Tranmere 2-2 Swansea

[Joe_TRFC]

Sounded like a good performance by Rovers although we ended up hanging on for the draw at the end with them hitting the post in stoppage time. We started well and Roberts hit the bar. Francis gave us the lead only for Tudur-Jones who we were linked with in pre-season to equalise just before HT. Although there was enough time for Facey to put us back in the lead after Greenacre put him through. Facey should have made it 3 after HT after rounding the keeper and putting it over from a tight angle. Swansea pressured a lot in the 2nd half and Achterberg could only parry away a shot to Robinson who tucked in the equaliser with 2 minutes to go. I don't know if it was a mistake by Achterberg but it did sound like it. If we could play like we did in the 1st half in most games we would be up in the play off zone, but most of the time we can't raise our game. I'm gutted we only drew and await reports from fans who did go.

 

[DixieDean]

great game. best performance since the Hartlepool play off last season (i know that's not difficult though!).

every single tranmere player played well today. no one let us down!
Simon Francis took his goal well and was excellent at right back. Aiston was inspired in front of his and ran them ragged in the 1st half. He tired second half and was rightly replaced by Jennings.

Facey was again superb. winning everything in the air and getting himself into some great positions. Took his goal very well and on another day would have had a hattrick.

Rankine was everywhere today. Just like the Rankine of last season.

I can't really fault anyone for their goals. John really couldn't have done much more with their shot imo.

Not sure if I could pick a man of the match as everyone played so well. It's a split decision for me between Aiston, Francis, Rankine and Facey.

At last we have a right back who can do the job very well.

Let's just hope Brian doesn't feel the need to tinker with the side.

 

[bwilliams]

fantastic performance, we looked really confident 1st half and we looked like a team that new what they where doing, a massive improvement from that appauling performance a few weeks ago against MK Dons.

And fair play to Brian Little who has really answered his critics with 3 good performances.

well done lads, keep it up.

 

[bolton_hater]

whatr a reat game really enjoybale but and we deserved to win.

lee trundle rubbed it in in front of the kop screaming in front of us the prick.

but it was great game.

 

[Matthew The Rover]

Excellent performance in the first half. We attacked them, went after the game, won every ball and played the better football.

But in the second half, same old same old. We sat off them, as Brian tells them to at half, played the Italian style football and tried to hit them on the break. Again it didn't work.

However, point gained not two dropped. Not many expected us to get anything today, so a point was a good result.

Francis was my man of the match. Won every challenge and played very well. Good passing, crossing, runs and headers, worked very well with Aiston and to top it all off, scored a great goal on home debut.

Are the Rovers back?

 

[Ian]

Very disappointed not to come away with the three points. Massively improved performance at home, and the lads played very well. The first half was excellent. Good passing, good awareness, every player was working hard, closing down, getting the boot in etc etc..

The one thing that let's them down, and always let's them down is that they cannot hold onto a lead.

As much as an improved performance it was, they shot themselves in the foot trying to defend a slim 2-1 lead for the majority of the second half.

Swansea were bound to apply more pressure, but we didn't play as we did in the first. Players started giving the ball away cheaply, hoofing the ball etc etc.. It just invited Swansea to attack us.

When is Brian and the team going to realise we cannot hold onto leads if the plan it to defend it for 45 minutes.

However, overall pleased with the performance of players and shows they can play when they want to.

 

[smilingmart]

best performance since the Hartlepool play off last season

Spot on Dixie.

I have to say that the turning point in the game (apart from facey's miss - I don't blame him; he had a stormer today) was when jennings came on for aiston. For me Jennings is not performing well at the moment and Aiston and Francis (great loan signing - nice to see some quality distribution from a defender; best since taylor left) were working well down the right. Jennings just isnt quite there at the moment.

Cant believe we didnt come away with all the points today. :evil: Nevermind I layed us on betfair so it's not all bad. :wink:

 

[bwilliams]

off topic, but which club is simon francis on loan from?

 

[championship_here_we_come]

off topic, but which club is simon francis on loan from?

sheffield utd

hopefully they/he would consider a deal in january abou £125k should do it after all we should still have about £750k spare from hume(500k to rise if leciester get promoted(unlikely)) and taylor(750k to rise to 1.25mil when wigan secure non releagtion(likely))

 

[NeverBeatDaveHiggins]

Super first half.

Swansea made changes to their midfield formation at half time and Brian couldn't cope. He very clearly instructed Harrison to push tighter to Martinez and this was our downfall as we lost all shape. Aiston stopped getting simple passes coming out to him, and not knowing what else to do he looked aimless and was rightly subbed, for an energetic Jennings, - BUT it's all so negative coming from Brian, everything is 'hold on' and 'defend deeper' when in that second half we could have kept the game at OUR tempo instead of allowing Swansea to dictate it.

We could have won yes - but we perhaps should have lost, both their goals looked a defensive shambles. First one was never a free kick, but nevermind the wall blocked it, and then the whole defence was caught flat footed, not one jumped for the ball back in and the guy had a free header. Their second Achters will feel he should have done better - but nobody closed down the guy having the long range shot, and then only opposition players went for the ball when it came back of Achters. Ultimately they could have scored a bagful past us, shots whistling just over and just wide all through the second half as we rode and rode our luck. And then again when they hit the post, all riding our luck.

