January
v Manchester City Sat 31st(home) 0-0
Tranmere broke two records today. The first was a club record, for having seven consecutive clean sheets. The second was a league record for having five no score draws on the run. A record we would prefer not to have!
Todays team was Simonsen, Morgan, Thompson, McGreal, Challinor, Frail, G.Jones, Mellon, Parkinson, O'Brien,L.Jones subs Morrissey, Mahon and Branch (!)
Tranmere played with a 4 1 3 2 formation, O'Brien just in front of the back four, and Parkinson and Lee Jones up front. It was a lively start, Parkinson taking up where he left off last Saturday, bounding up the pitch with so much energy and enthusiasm. In the first few minutes, he gave us a taster, first pulling the ball back from the by line to kick it across goal and into the path of Mellon, but unfortunately a defender got there at the same time! Then he picked up a ball and had a go at goal himself, just sending the ball into the side netting.
Whilst Tranmere seemed to have more possesion, it was always City that had the attempts on target.After about seven minutes, a defensive error let two city players in in an onside position, the ball luckily going out for a corner. Kinkladeze took this pretty smartish, and while our lot were still discussing the previous move, totally unprepared. Almost immediately after, again they were given free rein and a shot came in that beat Simonsen, but fortunately came off the post
On fourteen minutes, new boy Frail showed he was not afraid to have a go. Jones took a corner, the ball was flicked on by Challinor and Frail volleyed it, but unfortunately,way over the goal. At least he was in the right place to have a go!
City weren't really very good, Tranmere were doing all the running, but nothing was coming out of it. Liam O'Brien again played with that determination we saw last Saturday, so could just about be excused a couple of horrendous mistakes, one which almost gifted City a goal. There was a lot of movement, and I was pleased to see Frail showing a good awareness of what was going on around him! Gary Jones was still having problems jumping for balls, and was a bit slow all round. Morgan though was much improved.
Towards the end of the half we had a bit more to get excited about. Tranmere managed to pinch the ball in midfield as City were pushing forward, the ball arrived at Parkinsons feet, and suddenly we had four against two. Unfortunately the ball got as far as G. Jones, wrong footed and the ball went out for a throw. Then as the ball was coming in, Lee Jones was clattered to the floor in what was blatantly a penalty yet the ref waved it off. Unbelieveable decision, but then the ref had the poorest game of the twenty three men on the pitch!
I wasn't too disappointed by our first half performance. Corners look like they need to be worked on a bit, but I thought on the whole the lads worked hard, it was just the final ball that was lacking. Well a decisive one at any rate!
City came out like bullets for the second half, and made a few dangerous attacks at goal in the first few minutes, resulting in two corners, and twice the ball going just over the bar. Tranmere countered well, and Gary Jones nearly became a hero. On his bum after jumping for a Challinor throw in, he poked out his leg at a returning ball, and it went just wide of the goal. (the ball not his leg!) Bit after that, Parkinson got to a ball at the edge of the box, passed it back to Mellon, who was in a good position to shot, a simple tap would have been ehough but no it went well over the top! Very disaapointing but Prenton Park came to life once more as time and time again the ball arrived in the city six yard box.
Tranmere kept up the pressure well in the first ten minutes. Working away, going for fifty fifty balls instead of backing away. Then City on the counter, got a free kick and the ball was nearly in the back of the net but for Gary Jones heading it away from the line.
On fifty eight minutes, Lee Jones was taken off limping, and surprisingly replaced by Branch. (There's not a lot I will say about this, as everyone knows how I feel about the situation!) Simonsen brought of the save of the match, arching his back to make a fingertip touch of the ball over the cross bar after a city free kick. Straight after the ball was up the right end again, Parkinson crossing in yet another ball that Branch got a foot to, only to knock it further across goal to where Jones missed it. City though had suddenly got power in the engine and made an assault on the Rovers box, with a string of corners resulting, until the ball was finally safe in Simonsen's hands once more. This was by far the most threatening period by City, and Tranmere backed off slightly, allowing them to really get into the game, our midfield just not challenging enough.
On sixty eight minutes, Morgan made way for Morrissey and the formation stayed the same, though Frail dropped back into the right back position. Tranmere seemed to be giving them too much space. At this point, Parkinson seemed to have taken a knock and there were a worrying few minutes while he managed to run it off.
