Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers v Dagenham and Redbridge Match Preview
By Matthew Jones
April 14 2011
Total Tranmere brings you all the stats, facts and team news you need to know ahead of Saturday's big League One fixture against Dagenham and Redbridge....
Copyright Historical Football Kits and reproduced by kind permission.
The Daggers, enjoying their first season in the division, have struggled, along with Tranmere, near the foot of the table all year, with a poor away record hindering their chances to pull away from the bottom four.
Dagenham and Redbridge Factfile:
Ground: Victoria Road
Formed: 1992
Nickname: The Daggers
Manager: John Still
League Finish 2009/10: 7th (League Two, promoted via play-offs)
Kit Colours: red shirt with blue trip, blue shorts and socks (home), greem shirt with black trim, green shorts and socks (away)
Previous Meetings:
Tranmere Rovers and Dagenham and Redbridge have only previously met once, with that game being the League One fixture between the two sides at Victoria Road in August.
Rovers went into the game still searching for their first league win of the season, and also defending an unbeaten away record, and although the unbeaten away record stayed intact, Les Parry's side did come out of the game with only a point after battling from behind to draw 2-2.
The two sides went in at half time all square at 0-0, but things quickly unravelled for Rovers after the break, as firstly Vincelot headed the home side into the lead on 52 minutes, before Arber doubled Dagenham's advantage as he volleyed into the corner, having already missed two chances since the first goal.
A change of formation and the introduction of Adam McGurk and Lucas Akins proved to be the catalyst for a comeback for Tranmere, however, as firstly the ball fell to Enoch Showunmi in the penalty area and he got his leg up high to angle a shot into the corner, before Aaron Cresswell made it 2-2 with six minutes remaining, netting his first goal for 18-months with a perfectly placed free-kick from the corner of the penalty area.
Vital Stats:
These two sides have only previously met once, with that game (in August) ending in a 2-2 draw
In home games against the sides below them in the table this season, Tranmere have picked up one win, one draw and one defeat
Tranmere have played 23 home league games since their last 0-0 draw
Rovers have netted just once in their last four home games
Dagenham have picked up just one win in five away games against teams placed eighteenth and below in the League One table this season
On This Day:
2005: Brian Little's Tranmere side draw 0-0 with Blackpool on their way to finishing third in League One
2001: Rovers are all but relegated from the Championship, as a 2-0 defeat against QPR leaves them bottom of the table and eight points adrift of safety with just four games left
1994: John King's Tranmere hammer West Brom 3-1 at the Hawthorns in Division One
Tranmere Rovers have played eighteen previous games on this day, picking up five wins, three defeats and ten draws. In these eighteen games, they have scored nineteen goals and conceded on seventeen occasions.
The Mighty Whites have played nine home games on this day, keeping five clean sheets on their way to picking up four wins, four draws and just one defeat. They haven't lost on this day since 1955.
The Form Book:
Dagenham and Redbridge last six away games: LLDDWL
Tranmere Rovers last six home games: LWLLWD
Poor away form has really hindered Dagenham and Rebridge this season, as they have managed to pick up just four wins from twenty away league games so far this campaign.
John Still's side started their six match sequence with a defeat, losing 1-0 to relegation rivals Walsall, before following this up with their only away win against a side below them in the table, beating Bristol Rovers 2-0 thanks to strikes from Green and Vincelot.
They are, however, without an away win since, going four games without success on the road. The started this run with successive draws, firstly against Swindon as a late strike from Nurse earned the club a 1-1 draw, before they were pegged back from 1-0 up to draw 1-1 against Leyton Orient in their next away game.
Daggers have since lost two in a row on the road, firstly 2-1 against Exeter City, before in their most recent away game they twice lead a thriller against table-topping Brighton and Hove Albion before losing 4-3, a win which sealed Brighton's promotion from the division.
Other notable results away from home for the club this season include wins over Hartlepool (1-0), Carlisle United (2-0) and Yeovil Town (3-1).
The Daggers have played twenty away games so far this season, picking up 17 of an available 60 points, this thanks to four wins, five draws and eleven defeats.
