Pitch inspection ahead of Tranmere Rovers' League One match against Brentford (From Wirral Globe)

Pitch inspection ahead of Tranmere Rovers' League One match against Brentford

1:00pm Friday 18th January 2013 in Tranmere News By Craig Manning

A PITCH inspection at Griffin Park will determine whether Tranmere Rovers' League One match against Brentford goes ahead tomorrow.

The fixture is due to start at 3pm. 

But because of today's adverse weather, a pitch inspection will take place at Griffin Park at 8am  tomorrow to determine whether the game can go ahead.

The club is calling for volunteers to help clear the snow at Griffin Park tomorrow in time for the visit.

A club spokesman said snow has been falling at Griffin Park since around 8.30am today and there is a thick cover around the area.

"The Griffin Park pitch has been covered with frost covers, it is soft and in a good enough condition to play the match.

"Match referee Darren Deadman will be coming to Griffin Park at 8am tomorrow to inspect the pitch himself.

"The Club is looking for any supporters with time from 9am tomorrow morning to come down and help clear the snow that is currently on top of frost covers.

"The removal of this snow is likely to be a key factor in whether tomorrow’s game can go ahead or not.

"Anyone who can get to Griffin Park for 9am will be welcome. Anyone who turns up to assist will be given a ticket for the match.

"If supporters have shovels or anything that can remove large amounts of snow, they should bring them.

"Anyone planning to attend should keep their eye on Brentford’s media outlets for the result of Mr Deadman’s look at the pitch before they come."

If the game goes ahead it will be the 46th time the two clubs have met, with Ronnie Moore's holding a 20 wins to 16 advantage over Brentford.

Earlier this season they drew 1-1 at Prenton Park as Jonathan Douglas scored deep in injury time to cancel out Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro’s strike for Rovers.

Last season's trip to Griffin Park ended 2-0 for Rovers. Their biggest ever away victory over the Bees was a 4-2 success in November 1989.

In cup competitions, the record stands at two wins for Tranmere and two draws from the four games played.

Players who have represented both clubs include Shaleum Logan, Jason Price, Ben Chorley, Tommy Mycock and Archie Clark.

Rovers' boss Ronnie Moore hopes Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro will get closer to his best tomorrow.

The striker took another step in his comeback from a broken metatarsal on Wednesday night, playing the full 90 minutes against Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena.

He was joined on the pitch late in the game by Abdulai Bell-Baggie who was also making his return from injury.

After the defeat at Coventry, Moore is hoping for a reaction from his players at Griffin Park this weekend.

In a statement on Rovers website, Tranmere Player, Moore said: "It won’t do Abs any harm.

"Jean-Louis was tugging a bit towards the end but the only way he’ll get fitter is if you throw him in and leave him there.

"It will be his third game on Saturday and hopefully the cobwebs will be off and we’ll see the real Jean-Louis.

"It's a big month for us. We’ve got to make sure we don’t lose at Brentford but we’ll be going there to win the game.

"We’ll have a go and hopefully we can change things around. And then we’ve got the Swindon game.

"The heads were down a bit after Coventry – probably after the way we played in the first half.

"But in the second half I couldn’t fault them and we were unfortunate not to take something out of the game."

Rovers, currently top of the table with 53 points, face Swindon Town at Prenton Park a week tomorrow, Saturday January 26.