Ten minutes to go Mahon came on for Mellon. City were still threatening, and you felt Tranmere just weren't going to get a goal, though there was the distinct possibility of them getting one, but for the heroics of the defence and of course Steve Simonsen.
Couple of minutes to go, and the city fans who filled the Kop were baying 'what a load of rubbish'. It was a very scrappy end to the game, and I was relieved when the final whistle did go. Disappointing result though. On balance, Tranmere should have won they played the better football, just didn't manage to finish it off. My Man of the Match goes to Steve Simonsen, who once again showed what a star he is, with some first class saves, taking Tranmere to a club record of seven consecutive clean sheets. But you couldn't really fault the teams performance. I liked Frail, and considering he has only been playing in the reserves for Hearts, and had only trained once with the Rovers, he slotted in very well. Top marks again to Parkinson, Lima again was inspired and the defense ran themselves ragged.
All we need now is goals; goals and points Pleeease!!!
v Sunderland Sat 24th(home) FA CUP 4th round 1-0
Ah, now I feel like I am supposed to!
team was Simonsen, Morgan, Thompson, McGreal, Challinor,Hill, G. Jones, Parkinson, Kelly, O'Brien, Mellon subs (not used) Morrissey, Coyne, Aldo, Mahon, McIntyre
Tranmere playing with five at the back, Jones, O'Brien and Mellon in the middle, and Kelly and Parkinson up front
Bright start as we would expect. Parkinson finally in from the start gave us more movement and obviously pace up front. For once, the lads could send balls over for him to chase, and they were getting them in the right place! The only weak pin as far as I was concerned was Morgan, he was giving his players too much space, and still showing immaturity as a ball player (I'm not getting at him, I like Morgan I just don't think he is ready yet)
Liam O'Brien had a good game, he got stuck in where required. I think he was more fired up by the Sunderland fans boos, him being an ex Newcastle lad and all that! Perhaps we should invite them down to all our games?
Sunderland were in some ways disappointing. They were very physical. Big Niall Quinn did his best to get free kicks, but in the end, just appeared clumsy and not much of a match for Clint Hill who did very very well all game! We managed to get a couple of good free kicks in early on. The first, O'Brien sent the ball into the box, finding Challinors head, but the ball went straight to the keeper Then shortly after, another free kick from the left wing, came flying in, looked like it was miles off, yet actually hit the cross bar for an exciting 'ooh!'
On twenty four minutes, a good ball out to Parkinson who managed to get past two defenders and into the box, he continued to get himself into a good shooting position and shot at goal. Unfortunately the goalie had no problem, but it was a good confident move by the lad,
Challinors long throw was much in evidence, and was being used a lot better than usual. On sixteen minutes, it brought off a good save from the goalie and out for a corner.
It was a pacey game throughout really a lot faster than we have been used to of late. All the lads seemed to be rising to the occasion Though Gary Jones still had his problems (failing to rise in the air rather than to the occasion !) Rovers kept at Sunderland, in general meeting the attacks full on whilst also keeping the pressureon nd moving forward often.
Towards the end of the first half we had another good free kick by O'Brien. He tapped it to Morgan, who tapped it back and he launched it goalwards, but it was headed towards the far side of the goal.
Just after, the ball got through to Parkinson on the right wing. The keeper moved across to cover, and Parkinson nearly sneaked it past him, but he got a hand to it and poked it out for a corner.
Tranmere were just more aware of what was going on. They were forcing errors on Sunderland al the time. Mellon managed to pinch the ball, and ran half way up the pitch with it, he finally lost it in the box and it went out for yet another corner.
Right on half time, Sunsderland had a free kcik from right outside the box. I felt that if our luck was to hold nothing wold come of it, and it didn';t, it went sailing wide. Big sigh of relief and we went in all square. An excellent first half, we couldn't have asked more from the lads, except for a goal! Parkinson with that extra pace up front made all the difference, and the back line had a confident half. You really wouldn't have known there were so many rookies out there!!
Second half, Sunderland came out very lively A couple of minutes in and they gave us a big scare. Shooting at an acute angle beating Simonsen, but fortunately the ball just scudding across the goal mouth.