Impressive results at home for the Victoria Road club this season include wins over Swindon Town (2-1), Leyton Orient (2-0), Colchester United (1-0) and Brenford (4-1).
Dagenham and Redbridge come into this game in nineteenth place in the League One table having picked up 44 of an available 123 points for 41 games so far, this thanks to eleven wins, eleven draws and nineteen defeats.
Hugely disappointing form at Prenton Park has been the reason for Tranmere's lowly league position this season, with Rovers already having well exceeded the amount of points they picked up on the road last season.
Last season, Tranmere picked up 34 points at Prenton Park from 23 games, whilst the maximum they can pick up this season is 33, although to achieve this they'd have to win all four of their remaining matches on the Wirral.
They started their six match sequence with a disappointing draw against Rochdale, as a very late strike from Gary Jones pulled Tranmere back to 1-1, before Rovers picked up an excellent 3-0 against Sheffield Wednesday in their next home game, all three goals coming in the second half from Elford-Alliyu, Goodison and Showunmi.
Rovers then lost successive home games that they really ought to have won, firstly against Yeovil Town (1-0) in front of over 8,000 fans at Prenton Park before following this up with a 1-0 defeat against relegation rivals Bristol Rovers.
Enoch Showunmi then scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Colchester United, Tranmere's first victory in eight games, before in their most recent home game, Les Parry's side lost 2-0 against high flying Huddersfield Town.
The Wirral side have played 19 home league games this season and picked up 25 of an available 57 points, this thanks to seven wins, four draws and eight defeats.
Impressive results away from home for Rovers this season include successes over Walsall (4-1), Bournemouth (2-1), Notts County (1-0) and Plymouth Argyle (3-1).
Les Parry's side currently lie in 18th place in League One, having picked up 46 of an available 120 points from 40 games, thanks to twelve wins, ten draws and eighteen defeats.
Double Hit:
After spending the summer unattached following his release by Tranmere Rovers, Dagenham and Redbridge signed ex-Millwall striker Bas Savage in September.
Following a disastrous spell at Gillingham, Savage moved to Brighton and Hove Albion, where his career finally kicked off and he began to find some form that would make him a striker feared by League One defenders.
It's at Brighton where Savage made his famous Michael Jackson moonwalking celebration, picked up by Soccer AM and showed by the Sky Sports programme whenever he managed to get on the scoresheet.
The Londoner netted ten goals in 42 games for the Seagulls, a decent record the lured him away from the Withdean Stadium on a free transfer to Millwall in February 2008.
Savage however barely lasted five months at the New Den though, as his form again began to hit a rut, with Savage netting just twice in eleven games.
Following his release in July 2008, Ronnie Moore took a gamble on the striker, bringing him to Tranmere on a two-year contract. The gamble paid off, as Savage proved to be one of the most important players in a Tranmere team that finished seventh in the League One table.
He may have only netted nine goals in his 49 games for the club, but it was aspects of his game elsewhere that impressed most, such as his confident swagger, excellent first touch and good aireal ability.
However, sadly for Bas, an Achilles injury picked up away to Leeds United late on in the 2008/09 season, that then recurred over the summer, kept him out for the majority of the 2009/10 campaign, and having made only thirteen appearances without scoring last year, he was released.
He eventually signed for Dagenham and has since scored three times in 25 appearances for the club. The massive striker, who often had colourful hair during his time at Prenton Park, wears the number 16 shirt for John Still's side.
One To Watch:
Despite losing key striker Paul Benson on the final day of the summer transfer window, Dagenham haven't struggled as much as many predicted this season, and in midfielder Danny Green, they have managed to find a player who has kept the goals flowing.
22-year old Green has taken to the Football League like a duck to water, having only signed for Dagenham in July 2009 from non-league Bishop's Stortford.
Green came through the youth ranks at Nottingham Forest, but never made an appearance for the club, and after joining Stortford in 2008, his form was so good that he soon made a return to a professional club.
Last season, Green was a revelation for Dagenham, netting fourteen times and contributing fourteen assists, whilst he's continued his goalscoring form this season with another fourteen goals.
