Match Preview
Tranmere will be hoping their impressive record over Stoke in league action carries over into the Capital One Cup tonight, with these two sides coming together for the first ever time in this competition. On paper, this one looks like a mismatch, with Rovers currently contesting League One and their visitors mid-table in the Premier League, but The Potters have won only one of their last five League Cup games. Manager Mark Hughes is also likely to make wholesale changes with a mixture of youth and experience and there could be an opportunity for Ronnie Moore's side to take advantage. Tranmere are unbeaten in the last five meetings between these sides, and have only lost one fewer game head-to-head, with five wins to Stoke's overall six. However, Moore's team are without a win in their last four games and have not won a home game in regulation time in six attempts. Stoke should be too strong for the opposition, particularly as they very nearly out-passed Arsenal at the weekend by making only 21 fewer passes than the Gunners in their 3-1 defeat on Sunday. Rovers also have the joint-worst defensive record in League One and it is difficult to envisage anything other than a Stoke victory.