League One

After going 12 games unbeaten at the start of the campaign, Rovers have lost their last two matches and seen their lead at the top of the third tier cut to a single point.

Ronnie Moore’s side still occupy a healthy position, and one which few fans would have imagined at the start of the season, but the picture has changed dramatically since they opened up a seven-point gap over the rest a fortnight ago.

Tranmere could end this weekend as low as fourth, should they fall to a third successive defeat at home to Preston North End on Saturday (Tranmere 6/5, draw 9/4, Preston 9/4 – match betting).

The season is still young and it is easy to get carried away after a good start. Tables can be misleading and, as Tranmere have found out, things can change very quickly.

Moore will not be panicking just yet, but Tranmere fans could be forgiven for thinking this is the beginning of their slide down the table.

The Prenton Park faithful have become accustomed to relegation struggles in recent times. When your club goes through a trot like that, it is usually a case of waiting for the bubble to burst when things are looking up.

Rovers are in good hands, though. Moore has been around the block and knows how to inspire teams to promotion. He will have the players pumped up for the visit of Preston.

Nathan Eccleston joined on a month’s loan from Blackpool this week and could go straight into the starting line-up, with Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro and Jake Jervis sidelined through injury.

Tranmere have hit 31 goals so far this term, the most in League One, while Preston have netted 24 on their way to eighth spot.

It looks set to be an exciting clash at Prenton Park, with a fired-up home side determined to get their promotion charge back on track (3-2 to Tranmere – 25/1).

Elsewhere in the third tier on Saturday, second-placed Stevenage host Swindon Town and Crawley Town (9/1 League One outright) entertain Oldham Athletic. Sheffield United face Portsmouth at Bramall Lane on Monday night.

The pick of the fixtures is arguably the clash between Notts County and Doncaster Rovers at Meadow Lane (Notts County evens, draw 12/5, Doncaster 11/4 – match betting).

Both sides occupy a play-off place going into the weekend’s action but have struggled for consistency so far this season.

County have been excellent on the road but have struggled on home soil, losing three of their seven league fixtures at Meadow Lane.

Likewise, Doncaster have saved their best football for their travels and head to the Midlands on the back of an excellent midweek victory at Tranmere.

That win stretched Doncaster’s unbeaten run to five matches as they look to return to the Championship at the first time of asking.

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