Dawes takes charge as Tranmere welcome Morecambe to Prenton Park

Ian Dawes will take temporary charge of Tranmere for a second time this season and the stakes could hardly be higher as Morecambe visit for the League Two playoff semi-final first leg.

Keith Hill departed as manager last week after a dire run of form saw Rovers just about hold onto a playoff spot despite being in the automatic promotion places just a couple of months previously.

Losing James Vaughan to injury was a massive blow but the performances in recent weeks had been turgid. Five goals in their final ten league games was a desperate return and with the absence of fans in the ground, anger on social media was growing.

The return of supporters to Prenton Park this Thursday prompted the change in manager from Mark Palios. Hill had come out with some increasingly bizarre comments in press conferences including admonishing himself in any blame for performances and the relationship with the ‘Super White Army’ was becoming increasingly toxic.

Fan unrest in what should be a moment of euphoria would be a detriment to the team’s hopes of promotion so the club pulled the trigger and Liverpool man Dawes finds himself leading the team once again.

Along with Andy Parkinson, Dawes took charge back in the Autumn when Mike Jackson was dismissed and the upturn form was fairly instantaneous. The 37-year-old won the League Two manager of the month award for November.

The positivity that has been generated since the change in the dugout has been notable and Tranmere are now a different proposition going into what is knockout football. With Vaughan slowly making his way back, Rovers may quietly fancy their chances of yet another Wembley appearance.

An even more tantalising prospect is a repeat of the 2019 playoff final with Newport. The Welsh side are two goals in front after their first leg with Forest Green and are firm favourites to reach the finale. It’s an amazing coincidence that the final may be the exact same two years on.

Morecambe will be no easy opposition however. The ‘Shrimps’ just missed out on automatic promotion on the final day of the season but shouldn’t be too dismayed after five wins in their last six games.

A home defeat to eventually promoted Bolton effectively put paid to their hopes but it’s already been an overachievement after Derek Adams’ side were many people’s fancies for relegation.

Carlos Mendes Gomes has helped inspire the squad this season and was named in the League Two team of the year. The Spaniard has 15 goals this season.

Morecambe will be aiming to reach a Wembley final for the first time since a 2007 Conference playoff win over Exeter City. They’ll start off as favourites to win the tie as they chase the dream of a first ever appearance in the third tier of English football.

3,400 supporters are expected at Prenton Park and it is sure to be a special occasion. The roar as the theme tune of ‘The Rockford Files’ comes over the PA system will send shivers down the spines of many and Dawes will be hoping it inspires his players to another playoff victory.

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt