Total Tranmere - Tranmere Rovers v Brentford Preview

Tranmere Rovers v Brentford Preview

By Deadly Submarine January 31 2006
As Tranmere welcome Brentford to Prenton Park this weekend in Coca-Cola League One, Total Tranmere brings you all the statistics and team news to keep you in the know prior to the game. Rovers will be looking to win at home in the league for the first time since the 29th August.

TOTAL TRANMERE – Match Preview

TRANMERE ROVERS Vs BRENTFORD

Saturday December 17^th 2005 – Kick-Off 3.00pm

Coca-Cola League One – Prenton Park

Team News

Tranmere Rovers manager Brian Little is sweating over the fitness of his three first choice centre-backs, Ian Goodison (back and calf), Mike Jackson (calf) and Ian Sharps (knee).

Striker Chris Greenacre (knee) may well be fit to start despite picking up a heavy knock and having to leave the action at Blackpool last Saturday and captain Jason McAteer (knee) may well be available again after a prolonged absence.

Definite absentees are goalkeeper John Achterberg (stomach) and striker Chris Dagnall (leg).

Brentford have Darren Pratley and Andrew Frampton (knee) missing whilst Eddie Hutchinson is due a late fitness test. Ricky Newman plays his final game before suspension.

Match Referee – Mr Clive Oliver (Northumberland)

Form Guide

Tranmere Rovers:

Last Six At Home - LWDLWD

Last Six Games - LWWDLD

Brentford:

Last Six Away - WDWWWD

Last Six Games - DWDWDW

The hosts go into this game on the back of a disappointing week of action last week. After dominating the game at Oakwell against Barnsley a week last Tuesday but still losing 2-1, Rovers went to Blackpool on Saturday and were once again the better team. However, after taking the lead with just nine minutes remaining through Delroy Facey, they succumbed to a Blackpool equaliser in the third minutes of injury time for a 1-1 draw.

Brentford have had managed four points from a possible six at home in their last two games beginning with a 1-1 draw against Chesterfield and followed up with a 1-0 win over Oldham Athletic on Saturday.

Brentford are better away from home at the current time and have won four and drawn two of their last six on their travels. The last time they lost on the road was a 3-2 defeat at Huddersfield Town on the 17^th September when they had been winning 2-1 in injury time but conceded two late goals. They have only had one other defeat on the road in the league this season and that was at Port Vale.

Tranmere have not won at home since the 29^th August when they beat Swindon 1-0 and since then have lost to Scunthorpe and Milton Keynes Dons and drawn with Bradford, Swansea, Gillingham and Colchester.

The Hotshots

Tranmere Rovers: Chris Greenacre – 9 Goals

Brentford: Isaiah Rankin

Dudley Campbell

Lloyd Owusu All With 6 Goals

Kevin O’Connor

Darren Pratley

Past Meetings – This Season

20th August 2005 – Coca-Cola League One – Griffin Park

Brentford 2 – 0 Tranmere Rovers

Tabb 23

Hutchinson 50

Attendance: 5,438

Referee: Mr Clive Penton (Sussex)

Rovers second away trip of this season saw them travel to Griffin Park to face tomorrows opponents and they fell to a 2-0 defeat thanks to goals from Tabb and Hutchinson. It was the second time in two away games that Rovers had failed to score away from home after a 1-0 defeat at Swansea on the opening day.

Past Meetings – Last Season

30th October 2004 – Coca-Cola League One – Prenton Park

Tranmere Rovers 1 – 0 Brentford

Sharps 53

Attendance: 8,740

Referee: Mr Graham Laws (Tyne and Wear)

12^th April 2005 – Coca-Cola League One – Griffin Park

Brentford 1 – 0 Tranmere Rovers

Turner 68

Attendance: 6,005

Referee: Mr Grant Hegley (Hertfordshire)

In last season’s encounters between the sides, there was very little to choose between the two sides on either occasion with the home side winning by just a single goal on both occasions.

In the first meeting at Prenton Park last October, a second half goal from defender Ian Sharps was enough to take the three points for Rovers but in the return meeting in April of this year, Brentford took revenge with a second half goal from Turner that earned a 1-0 win for the Bees and also saw Luton clinch promotion to the Championship.