Newport County play their first match of the new month on Tuesday (03 Mar) when Tranmere Rovers visit Rodney Parade in EFL League Two.
Tranmere are currently in 19th place in the league, having played 34 games so far this season.
Here is a look at our visitors from Birkenhead before this one...
The History
Tranmere Rovers were formed in 1884, initially known as Belmont F.C. Like many other clubs, they were founded when two local cricket teams expanded to include a football section.
They played in the local non-leagues before becoming a Football League member in 1921, and one of their players - Stan Rowlands - was capped for Wales before the First World War.
In 1938, they won their only ever Football League championship, finishing top of the Division Three North.
However, it wasn't until 1962 that the club changed their kit colour to white, having previously warn a blue strip with white socks.
Under the management of Dave Russell, the side were christened 'the Superwhites', beating Arsenal in the League Cup and attracting a record crowd of 24,424 at Prenton Park for an FA Cup fixture in 1972.
They also pioneered Friday night football, switching to give fans of Liverpool and Everton a chance to see their sides in action the following day.
The club enered administration in 1987, but the following decade was among the most succesful in their history.
By 1991, they were in the Second Division for the first time since the 1930s, and had won the Football League Trophy in 1990 to claim their first ever domestic trophy.
John Aldridge arrived at the club in 1991, and the team would make the play-offs three times in a row, narrowly missing out on Premier League status, before making the League Cup Semi-Final in 1994.
They went one better under the management of Aldridge, reaching the League Cup Final in 2000 and the FA Cup Quarter-Finals the following year.
Tranmere found themselves in League Two by 2014, and a second successive relegation ended their 94-year run in the Football League in 2015.
After four seasons in non-league, they were promoted again in 2018, before beating Newport in the League Two play-off Final of 2019.
They were relegated back down in 2020 and have remained in the fourth tier ever since.
The Form
Tranmere were nine points off the play-offs at Christmas, but a challenging start to 2026 has seen them looking behind rather than above.
Despite beating Harrogate Town on New Year's Day, Rovers lost the following six league games, and have lost their last three ahead of their trip to Newport.
Based on their last six, only Crawley Town have a worse record than them in terms of points collected.
However, they have picked up some impressive results throughout the season, beating Grimsby Town away from home and drawing with the likes of Bromley and Milton Keynes.
The Manager
Andy Crosby played over 600 games throughout a long and storied career, and is six years into his managerial career.
Crosby was appointed in February 2025, taking over on an initially temporary basis before being handed the full-time role after steering the club away from relegation.
Originally from Yorkshire, Crosby began his youth career with Leeds United, making his name as a tough, uncompromising defender.
His playing career took him across the Football League with the likes of Doncaster Rovers, Darlington, Chester City, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Oxford United, before he finished his career at Scunthorpe United in 2010.
He formed a long-standing double act with Nigel Adkins, assisting him at both Southampton, Reading, Sheffield United and Hull City.
After a brief spell with Northern Ireland's under-21 side, he joined Port Vale in 2021, and eventually found himself replacing manager Darrell Clarke after he was forced to vacate the role following a bereavement. He led Vale to a League Two play-off victory in 2022, and earned a Manager of the Month award in his first League One campaign.
The Ones to Watch
The main threat for Tranmere this season has been Charlie Whitaker, with 13 goals in all competitions.
Whitaker was a product of both Blackburn Rovers and Everton's academies, and played 20 games for Notts County last season.
Joe Ironside hit the heights with Cambridge United and Doncaster Rovers, and now finds himself at Prenton Park.
Ironside has bagged five league goals this season, and is in the first of a three-year deal with the club.
Cameron Norman spent two years at Newport between 2021 and 2023, being voted Player of the Season twice in a row.
Norman arrived from Milton Keynes in 2024, and has been an integral part of Rovers' backline since his signing.