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