Tranmere end their home-win drought as Dylan Jones scores twice against Cheltenham
Sunday 1 November 2026 · By Harvey Grimshaw
Tranmere Rovers ended a wait for a home league victory that stretched back to early September when they beat Cheltenham Town 3–1 at Prenton Park on Saturday, coming from behind after conceding in the first minute.
Charlie McCann scored for Cheltenham inside the opening minute, according to the Press Association. Whitehead said it took Tranmere 20 minutes to settle. Dylan Jones then levelled in the 23rd minute from Jacob Slater’s delivery. Jones scored again six minutes before the break with a 25-yard shot, and Charlie Whitaker made it 3–1 with a dipping strike just before half-time.
Assistant Dean Whitehead gave the post-match interviews. Darrell Clarke did not take the press conference, and no reason has been given in the coverage we have seen. We will not guess at one.
Whitehead was pleased with his team’s reaction. “It’s the first time we’ve (conceded the first goal in a game) at home, and you never know how you’ll react until that happens,” he said. “But we responded really well. It’s about time that we scored a couple of goals in the first half. We’ve come from behind to win at home and scored three, so it’s a good day for us.”
He also referred to a problem Tranmere have had in recent weeks. “We’ve had problems conceding late in the game, but we put that right at Northampton and did it again today,” Whitehead said. “We managed the game really well and saw it out quite comfortably.” He summed up: “It was a big game for us. It’s two from three now and we’re in a good place, but we want to keep improving.”
The table shows Tranmere 11th on 19 points from 14 games, with four wins, seven draws and three defeats. Standing after the weekend’s games, their goal difference is plus two. Accrington, Chesterfield, Exeter and Swindon are also on 19, so the middle of League Two is packed. Rovers are unbeaten in three league games, and seven of their 14 matches have been drawn.
The fixture list is busy. On Saturday 7 November, at 3pm, they travel to Barnet in the FA Cup first round, a tie between two League Two clubs. Barnet are second in the league, so it will be a stern test. Tranmere then visit Stockport in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday 10 November at 7pm.
Their next league match is at Fleetwood on Saturday 14 November, and the kick-off there is at 5:30pm, rather than the usual 3pm. Fleetwood are 16th on 17 points and beat Bristol Rovers 3–1 on Saturday.
For Whitehead and Tranmere, the target is to build on a result they had been waiting for. Three days after the trip to Barnet comes the Trophy game at Stockport, so the squad will be used a lot this week.
Prenton Park has been Tranmere Rovers’ home since 1912. For a visiting supporter it is a proper old English ground: four distinct stands, a tight pitch, and no vast concourses to swallow the noise. Capacity is around 16,500. You will be in the Cowshed, the covered single-tier stand behind the north goal, opposite the much larger Kop.
The Cowshed holds about 2,500. It looks slightly lopsided because Borough Road cuts behind it, so one side has fewer rows than the other. Views are generally good and unobstructed. Facilities inside are among the better ones at the ground: toilets, food, and a licensed bar on the concourse. Turnstiles 5 to 9 serve the away end and sit by the traffic lights on the corner of Borough Road and Prenton Road West. They usually open an hour before kick-off. Allow extra time for searches on bigger games.
Opposite you is the Bebington Kop, the tall single-tier home end built in 1995. That is where most of the noise comes from. Down the west touchline is the Main Stand, opened in 1968: two tiers, directors’ box, hospitality rooms, and the lower Town and Bebington paddocks. Across the pitch, along Borough Road, is the lower Johnny King Stand, named after the manager who took Tranmere to Wembley three years running. The two goals sit in front of the Kop and the Cowshed, so from the away seats you look straight down the pitch at the home end.
The address is Prenton Road West, Birkenhead, CH42 9PY. Rock Ferry and Birkenhead Central are the nearest stations, each about a 15–20 minute walk. From Liverpool Lime Street most travelling fans change for Merseyrail. By car, junction 4 of the M53 is the usual approach. Official parking is limited and often sold with tickets; street parking exists but watch residents’ restrictions and match-day closures. A cash machine sits on Borough Road behind the away end, near Tesco Express.
Pubs that generally take away colours include the Mersey Clipper, with the Halfway House and Prenton Park also mentioned in club guides. There is often a fan zone in the main car park. Inside the Cowshed you can buy pies, burgers, hot drinks and beer; cash and card are both taken. Smoking and vaping are not allowed in the ground. Flags are usually fine if you check with a steward on the way in.
Stewards here are used to travelling support and the atmosphere is typically robust rather than hostile. Persistent standing in a seated stand can draw attention. Dress for Wirral weather: the Cowshed is covered, but the walk in from the station is not. Buy in advance if you can; match-day prices are often a couple of pounds higher. Check the club site for the latest allocation, accessible seats and any coach-drop arrangements before you travel.
Prenton Park will not dazzle you with glass and hospitality decks. What it does well is put you close to the pitch, give you a bar in the away end, and leave you facing a proper home Kop. Arrive early, pick a seat with a clear sightline of both goals, and you will have a straightforward, old-school away day on the Wirral.