A tidy midfielder who likes to get forward, Green is a strong passer and a high quality finisher from midfield.
Wearing the number seven shirt for the club, Green has so far made 92 appearances for Dagenham and Redbridge, scoring 28 goals.
Around League One:
As League One edges ever closer to it's climax, there is a full round of fixtures in the division this Saturday, with all twelve games kicking off at 3.00pm:
Notts County vs. BournemouthCarlisle vs. ColchesterCharlton vs. Huddersfield
Exeter vs. Leyton Orient
Peterborough vs. Plymouth
Rochdale vs. Brentford
Sheffield Wednesday vs. Hartlepool
Southampton vs. Bristol Rovers
Swindon vs. MK Dons
Tranmere vs. Dagenham and Redbridge
Walsall vs. Brighton
Yeovil vs. Oldham
Team News:
Tranmere manager Les Parry has a number of injury worries ahead of this fixture, though after Saturday's win against Bournemouth, he may well choose to name an unchanged side against Dagenham.
Dale Jennings is doubtful for the match with an ankle injury, whilst Andy Robinson is still struggling with a groin injury and Timothy Cathalina is likely to miss out with an ankle injury.
One further omission for Les Parry is captain John Welsh, who sits out the second match of a two game suspension having picked up ten yellow cards this season.
John Still's side play a lot of root one football, so having so many tall players in their side will help Tranmere hugely, though obviously this could lead to the midfield being bypassed by both sides if Rovers decide to take a similar approach to the game.
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
14/04/2011 11:15
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2011:04:18:16:39:09 by Mikey.
Im going for a 1 1 draw
really not a chuffin clue 1 expect a win ! but also expect our beloved club to build the susspense too !
Looking at these games I would say the Dagenham one maybe better for us because of their result in the week. It's likely the County game will be absolutely dire and could send us down the usual route when we play teams like that.
No doubt about it for me, Rovers to pull out a big performance tomorrow to be followed a dire performance in front of a full house on tuesday!!!! (I hope I'm wrong, but you know what were like!!!!)
CMON Rovers!!!!!
If we're safe by Easter Monday, with two games left it'd be nice to see Les attack in those two games as opposed to sitting back boring the hell out of the ever dwindling fan base.
Maybe even give both Max's, Joe, Fraughan and a few others a run out, though if we can relegate Swindle I want a full strength side
We don't do well against a team at home against those tactics.
Hopefully, we will try and keep it on the deck tomorrow. As we did last week for the first half.
We need to be strong!
The pitch needs to be watered just before ko, to invite us to play more on the deck, but the pitch is looking worse for wear. And maybe Les will opt for the hoof!
You must remember we're a league one team, we attract league one players therefore will not play "pure football"
Although we, as fans, thought we "hoofed" too much, on the whole I think we used Bas quite well.
When we beat Oldham 2-0 away he was absolutely awesome, I remember Oldham fans saying he could easily play in the Championship.
Quote:Deadly Submarine
Big favour from you at Clownty on Saturday please bmb!!
Fingers crossed Deadly! Kick off is in 30 mins for us, so you'll go into your game knowing if we have managed to help you or not!
I get disgusted enough about games being moved for international games or for sky's convenience but for flippin egg chasing - that really takes the mick!
Now go stuff the Daggers
[www.courtoffside.com]
My 9 year old is taking the credit for the win, apparently it's because he told Pepe last week that he is the best footballer in the whole wide world hence why he keeps scoring goals!
Seriously though 6 points above the drop zone and a game in hand - you're going to stay up and we'll get to play you again next year after losing the playoff final 5-4
[www.courtoffside.com]
Such a shame it's took us till April to get playing not brilliant football but half decent football.. albeit against a poor team but still, a lot less hoofing today.
Every ball is a white ball............TRFC
We were good going forward and a little more probling may have produced more goals.
We're almost there and then we can look to next season and the rebuilding that seems to have already started.
Plus an Enoch headed goal, more worth waiting for than a goal of any description by Akins.
Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:04:16:22:37:34 by Matt34.
Hopefully now we have a decent gap to the bottom 4 we can play more passing and positive football starting on tuesday