The positives to take from the game are definitely the first half performance from the players and the two good goals that we scored. The real negative and it's been there all along is Brian Little's negativity and seeming unwillingness to go at teams to finish them off.

 

[DixieDean]

I can't quite believe people are STILL moaning after such a good performance. Come on, Swansea were always going to raise their game in the second half. They are brimming with confidence. You could tell that by the way they never gave up.

Would you have preferred us to have played like we have done all season so far? And lost 4-0? Surely not. Give the lads credit where it's due. They played 10 times better than at any time this season.

People seem to be suggesting that we did nothing second half. But if you only look at the second half, we still played better than at most times (certainly at home) this season.

Facey could have scored 2 in the second half and then we all really would be jigging with joy today.

For once guys, give them their due for a great performance against a quality side.

I certainly wouldn't have asked for more than they gave and if they play like that every week I'd be more than happy.

 

[benny]

Very good performance and really enjoyed the game.

The front two did well and made the Swans defence look decidedly dodgy. Aiston and Rankine also played well.

Just a shame we didnt win as we had the chances. Also thought the Swansea right back was a bit naughty trying to wind up the fans in the borough road after the late equliser .

Anyway a massive improvement from the MK dons game and hope for a similar performance next game.

 

[Aldo's Worthy 2000]

I can't quite believe people are STILL moaning after such a good performance. Come on, Swansea were always going to raise their game in the second half. They are brimming with confidence. You could tell that by the way they never gave up.

Would you have preferred us to have played like we have done all season so far? And lost 4-0? Surely not. Give the lads credit where it's due. They played 10 times better than at any time this season.

People seem to be suggesting that we did nothing second half. But if you only look at the second half, we still played better than at most times (certainly at home) this season.

Facey could have scored 2 in the second half and then we all really would be jigging with joy today.

For once guys, give them their due for a great performance against a quality side.

I certainly wouldn't have asked for more than they gave and if they play like that every week I'd be more than happy.

dixie,NBDH is just being realistic. we played really well yesturday and deserved at least a point, but BL was a tad negative in the second half and we nearly lost it. there number 16 gary monk missed an absolute sitter!he could of made it 3-2!as you mentioned in an earlier post delroy facey was amazin',and i have to take my hat of to the guy.he's really silencing me at the mo.well done facey!he should of had two tho'!!on simon francis i think we should bang in a £100,000 pound bid in,in january as he is a crackin' replacment for taylor!great goal and great performance!john achterberg maybe could of done better with akinfenwa's shot,but am not gunna slate the guy cos' he's saved us so often!!so my view on the game was unlucky but lucky,keep up the 1st half performance and we'll be fine.don't think were play-off material just yet tho'!well done lads. :lol:

 

[PaulCook'sMagicLeftFoot]

Ace performance, but feel we should have kept at them just a bit more second half.

As for Francis, sign him up ASAP, anyone who can come straight into a squad and play that good has got to be worth a go. He's only going to get better surely as he settles in the team.

Aiston was god like first half, fulfilled all the promise i've known is there. He's a very good player, get's stuck in, no qualms about running at players, just keeps hold of the ball a little to long sometimes and gets knocked over too easy. Outstanding performance yesterday though.

Well in the lads, now let's get climbing the league.

 

[Gray]

Great game, really enjoyed it. Me and my Dad had a great time. Highlight of the day was seeing me Dad doing the "EASY EASY" chant when we went 2-1 up :lol:

And I predicted right for a change (well, the score at least, if not the scorers)

http://whitereview.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=273&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

I'll post a longer review later when I've got a bit more time. All I'm going to say for now is that this was a very even contest, and if it shows one thing, it's that we should be battling it out at the top end of the table, not the bottom.

Oh, and I REALLY thought Robbo's volley was in.

 

[bolton_hater]

i love the easy chant :lol:

see all the swansea fans in with ther scarves round there mouth, oo dead hard!

 

[NeverBeatDaveHiggins]

I despise the easy chant. Not just because it's cow-towing to the commercialisation of football, were everyone is supposed to copy what some nobody on the telly tells them how to celebrate, how to chant etc etc.

Most of all I hate it because of the fact that everytime we gain a narrow lead the little s***s start up with 'easy, easy' which is just ASKING for the other team to score. Save that sort of thing for when we've got a three goal cushion, eh?

 

[bolton_hater]

oh my god! shut the hell up. the easy chant is just a laugh.

 

[SCooperSomersaults]

Good first half performance by Rovers but second was very poor imo. First half we had them rattled and thoroughly deserved the lead. Second half we sat back and invited the barrage of pressure simply by giving the ball away at the first possible opportunity.

In all fairness, they didnt exactly create a whole deal second half until the goal but you could we never closed them down (tiredness but these are pro footbllers who should be able to run 90mins). The equaliser was inevitable really.

But if we continue to play like that we won't go down and might sneak a play-off position but I really doubt they can play like that consistently until May. We live in hope though! C'mon Rovers!!!

 

[bolton_hater]

interesting comments thier SCSS.

I wouldnt say it was very poor but swnasea obviously woke up in the second half.

It was quite sad not get the win cos overall we did play well. but its a poit gained isnt it.