Tranmere Rovers vs. Brentford match preview

Total Tranmere brings you all the stats, facts and team news you need to know ahead of Saturday's League One game against Brentford

Brentford Factfile:

Ground: Griffin Park
Formed: 1889
Nickname:  The Bees
Manager:  Andy Scott
League Finish 2009/10: 9th
Kit Colours: Red and white striped shirt, blacks shorts and socks (home), black and light blue striped shirt, light blue shorts and socks (away), black shirt with yellow trim, yellow shorts and socks (third)

Previous Meetings:
 

Les Parry picked up his fourth win as Tranmere manager when Tranmere and Brentford met at Prenton Park just before Christmas last season.

In a game watched by just under 5,000 fans, Rovers picked up three vital points, lifting them off the bottom of the League One table, thanks to a 1-0 win, with the victory sealed when Craig Curran scored a well worked free kick on the hour mark.

The stiker, now with Carlisle, stood over a free kick with Gareth Edds and John Welsh before making an off the ball dart, unmarked, into the area.  Edds slipped the ball through to Curran who confidently slotted home to give Tranmere the lead.

Rovers dominated the game, with Gornell and Thomas-Moore each having chances to double Tranmere's lead before the end, but Les Parry's side thankfully didn't need a second as they picked up some vital points.

The re-match between the two sides at Griffin Park was originally schedualled for February 27th, but the match had to be postponed and re-arranged for April 20th due to a waterlogged pitch.

When the game eventually took place, Tranmere were harshly defeated 2-1 as a late goal from Brentford grabbed them the three points and put a severe dampner on Rovers' hopes of beating the drop to League Two.

After an even first half where both sides had a couple of chances to score, Brentford took the lead after half time, with Kevin O'Connor's long range effort taking a wicked deflection, taking it out of reach of Peter Gulacsi and into the net.

Thomas-Moore saw a header saved before Joss Labadie netted his second goal for the club to bring Tranmere level, the midfielder smashing home a long range effort from 20-yards.

Tranmere then piled on the pressure but it was the home side who grabbed the lead and the points as Brentford counter attacked and scored through Ben Strevens who slotted home Charlie McDonald's cross at the back post.

Rovers had chances to pull level again, with Labadie and Broomes both forcing saves from the 'keeper, but they eventually ran out of time as The Bees won the game 2-1.

Vital Stats:

Tranmere and Brentford have met 20 times at Prenton Park, with Rovers picking up fourteen wins and losing just four times

In those 20 home games, Tranmere have netted 40 times, with Brentford scoring 21 times

Tranmere have won twelve of their last thirteen games against the Bees

Brentford have won four of the six meetings between the two sides in October meetings, with Rovers winning twice

A play-off sei final win over Brentford in 1990/91 led to Tranmere's play-off final winning match over Bolton Wanderers

On This Day:

2004:  One of the most exciting Tranmere matches of recent times ends in a defeat for Rovers, as Brian Little's side lose a topsy-turvy match against Bradford 5-4

1999:  Rovers draw 1-1 with Manchester City in Division One at Prenton Park

1993:  Nottingham Forest beat Tranmere 2-1 at The City Ground in Division One

Tranmere Rovers have played fifteen previous games on this day, picking up five wins, three draws and seven defeats.  They have scored 23 goals and conceded 27 in their fifteen matches on this day.  Rovers are without a win in four games on this day, a run dating back 28 years, whilst four of their five wins on this day have come on home soil.

The Form Book:

Brentford last six away games:  DLLDWD
Tranmere Rovers last six home games:  DDWDLL

Having had a hugely disappointing start to the season, bottom of the table Brentford are yet to pick up an away league win, as Andy Scott's side have struggled to find any sort of form so far this capaign.

The Bees started the season with an away defeat, losing 2-0 to high flying Carlisle United before drawing 1-1 with Swindon Town in their next away game two weeks later.

Their next home game then brought Brentford their only away win of the season so far, with the Bees beating Stevenage 1-0 in the Football League Trophy 1-0 before drawing 0-0 with Bristol Rovers in their next away fixture.

Two successive league defeats without scoring have followed since though, meaning Brentford have so far netted just one away league goal from five games so far this season.

Firstly, they lost 1-0 to Leyton Orient before being defeated by the same scoreline at the Withdean Stadium against table topping Brighton and Hove Albion.

In their most recent away game, this in the Football League Trophy, Brentford picked up another draw, 0-0 against Leyton Orient, eventually winning the game 5-4 on penalties.

Brentford have so far played five away league game this season, picking up just two of an available fifteen points thanks to two draws and three defeats.

Notable results at home so far this season for Brentford include victories over Charlton Athletic (2-1), Hull City (2-1, League Cup) and Sheffield Wednesday (1-0), as well as a penalty shoot out victory over Everton in the League One.

Brentford come to Prenton Park occupying 24th spot in League One, having picked up nine of an available 33 points from their 11 games so far, this thanks to two wins, three draws and six defeats.

Despite having picked up just one home win so far this season, Tranmere have been in strong form at Prenton Park in recent weeks, picking up some valuable and impressive points against some of League One's better teams.

Rovers started the season with a 2-1 defeat against Oldham before losing 3-1 in the League Cup second round, despite a spirited display against Championship side Swansea City.

Les Parry's side then followed this up with a shocking performance and a 3-0 defeat against Bournemouth, but in their next home game they began to turn this form around as they drew 1-1 with Accrington Stanley in the Johnstone's Paints Trophy, eventually losing the match on penalties.

Rovers then picked up their first and only home win of the season so far, beating Peterborough 1-0 thanks to a goal from on loan midfielder Arnaud Mendy, before Enoch Showunmi netted one of this five goals so far this season as Tranmere held Charlton to a 1-1 draw.