The action soon moved in the right direction, causing Sunderland to work hard. Tranmere were just as fired up as in the first half, it was like a breath of fresh air after all we have seen over the last few weeks! Andy Parkinson kept plugging away, and yuo felt he had to get one in sooner or later
At points it seemed like the midfield had started to lose their way a little , but then ther would be another good move forward, and all was forgotten.On sixty minutes, kelly managed to break with the ball and toe it just inches over the cross bar
Not long after they had another good attmept. Bit of a defensive mix up, left their player with room to move in the box, and only Simonsen to beat. He managed to punch it away, only for the loose ball to be picked up again by Sunderland, though fortunately it went wide.
On seventy five minutes, Sunderland were baying for a penalty as one of their players went down, but as he was leaning all over on of ours at the time, the ref just waved it away! Micky Mellno then hafd a good shot at goal that was defected for a corner, things were really hotting up, there was some good vintage stuff from the rovers! First kelly and then Parkinson firing at goal. How we didn't have two or three goals was beyond us!
Then after a defensive error, Kelly picked up the ball, fed it through to the on running Parkinson out on the left wing. He ran forward, pulling inwards not a defender in sight. With only the keeper to beat, he managed to slot the ball home between the keeper and the near post. Prenton Park went totally wild, I nearly kissed the bloke next to me and he wasn't Dave!
Sunderland almost made an immediate reply, but fortunately it went wide. The last ten minutes were really nerve racking, as the ball went from one end of the pitch to the other. How folks could leave the ground early was beyond me, nothing was certain. With just over a minute to go, whistles were resounding around the ground and Simonsen scooped up the ball from another onslaught. He did us proud today, he wasn't really called on to make many spectacular saves, but he was there, he was solid.
When the whistle went, Tranmere received a standing ovation. All cameras were pointed at Parkinson, who posed with arms above his head. A win of Titanic proportions, and taking us to six consecutive clean sheets, whilst breaking Sunderlands run of seventeen games without defeat.
The crowd was reported as just over fourteen thousand. The kop certainly wasn't full, which added to the annoyance, but they weren't that noisy, I reckon we were a match no problem.
My man of the match goes to Andy Parkinson for making the difference. All the lads though played their sox off. Special mention should go to Clint Hill and Davey Challinor who also did the biz. Confidence was the name of the game today. The lads oozed it, and it was a joy to see!
v West Bromwich Albion Fri 9th(home)0-0
Ah how we long for the days when goals were scored, and our hands were red raw with all the clapping..........
When we arrived, it looked like the gate was going to be poor, but the ground filled up quickly and there must have been nigh on eleven thousand. reading in the programme, it said they had given two thousand tickets to schoolies, but I didn't hear many shrill voices to make that evident.
The team was Simonsen, Stevens, Thompson, McGreal, Thorn, Irons, Morgan, Aldridge, Kelly, O'Brien, Mellon subs, Morrissey, Parkinson, G. Jones
Aldo played the 532 formation again, with Stevens once more filing in in the middle of the back, and Aldo and Kelly up front.
Two minutes in, and a the game starts well with a good move. The ball over on the far side, crossed intelligently to where Morgan was free on the near side. Unfortunately rather than holding the ball and then passing, he let fly rather lamely at the goalkeeper. Anyway, it was a start, and the crowd responded well.
On ten minutes, Morgan lost the ball to a defender, who is immediately robbed by McGreal. He ran on with the ball, and made an excellent cross that Kelly just failed to make contact with.
Couple of minutes later we had the first penalty claim of the evening, when Aldo went down while trying to get to a kelly cross. I didn't catch it, so its over to the kop boys to tell me what they thought!
On seventeen minutes, a semi fright that shouldn't have been. First a West brom player uses his elbow/arm on a defender, which the lineman failed to pick up. He then turned and kicked it to an onrunning player, who rounded the defender to get it into the net. Fortunately he was offside anyway, cos we would have been 'robbed' if it had counted!
The pitch was quite heavily sanded, though there didn't seem to be too much water on it.
I felt there was too much quick touch football, we were releasing it so quickly I began to wonder if maybe there was a bomb inside it or something.
There was little evidence of players controlling the ball with the exception of Kelly and Irons, and the times the ball was kicked forward into an empty space, well it was really frustrating as you can imagine! Rovers though did seem to be putting together the odd good move.
