'Why can't we go to Wembley and beat Sunderland?': Tranmere Rovers are confident ahead of Papa John's Trophy final showdown

That’s the verdict of iFollow Tranmere commentator Adam Siddorn, who offered us the inside track on Keith Hill’s side ahead of the final of the Papa John’s Trophy.

The League Two outfit have overcome some stern tests to make it to the final and have been in strong form since the arrival of Keith Hill in November.

And while some were hesitant to back the manager upon his appointment, Siddorn explains how some astute additions and an eye-catching style of football have turned the doubters into disciples - while also pinpointing some of the danger men the Black Cats will need to watch at the national stadium.

“Keith Hill came in, made a couple of signings and you’re like ‘wow’ - this is, as he calls it, rock and roll football,” he said.

“The fans didn’t take to him at first because he’s ex-Bolton, so they were very much against him.

“But at the moment, I think they’d drink pints of gravy to just please Keith Hill. The way he’s turned the club around has been phenomenal and some of the football we’re playing isn’t League Two football.

“That’s no disrespect to the rest of the division, but it looks good. We just turn up to games and control them, and some of the goals we score are fantastic.

“You look through the squad and you’ve got Jay Spearing, Peter Clarke, David Nugent - these are all players who arguably should be playing in League One.

“David Nugent has come from the Championship straight to Tranmere. We’ve got Liam Feeney who had the leading assists in England last year, and he’s come to Tranmere.

“The way he’s got them playing and the abundance of experience is scarily good at the moment.”

Much like Sunderland, Tranmere’s primary focus is promotion this season and they currently sit in the fourth tier play-off places - albeit within touching distance of the top three.

So will they be tempted to rotate their squad at Wembley? Siddorn doesn’t think so.

“They went pretty much, apart from one or two, full strength in the semi-final,” he explained.

“There’s been a little bit of rotation in recent weeks anyway because we’ve been playing a few Saturday-Tuesdays, but it’s a cup final.

“How often does your club get to a cup final? It’s a final with no pressure and we go in against a massive club like Sunderland, so I’d be shocked if he played a rotated squad.

“Barring any injuries, I can’t see anyone being rested.”

Tranmere will be without one key man at Wembley in ex-Black Cat James Vaughan, who has scored 21 goals already this term.

But despite that blow, Siddorn says the side go to the capital holding no fear - especially given the hurdles they’ve already overcome in the competition this term.

“Sunderland are massive, the biggest club in this competition, so to go and play them is fantastic for Tranmere.

“We’ve got to the final the hard way - we’ve had to play Manchester City, Leicester, an in-form Oxford, an in-form Peterborough, and we’ve won them all.

“So why can’t we go to Wembley and beat Sunderland?”

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