In their most recent game Tranmere drew 1-1 with Brighton and Hove Albion, with defender Scott Wootton scoring a late but deserved equaliser for Rovers against the League One leaders.

The Prenton Park side come into this game having played five home league games so far this season, picking up five of an available fifteen points thanks to one win, two draw and two defeats.

Notable results away from home for Les Parry's side include a 1-0 victory over Bristol Rovers and draws with Huddersfield Town (0-0) and Dagenham and Redbridge (2-2).

Tranmere Rovers come into this game in 22nd place in Npower League One, having picked up ten of an available 33 points from eleven games, thanks to two wins, four draws and four defeats.

Double Hit: 

Winger Jason Price was signed by Tranmere from Brentford in November 2001 by then manager Dave Watson, as Rovers looked to add some fire power to their squad in their push for promotion.

The versatile Welshman enjoyed a six year stint with Swansea between 1995 and 2001, before joining Brentford after being released>

He remained at Griffin Park for just three months, making eighteen appearances before his move to Tranmere, when his career really took off. 

Watson moved Price in to a more attacking role, either up front or on the wing, and he was immediately successful, scoring eleven goals in his first twelve games for the club.  He remained at Prenton Park for two years before rejecting a new contract from Rovers, opting instead to join Hull City, with whom Price would jump from League Two to the Championship in two years after successive promotions.

Price played nearly 90 games for Hull before moving on to Doncaster in 2006, where he remained for a further three years, making over 100 appearances, before joining Millwall after an initial successful loan stint at the club in 2009.

However, Price failed to ever catch the eye at Millwall after signing permanently, and spent time out on loan at Oldham Athletic last season, making his debut for the club in February.

After a month on loan with Oldham, he joined Carlisle on loan, and played well for the club as he scored four times in nine games for the Northern side, enough to convince the club to sign him permanently upon his release by Millwall at the end of the season.

However, Price has failed to recapture such form this season and had made just four appearances as a substitute, netting once, for the Blues before joining Bradford City on loan this week.

One To Watch:

London born striker Charlie McDonald enjoyed another successful season at Griffin Park last year, netting 17 goals in all competitions, and he will be hoping he can rekindle some of that form soon as Brentford look to move away from the relegation zone.

McDonald started his career not far away from Brentford at Charlton Athletic, but he made just thirteen appearances for the club, scoring twice, as well as spending time out on loan at Cheltenham, Torquay and Colchester during his four year stint as a professional with the club.

After failing to make a name for himself at the Valley, McDonald was released and spent time in the non-League wilderness with Margate, Stevenage and Crawley over the next three years, before moving to Ebbsfleet in May 2005, a move that kick-started his career.

McDonald stayed with Ebbsfleet for two seasons, but in that time managed to score a hugely impressive forty goals in just 63 games for the cub, a record of nearly two goals every three games.

His form caught the attention of Southend, who signed the played in June 2007 on a free-transfer, but, now back in League football, McDonald again failed to hold down a regular first team place, and after scoring just five goals in 34 appearances for the club, he joined Brentford in 2008 for an undisclosed fee.

This was a match made in heaven, as McDonald helped propell his new team back up to League One with eighteen goals in his first season for the club, adding a further nineteen goals to his tally since the club won promotion.

Now 29, McDonald, who stands at just 5'07" and has scored twice in eleven games so far this season, is far from the tallest of strikers, but is a great poacher in and around the six yard box, and possesses good pace to help him get away from his man.

McDonald wears the number ten shirt for the Bees.

Around League One:

There is a full round of twelve fixtures in NPower League One this weekend, with all the games kicking off at 3pm on Saturday afternoon

Bournemouth vs. MK Dons
Bristol Rovers vs. Rochdale
Charlton vs. Brighton
Dagenham and Redbridge vs. Walsall
Exeter vs. Carlisle
Huddersfield vs. Southampton
Leyton Orient vs. Hartlepool
Notts County vs. Plymouth
Oldham vs. Colchester
Peterborough vs. Swindon
Tranmere vs. Brentford
Yeovil vs. Sheffield Wednesday

Team News:

Loanee's Scott Wootton and Arnaud Mendy are likely to start again for the side, whilst midfielder Ryan Fraughan is pushing for a starting place after a strong performance for the reserves midweek.

Liam Darville could be welcomed back into the squad after also returning for the reserves against Wrexham on Wednesday evening, though Tranmere are set once again to the be without Joss Labadie, Ash Taylor, Alan Mahon, Marlon Broomes and Gunnar Nielsen.

Jones' Prediction:  Tranmere 2-0 Brentford

Tranmere have struggled in recent weeks against teams in a similar position to them in the table, but I get the feeling that Rovers will win this match and win it comfortably.

Brentford have been poor away from home whilst Rovers in recent weeks have looked a lot stronger against teams who could well be battling for promotion at the start of the season, so should Tranmere be able to continue that form, they will hopefully be able to win this match.

Tranmere must keep up the work rate that they have had in recent weeks against teams such as Charlton, Brighton and Peterborough, games where they battled extremely hard and been very deserving of the points they have picked up.

Rovers also must take the game to Brentford though, who may well come to Prenton Park in search of a point, sticking ten men behind the ball like Tranmere often do away from home.

If Tranmere do take the game to Brentford then they should have too much attacking presence for the Bees.  Enoch Showunmi has been in imperious form recently and it's only so long before he gets his next goal, whilst Lucas Akins has begun to come into his own recently too and will hopefully pose a tough task for the Brentford defence.

With Rovers able to welcome back defender Ian Goodison, they should also be stronger in defence and hopefully capable of holding strong at the back against Brentford's attackers.

Don't forget that if you can't get to the game, you can follow regular updates of the match on our Twitter page, www.twitter.com/totaltranmere