On 13 December 2008, Bristol Rovers hosted Tranmere Rovers at the Memorial Stadium in what was the Pirates' 20th league game of the 2008-09 season. Prior to this game, Bristol Rovers hadn't won a match since the end of October, and Tranmere hadn't scored in their previous four away games. After a disappointing defensive display in the previous match, a 3–2 defeat to Millwall, first-team coach Paul Trollope made two changes at the back, bringing in David Pipe and Craig Hinton in place of Ryan Green and Byron Anthony. The remainder of the starting eleven remained unchanged from that match.