Tranmere Rovers
Dagenham and Redbridge vs. Tranmere Rovers match preview
By Matthew Jones
August 26 2010
Total Tranmere brings you all the stats, facts and team news you need to know ahead of Tranmere's trip to Dagenham and Redbridge in NPower League One this weekend
Copyright Historical Football Kits and reproduced by kind permission.
Both sides are struggling at the foot of League One, with Tranmere having picked up just one point from their opening three matches, and Dagenham having lost both of their first two matches in League One.
Despite being less than a month into the season then, this game still carries huge importance, as both sides go in search of vital points as they look to pull away from the relegation zone before getting sucked in too deep.
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:
N/A as these two clubs have never faced each other previous to todayVital Stats:
These two sides have never met before, with Dagenham and Redbridge only forming in 1992 after the merging of Redbridge Forest and Dagenham. They entered the Football League for the first time in 2007 and this season sees them play in League One for the first time.
A brief look at the stats though shows that Tranmere have failed to score in any of their last three games at any venue on this day, whilst they have also won just two of twelve away games on this day
On This Day:
2000: John Aldridge's Tranmere lose 1-0 to Bolton Wanderers at Prenton Park
1999: A year earlier, Aldo's Tranmere side are also on the end of a 1-0 defeat, this time against Port Vale, at Vale Park, in Division One
1993: John King's Tranmere draw 0-0 with Grimsby in Division One
Tranmere have played twenty previous games on this day, winning just four, drawing five and losing eleven times. In these twenty games they have scored twenty goals and conceded on 33 occasions.
The Form Book:
Dagenham and Redbridge first four games: LLL
Tranmere Rovers first four games: LLDWL
Dagenham and Redbridge have only played three games so far this season, with their fixture against Exeter City, originally due to take place on August 14th, postponed due to the sad passing of Exeter striker Adam Stansfield.
John Still's side then haven't had the best start to life in League One, as they play in the division first the first time following their Play-Off final win over Rotherham United last season.
They opened the season with a 2-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in front of over 23,000 fans at Hillsborough, before being knocked out of the Carling Cup thanks to a 2-1 defeat to MK Dons, who this week knocked Premier League side Blackpool out of the competition at the second round stage.
In their most recent game, Dagenham suffered a 1-0 defeat to Notts County at Meadow Lane, meaning not only are Dagenham yet to score a goal in League One yet, but that their meeting with Tranmere on Saturday is their first home match of the season and their first home match in League One.
The summer saw plenty of transfer activity for Dagenham as they prepared for their first season in League One, with seven incoming players at Victoria Road, as well as seven players leaving the club, either permanently or on loan.
Many of the players who've left the club have joined Non League clubs, but the incoming players have certainly strengthened the squad, with the likes of Luke Wilkinson coming in from Portsmouth, Gavin Tomlin coming in from Yeovil Town and Damian Scannell joining from Southend United.
Tranmere Rovers have not had the best start to the season, having lost all three of their home matches and scored just once in their opening three league matches.
Les
Parry's started the season with a loss, losing 2-1 two-and-a-half weeks ago against
Oldham at Prenton Park despite a late goal
from Ian Thomas-Moore.
However, despite these two positive results, Tranmere then suffered a 3-0 defeat back at Prenton Park against Bournemouth in their next league match, before suffering an undeserved 3-1 defeat to Championship side Swansea City on Tuesday night which saw them exit the Carling Cup.
Double Hit:
No link could be found between the two clubsOne To Watch:
The undoubted star player for the Daggers is striker Paul Benson, who has been at Victoria Road for five years.
The striker started his career with Southend United, where he came through the youth ranks though he failed to ever make an appearance for the club.
After moving in to Non League football, Benson was spotted by Dagenham manager John Still playing for White Ensign who play in the Essex Olympian League.
In two seasons with the club, Benson scored an incredible 107 goals, including 96 strikes in the league.
After joining Dagenham, he had a frustrating first season, failing to secure a regular place in the first team and missing three months of the season with a broken leg.
However, during the 2006/07 season, Benson started to make a name for himself at Victoria Road, as he netted 28 goals, cementing his place in the team and winning a cap for England C (scoring in the match too), as he helped Dagenham in to the Football League for the first time.
Benson has now scored a hugely impressive 82 goals for the club in 194 appearances, a record of a goal nearly every other game.
Now 31, Benson wears the number 14 shirt for Daggers and is a great poacher from inside the box. He will be hoping to open his goalscoring account for season against Tranmere this weekend.
Around League One:
All 24 League One teams are in action this weekend, with only one fixture not taking place on Saturday afternoon, as Colchester host Carlisle on Friday night:
Bournemouth vs. Notts County
Brentford vs. Rochdale
Brighton vs. Walsall
Bristol Rovers vs. Southampton
Dagenham and Redbridge vs. Tranmere
Hartlepool vs. Sheffield Wednesday
Huddersfield vs. Charlton
Leyton Orient vs. Exeter
MK Dons vs. Swindon
Oldham vs. Yeovil
Plymouth vs. Peterborough
Team News:
Tranmere boss Les Parry is to name the same side for Rovers that were defeated by Swansea City on Tuesday night, meaning Max Blanchard will retain his place in the side ahead of Nick Wood.
There has still been no sign of on-loan Manchester City goalkeeper Gunnar Neilsen, meaning Joe Collister is likely to be in goal for Tranmere for the fifth game in a row. Should Collister keep a clean sheet, he will be the first Rovers 'keeper to make it three successive games away from home with out conceding since Danny Coyne during the 2007/08 season.
Timothy Cathalina is likely to be on the bench again for Rovers, along with new signings Adam McGurk and Lucas Akins, who both came off the bench in Tuesday's defeat to Swansea, whilst John Welsh will keep hold of the captain's armband as Tranmere and Ian Thomas-Moore continue with contract discussions.
Jones' Prediction: Dagenham and Redbridge 0-1 Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers have looked in good form so far this season on the road, and I have no doubt that they continue this form at Victoria Road on Saturday afternoon.
In recent weeks, Tranmere have, bar the Bournemouth game, been improving week by week, and despite their 3-1 defeat to Swansea in midweek, Rovers showed that they have what it takes to be a decent team this season.
The problem on Tuesday was a lack of concentration and a lack of fitness in the final half an hour, but in Tranmere's two away games this season, they have been switched on for the full 90 minutes and are yet to see their backline breached in their two fixtures away from Prenton Park so far.
Rovers also though need to be more clinical in attack. Just three goals in five games so far this season is not a strong record, but with new striking options added to the team, Les Parry will be hopeful that his attackers can finish at least one chance this weekend against The Daggers.
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26/08/2010 14:48
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Really is a must win game for us. Having seen the improvement away from home I can see us winning 2 0. Fingers crossed
26/08/2010 15:07
Anyone making the trip? I'll be on the 8:30 train leaving Chester!
Should be a fair few there!
26/08/2010 20:35
