Tranmere vs. Brentford match preview

Last updated : 03 May 2007 By Matthew Jones
Rovers look to finish the season in style
League One will end on a dissapointing note for both Tranmere Rovers and Brentford this weekend, as Brentford face relegation to League Two following the game whilst Rovers will be reflecting on what could have been after they missed out on the play-offs yet again.

Ronnie Moore however will be looking to end the season on a positive note, as his Tranmere side face Brentford and their new manager Terry Butcher, the former England captain, in the final game of 2006/07 at Prenton Park.


Brentford team profile:

Formed: 1889

Ground: Griffin Park

Manager: Terry Butcher

Nickname: The Bees

Season Finish 2005/06: 3rd (Coca-Cola League One)

Previous Meetings:

When the two sides met at Griffin Park in December, Tranmere salvaged a point and a 1-1 draw after originally trailing 1-0 in London.

Brentford took the lead in the 38th minute thanks to Charlie Ide. Joe Kuffour easily beat Robbie Stockdale down the Tranmere right before floating in a cross to Ide who looped a header over Gavin Ward into the far corner.

Tranmere however got a deserved equaliser on the stroke of half time thanks to Chris Shuker hitting his third goal for the club.

Chris Greenacre won Rovers a free-kick 30 yards from goal, and after the referee had pulled back play for Kevin Ellison taking the set-piece too quickly, Shuker stepped up and delivered an inch perfect free-kick, sending the ball into the top right hand corner of the goal and leaving goalkeeper Masters stranded.


Vital Stats:

Tranmere have won 12 out of 18 meetings between the two sides at Prenton Park

When the two teams have met on the Wirral, Rovers average two goals a game, scoring 36 times in 18 meetings

Rovers have failed to beat Brentford in their last four attempts

The two sides have previously met three times in May, with Rovers winning twice and drawing once

In the last nine meetings between the two sides, Tranmere have kept just one clean sheet

The Form Book:

Tranmere last 6 home games: LWLLWD
Brentford last 6 away games: LLLLDW

Relegated Brentford are on a terrible run of form away from Griffin Park, losing four games in a row and picking up just one points from the last 15 available on the road.

Most recently on the road, Brentford were soundly beaten by Doncaster Rovers, as the Yorkshire side won 3-0 against the Bee's, meaning they have netted on eight occassions without reply in just three matches this season.

Before the defeat to Doncaster, Brentford had suffered a 3-1 defeat at Gresty Road against Crewe, this following a 2-1 defeat to Gillingham at Priestfield and a 1-0 defeat at Ashton Gate to Bristol City.

Their most recent point away from home came on Saturday 24th February when Brentford drew 1-1 with another relegated side, Bradford City, and this followed an excellent win at the Galpharm Stadium as Brentford beat Huddersfield Town 2-0.

Other notable results on the road for Brentford this season include their only other away wins of the campaign over Blackpool (3-0) and Northampton Town (1-0) aswell as draws against Millwall (1-1) and Scunthorpe United (1-1).

From a total of 22 away games this season, Brentford have picked up three wins and five draws to go with 14 defeats, meaning they have struggled to 14 points on the road this season.

They have won on just seven occassions this season with a further 10 defeats at Griffin Park and have picked up just 34 points this season as they lie bottom of Coca-Cola League One, four points a drift of 23rd placed Rotherham and 16 points away from 20th placed Cheltenham.

After originally looking destined to win promotion in their first season under Ronnie Moore, Tranmere's form has been poor since mid-December and this will ultimately cost them a play-off place this season.

In their last six home games, Rovers have picked up just two wins, a run which also includes three defeats.

Most recently at Prenton Park, Tranmere were beaten 2-0 by League One champions Scunthorpe United, a result which confirmed the Iron's as title winners after two second half goals.

This defeat however followed up 2-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion. Tranmere had trailed the game 1-0 but second half goals from Craig Curran - making his home debut - and a penalty from Chris Greenacre earned Tranmere the points.