The defence on the whole was solid, though there were times when they seemed to be backing off rather than tackling, which occasionally put them under pressure. There still seemed to be that lack of communication. The midfield in the first half kept getting dragged over to one side, leaving the opposite wing totally free, and them in a little huddle
Seven minutes before half time, Aldo tries a cheeky long range shot at the goal, which the goalie has no problem with.
Morgan on occasions showed his inexperience, leading Tranmere into danger. And the Baggies number 4 was being allowed to zip down the centre with our midfield nowhere in sight.
Another scare with three minutes to go to the interval, as the ball entered the goal mouth area, and the defence was called upon to clear the ball a number of times in a fast action ping pong game, before it was eventually cleared fully.
Then one minute to go, Simonsen made a good save. The ball was crossed from the right wing with two West Brom players available. He saves from short range.
It was disappointing that Tranmere didn't have more goes at goal. Frustrating that so many balls were sent over the heads of the forwards. Basically they were just not really fed anything worthy , or capable of turning into a goal.
Second half I felt was more Tranmere's.
Early on, Morgan attempted a shot when he should have tried to get it in to the forwards. Then seven minutes in, O'Brien picked up a ball and made a good run in, which made us nearly die of shock! He made a great pass to Aldo, who should have buried it in the back of the net it was that good an opportunity, but he managed to get it the other side of the post. At least it spurred the kop into full voice.
Finally Morgan managed to put in a good cross, which unfortunately was cleared by a defender, but it kept the optimism going. The resulting corner met the head of Andy Thorn, who sent it just wide.
On 63 minutes, another good cross by Morgan. It was going behind the forwards, but Mcgreal was just there. Unfortunately he seized the chance wrong footed at full stretch so the goalie had no problem. Still it was another chance, and that was what was needed.
ON 65 minutes, Aldo took himself off and put Andy Parkinson on. It seemed the sensible thing to do. The supply to the forwards was poor, and Aldo was having to do more than he can manage. Almost immediately though,Tranmree lost possession and the baggies went steaming through. It was with great relief for us that it went into the side netting.
At times I felt the lads just weren't thinking at all. Stupid balls were played that were just going nowhere. The midfield were playing so close to the defence it was almost as if we were playing in an 82 formation. West Brom had so much room, it was silly.
Twenty minutes to go, and the Tranmere resolve seemed to be faltering. McGreal made a mistake and just passed the ball to a Brom player, fortunately he managed to the tackle it back off him. Thorn was looking heavy and cumbersome at times and didn't look too happy about his pins. I felt West brom were passing much more neatly than us, and managing to keep the ball on the ground more, to play to feet rather than over heads as we seemed to insist on doing.
Andy Parkinson sparked into action with some good runs onto balls, but so often the balls he was fed were poor, so they were always going out, instead of them stretching on into the corner where he would have got there. Even so, the midfield just failed to move forward to form any kind of back up, so that kelly and parkinson were left alone with an almost impossible task.
Ten minutes to go, Stevens went off with what looked like a back injury, and Jones came on in a straight swap.O'Brien was up to his old tricks, kicking backwards, and effectively cutting short any positive moves. What do you do when your players just don't want to go forward? And the times when the midfield just seemed to stop in their tracks as if we weren't the ones on the attack!
Five minutes to go and finally a break by Mellon down the left side. Parkinson in the box was screaming for the ball, Kelly was running in for it, and somehow Mellon got it between the two of them, so neither could get to it!
Right at the end, we had two good chances. First Andy Parkinson skied a ball from close range, kicking it hard instead of just tapping it towards goal. Just prior to that, Kelly looked to be pushed inside the box...but do I need to say any more???? Then in the dying seconds, Kelly was so close on goal, he could have almost carried it in, and somehow managed to do a perfect rugby up and over!
So, 0-0 it finished. Just never enough attacking football. the defence were solid, but the Midfield just held back too much. My Man of the match goes to Kelly. I felt sorry for him out there. He desperately needs someone to feed him balls he can score from. Why Morrissey didn't get a run is beyond me. Kelly does so much running around in search of the ball, that when he does get the opportunity, he is so knackered he fluffs it!