The games are going to come thick and fast now for Rovers, starting with tonight’s clash with Gateshead at Prenton Park.
Here are five things to know about the opposition at Prenton Park tonight.
The club has just been put up for sale
Within the last 48 hours, a bit of a bombshell was dropped on fans of Gateshead after owners Richard and Julie Bennett announced that they were looking for new owners for the club.
After three years in charge and an investment of more than £3million in to the north-east outfit, the current owners announced their intention to find new people to take over ahead of the new season. They describe it as a “fantastic opportunity” to take over a club currently debt-free club.
Brief history of The Heed
Gateshead is one of the younger clubs around the division having been formed just 41 years ago. Their affectionately known locally as The Heed, thought are also referred to as The Tynesiders. They turned full-time for the first time in their history ahead of the 2010-11 season.
One familiar face
There is just one name in the current Gateshead squad that you may recognise in terms of Tranmere links tonight. Striker Daniel Johnson was one of 40+ players used as Tranmere surrendered their Football League status in 2014/15, making four appearances during a brief loan from Cardiff City. He only scored once for TRFC, but his record in the National League isn’t too bad. He has netted 36 goals in 92 appearances for tonight’s opponents.
Play-off pedigree
Gateshead came agonisingly close to promotion to the Football League in 2014 having finished the regular season in third place. They beat Grimsby Town 4-2 in the play-off semi-finals before being beaten at Wembley by 2-1 by Cambridge United. The scorer of the winning goal that day was Ryan Donaldson – a former Gateshead player and someone who spent an incredibly brief spell on loan at Tranmere from Newcastle during Les Parry’s reign as manager.
Goal threats
Gateshead currently sit 14th in the table and have a healthy goal difference for their position (+11). They have scored 51 goals in the league this season and it’s that man Johnson currently leading the way in the scoring charts with nine goals in all competitions.
They certainly have attacking options to be aware of and have spread the goals around for much of the season. Jordan Burrow is capable of weighing in with goals – he has seven so far this term. Richard Peniket has six, while Jordan Preston and Winger Wesley York each have five.
