EFL Cup PREVIEW 1 Aug 2026: Rochdale return to League action at Tranmere in cup opener

Tranmere Rovers host Rochdale at Prenton Park on Saturday in the EFL Cup preliminary round, the first competitive fixture of the season for both clubs, with the winner away to Bradford City at Valley Parade in the first round.

It is a meeting between a side that survived League Two by two points last season and one arriving with momentum after going up. Tranmere finished 21st in 2025/26 under new manager Darrell Clarke, who took over in May after being sacked by Bristol Rovers, while Rochdale return to the Football League after their play-off final win over Boreham Wood. Recent history favours the visitors: the sides have met seven times since 2018, with Rochdale winning four and Tranmere just one.

Home form is the number Tranmere need to fix: they won only four of their 23 League Two home games last season, the second-worst home record in the division. They arrive on the back of two pre-season wins, the most recent a 2-0 friendly win over Blackpool, Charlie Whitaker and Jordan Davies the scorers, and winger Tom Ince, signed from Watford, is expected to make his debut. Rochdale, by contrast, were among the National League's best travellers last season: they won 15 of their 23 away league games, the second-best away record in the division, and Ian Watson's side head into their first EFL Cup tie back in the league with the core of their promotion-winning squad retained.