Preview: Notts County

13 December 2018

Setting the scene…

Tranmere Rovers are back on their travels this Saturday when they make the trip to Meadow Lane for a Sky Bet League Two fixture away at Notts County.

Micky Mellon’s Rovers are seventh in the fourth-tier on 34 points after James Norwood’s solitary strike 13 minutes from time earned a 1-0 win over Cambridge United at Prenton Park.

Saturday’s opponents, Notts County, find themselves second-bottom of the division.

The Magpies recently appointed Neal Ardley as the club’s third manager of the season and slipped to a 2-0 defeat in a Nottinghamshire derby at Mansfield Town last weekend, leaving them three points from safety.

Team news

Ollie Banks and Harvey Gilmour will both miss this weekend's trip to Notts County through injury. However, a boost for Mellon is that Larnell Cole is available for selection after a recent injury.

The Magpies’ season so far

It has been a difficult first three months of the 2018/19 season for Notts County, who under the stewardship of Ardley, are now on their third manager of the campaign.

County have collected 16 points from their first 21 league games this season, which has resulted in both Kevin Nolan then his replacement Harry Kewell depart Meadow Lane.

Former Bolton and West Ham midfielder Nolan was replaced by Kewell in August, with the Australian lasting 10 weeks in charge before he too left.

Winless in the league since October, County have earned just three victories this term but if results go their way on Saturday, they could move level on points with Cambridge United with more than half the season remaining.

One to watch

Experienced striker Jon Stead leads the way for Notts County in the goal-scoring charts.

The 35-year-old began his career at his hometown club Huddersfield, turning professional with the Terriers.

Having scored 22 goals in Yorkshire, Stead moved over the Pennines to East Lancashire, signing for Blackburn Rovers where he got his Premier League chance at Ewood Park.

Since his spell with Blackburn, Stead went onto turn out for Sunderland, Derby County, Sheffield United, Ipswich Town, Coventry City, Bristol City, a return to Huddersfield, Oldham Athletic and Bradford City.

In July 2015 Stead signed for Notts County on a free-transfer and has made over 130 appearances for the Meadow Lane club, scoring six times this season.

The referee

Robert Lewis will take charge of TRFC for a second time this season.

Shropshire-based Lewis was the man in the middle for Rovers’ draw with Colchester United at Prenton Park back in September.

Lewis’ 15 EFL matches this term has seen him dish out 53 yellow cards and three red ones.

Richard Wigglesworth and Duncan Street will run the line while Christopher Ward is the fourth official.

Tickets

If you want to head down and cheer on TRFC away at Notts County on Saturday, then here are the details.

The SWA will be located in The Jimmy Sirrel Stand at Meadow Lane. Tickets will go off sale on Friday 14 December at 3pm.

Below are the prices for TRFC fans away at Notts County.

Adults: £20

Concessions (Young Adult 18-21, Seniors 65+): £14

U18: £7

U16: £5

U12: £1*

U7: Free*

* Must be purchased with an accompanying adult/senior.

For TRFC fans who want to jump on the supporters’ coach, the coach will depart Prenton Park at 10:45am.

Details here: https://www.trfctickets.co.uk/away-matches

Match coverage

Can’t make it to Rovers away game at Notts County on Saturday? Don’t worry as you can keep up with goings on at Meadow Lane.

You can now sign up to Tranmere Rovers’ iFollow, which allows access to extended highlights and interviews with manager Micky Mellon and a player, after the game.

To sign up, click here

Alternatively, you can follow the action through our social media channels below, with full text coverage during the fixture, followed by a match report.

Twitter: @tranmererovers

Facebook: @trfcofficial

Instagram: @tranmererovers

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Notts County 3-2 Tranmere

15 December 2018

Tranmere Rovers fell to a 3-2 defeat at Notts County on a bitterly cold afternoon at Meadow Lane.

Goals from Jonny Smith and Connor Jennings were not enough for Rovers, who will have felt hard done by not to leave with anything to show for their efforts.