Rovers however had lost two on the spin before this game as they were beaten 2-0 by both Carlisle United and Swansea City at Prenton Park, the result against Carlisle all but ending their play-off dreams.

Before the defeat to Swansea, Tranmere were in fact unbeaten at Prenton Park in 2007, with the other two results in the six match sequence seeing Rovers defeat Chesterfield, another team relegated from League One, 2-0 and draw 2-2 with Cheltenham after trailing 2-0 at Prenton Park.

Other notable results at Prenton Park for Tranmere this season include wins over Bristol City (1-0), Yeovil Town (2-1), Blackpool (2-0), Millwall (3-1) and Oldham Athletic (1-0).

From a total of 22 home games this season, Tranmere have managed 12 wins, five defeats and five draws. They have picked up a total of 41 points from an available 66.

Double Hit:

Down the years, few players have represented both Tranmere Rovers and Brentford, possibly due to the geographical location of each club.

One link between the two clubs is Steve Coppell, the former Tranmere winger and former Brentford manager who has guided Reading to the Premiership, a team who are now on the brink of a UEFA Cup spot.

Merseysider Coppell started his career with Tranmere, and as a winger he made 38 appearances for Tranmere between 1973 and 1975, scoring 10 goals.

In 1975, Coppell moved on to Manchester United where he stayed for the rest of his playing career, making 322 appearances and scoring on 53 occassions, as well as winning 42 caps for his country England, scoring seven goals in the process.

However, at the age od 28 Coppell was forced to retire from the game with a shattered knee cap picked up in an international match against Hungary and by 1984 he had moved in to management with Crystal Palace.

Coppell remained at Selhurst Park for nine years until 1993, as he was Palace manager for 442 games and guiding them to the Premiership before he departed in 1993.

He returned as Director of Football in 1995 before having a spell at Manchester City and then two more spells at Palace in the mid to late 90's.

Coppell left Crystal Palace for the final time in 2000 and in 2001 he joined Brentford. Here, Coppell was manager for 54 games and he guided the Bee's to 27 wins, 15 defeats and 12 draws before leaving in the summer of 2002.

Come October he was back in football with Brighton where he stayed for just over a year, winning 18 of 49 games before being appointed Reading manager on October 9th 2003.

Reading is where Coppell remains today. Having managed the club for over three years, Reading have moved to the Premiership under his management and look set to be playing European football next season.

Their free-flowing and attacking football has been a success all season and excellent signings such as Kevin Doyle show how good a manager Coppell is.

One To Watch:

The undoubted player of the season for Brentford this season has been striker Jo Kuffour, signed from Torquay United last summer.

Kuffour has been named the Brentford Player of the Season in what has been a dissapointing campaign all round at Griffin Park. However, some success for Kuffour have included his best season goal tally, as he has netted 14 goals in 44 games.

Kuffour started his career at Arsenal, but failed to make a first team appearance in four years with the club and left for Swindon on loan in 2000/01 season, scoring twice in 13 games for the club, before moving on to Torquay United on a free-transfer in October 2002.

The striker went on to make 160 appearance for the Gulls in four years with the club and also netted 33 goals in his time with the club.

Leroy Rosenior took the striker with him to Brentford last summer and he has quite easily been Brentford's best player this season. Although being reasonably small, the Canadian born 25-year old has bags of pace to go with plenty of skill, as is shown by his goal tally for this season.

Team News:

Ronnie Moore will once again be without John Achterberg (shin) and Carl Tremarco (hamstring) for this game, whilst Calvin Zola and Paul McLaren are both doubtful after the pair limped of against Crewe last weekend. Ronnie Moore is set to rest Chris Greenacre as Craig Curran is handed his first start upfront for Tranmere whilst Steve Davies is set to feature again. Paul Henry could be named among the Tranmere substitutes.


Jones' Prediction: Tranmere 4-1 Brentford