Peterborough United have the chance to banish the memory of Saturday's home defeat to Yeovil Town when they travel to face Tranmere Rovers in a vital Coca-Cola League One clash at Prenton Park this evening (7.45pm).
Despite the defeat to the Glovers, Darren Ferguson's men are still lying third in the table and a win tonight would consolidate that position. Tranmere are on the fringes of the play-off positions, but suffered defeat at the weekend.
TEAM NEWS
Posh welcome back James Chester from an ankle injury and Lee Frecklington from a similar knock for the clash. Charlie Lee has recovered from the injury he sustained at the weekend, but Craig Morgan (toe), Shane Blackett (shoulder), Tom Williams (knee) and Jamie Day (back) are still out.
Tranmere boss Ronnie Moore will again be without goalkeeper Danny Coyne for the visit of promotion rivals Peterborough. Rovers' first-choice stopper has tweaked medial ligaments and veteran John Achterberg will again deputise after playing in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Southend. Andy Taylor was withdrawn after 55 minutes at Roots Hall but Moore expects the left-back to be passed fit.
Moore will check on midfielder Ed Sonko (shoulder) and several other players nursing minor knocks, but he will definitely be without key defender Ian Goodison and strike duo Craig Curran and Chris Greenacre. Goodison faces another four weeks on the sidelines with ankle ligament damage while Greenacre is around a fortnight away from a return to full-time training after damaging ligaments in his foot. Curran, sidelined for most of the season with a back injury, faces another five weeks of recovery from a stomach problem.
ONE TO WATCH
Tranmere striker Ian Moore is the son of the manager and the boss will be delighted with his son's goal-scoring record this season. Moore has found the back of the net with impressive regularity and can also operate on the right hand side of midfield. A strong, physical presence, Moore was once on the books of Leeds United.
MANAGER QUOTES
'We have played Tranmere three times already this season, so we know it will be a difficult game. They are on the fringes of the play-offs, while we want to bounce back from the defeat at the weekend. The lads have got to show the character that is required to get the right result,' Ferguson said.
'They've got three lads up front who are better than this division. They are all a threat, but we are a threat too. We are playing at home and we will take the game to them,' Ronnie Moore said.