Manager Micky Mellon brought in Larnell Cole for the game at County after the midfielder’s recent absence through injury.

Mark Ellis, Jake Caprice, Ritchie Sutton, Zoumana Bakayogo and Jake Caprice also started for the visitors against the World’s oldest Football League club, who were starting a new chapter under Neal Ardley, the manager’s first home game in charge of the Magpies.

Tranmere, donning their blue away strip, made a bright start in awful weather conditions in the Midlands, and on the tenth minute, Jennings had a great chance to put the visitors ahead.

Captain for the day, Scott Davies, reacted quickly to throw the ball down the channel for James Norwood for the striker to feed the ball into the penalty area. Cleverly left by Smith, Jennings was presented with a chance to strike on goal, but the ball was deflected behind for a corner.

One minute later, County dangerman Nathan Thomas took the game to Rovers and danced his way past three players, only for his strike to creep just wide of Davies’ far post.

The League Two encounter was a tight affair with not much between the two teams, however it was County that found a breakthrough just after the half hour mark.

Former Premier League front man Stead, who was booked five minutes before the goal for a nasty challenge on Sutton, was left unmarked at the back post to fire home.

However, Tranmere’s heads didn’t drop and soon after were level, as Smith went on a tantalising run from the right to curl the ball into the far corner to send the away support into celebration.

But the celebrations were short lived, as before the half time whistle, a defensive mix up for Rovers allowed Kane Hemmings to simply tap home from close range to give the hosts the lead heading into the break.

Rovers were rejuvenated after the 15 minute break and on the 59th minute drew level courtesy of a perfectly placed header from Jennings. Our number 11 found space at the back post to nod home Smith’s cross.

Tranmere were the team on the ascendency and pushing for the fifth goal of the game. Winger Smith, a threat all afternoon, nearly had his second, but his first time effort inside the area was expertly kept out by Notts shot stopper Ross Fitzsimons.

Mellon’s first change was Cole replaced by Harvey Gilmour.

Despite Tranmere pilling the pressure on, defender Ellis was adjudged to have brought down Hemmings in the penalty box, with the referee pointing to the spot. Stead stepped up and hammered the ball past Davies as County restored their goal advantage.

Tranmere reacted to the goal and brought on Paul Mullin for Harris. However, Rovers couldn't find a way back into the game for a third time and attention now turns to Southport in the FA Cup second round replay on Monday night.

Davies, Caprice, Ellis, Sutton, Bakayogo, Harris (Mullin 77), McCullough, Jennings, Cole (Gilmour 74), Smith, Norwood.

Attendance: 6535 (762 away)

Match Reports

Ticket News

Notts County ticket details

13 December 2018

Tranmere Rovers can confirm ticket information for our League Two match against Notts County at Meadow Lane on Saturday 15th December, 3pm kick-off.

Tickets for the game will go on sale on Wednesday 28th November, and Rovers have been allocated an initial 770 tickets plus five pairs of wheelchair user and carer tickets.

An additional allocation of tickets are available if required. TRFC fans will be in The Jimmy SIrrel Stand and prices are as follows...

Adults: £20

Concessions (Young Adult 18-21, Seniors 65+): £14

U18: £7

U16: £5

U12: £1*

U7: Free*

* Must be purchased with an accompanying adult/senior.

Postage tickets will go off sale on Wednesday 12th December, while tickets will go off sale at 3pm on Friday 14th December.

There will be limited parking spaces available for disabled supporters if needed. These are only available if purchase in advance by calling 0115 952 9000 during office hours.

Coach travel will also be on sale for this fixture here. The coach will depart Prenton Park at 10:45am.

Tickets will be available here from Wednesday

Tranmere Rovers Football Club

Standings

Preview: Notts County

Report: Notts County 3-2 Tranmere

Notts County ticket details

Standings

Want to be our new signing?

Get closer to the action this season!