic promotion and looking over their shoulders to ensure they don’t drop out of the play-off places.

Tuesday night’s win over the Bantams was Rovers’ first since March 20th and it was a timely boost to their flagging promotion hopes. While still looking unlikely, the chances of automatic promotion are still there despite such a poor run.

With fellow promotion rivals Bolton and Morecambe squaring off on Saturday, the visit of Barrow represents a massive chance to load the pressure on the aforementioned sides. A draw at the Mazuma Stadium between the Wanderers and the Shrimps would be an ideal result for Rovers fans to be seeing come teatime on Saturday.

Of course, their own job is more important and Hill will be hoping for more from his men despite the midweek win. That came about despite Tranmere having no shots on target so clearly, there is plenty of scope for improvement.

James Vaughan is out of action ahead of Saturday’s match while Scott Davies is a long term absentee.

Barrow come into this one knowing that a win could guarantee survival in League Two at the first time of asking. The Bluebirds are eight points clear of Southend with a game in hand and while it would take something monumental for relegation to occur, interim boss Rob Kelly will be taking nothing for granted.

A draw may even be enough for Barrow to achieve their goal for the season.

Two wins, two draws and two defeats in the previous six games emphasise that it’s been an inconsistent campaign but it’s nice for Barrow fans to know that when they can get back into the ground it should be League Two football that they are being treated to.

Whatever the outcome on Saturday, things look set to go to the wire for Tranmere. Nine points could see them preparing for League One football next season. It is imperative that three of those are delivered on Saturday.

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