Tranmere 3 - 1 Hartlepool

[Gray]

3 points in the bag and some results gone our way with Leeds dropping points (last minute equaliser from Port Vale) and also Walsall, Forest and Oldham dropping points.

We need a few more Saturday's like this.

League tables not updated yet but should make interesting viewing.

 

[Joe_TRFC]

We're up to 7th on same points as Walsall in 6th. Shame Southend got that last minute winner and Orient won as did Brighton and Northampton. But you can't have every result go for you. Main thing was we won and pulled ourselves a bit closer. We sounded appalling 2nd half for a team playing 10 men. Thank god they missed that penalty at 2-1 and just as Greenacre's last minute equaliser at Swansea could be that penalty miss could be something we look back on at the end of the season. We need to try and keep winning anyway we can. Performances don't count for nothing... results do!

 

[Ian]

Jekyll and Hyde performance really.
First half, we looked good. Played some attacking, positive football, and deserved to be leading at half time.

Thought the sending off of McCunnie for giving away the penalty might have been a bit harsh. Letter of the law, he had to go, but some refs would have used common sense.

Anyways, Greenacre scored on the rebound, thank god! Wasn't the greatest penalty shot.

Our second was quite fortunate as well, with the cross taking a wicked deflection.

It was great to see Shuker back in action. Little bit too early really, but with the injury of Myrie-Williams, it was forced more than anything.

He definately needs quite a few games to get himself match fit again, but in all fairness, he did a good job until he tired in the second, which is understandable.

Second half was a bit of a shambles really. 2-0 up, they had 10 men, the complacency set in a bit and Hartlepool were relentless. There were times when we couldn't get out of our area.

They were really up for the challenge and worked so hard, you couldn't tell they were a man down. It really shook up our defence, and their were some panicky moments in there. Goodison is sorely missed is these situations, but to be fair, the lads have only conceded two in the last two games.

Had Hartlepool scored their penalty, the final score may have been so different. I actually believe Hartlepool may have gone on to win it such was their desire to get a result.

As it happens, great last minute goal from Sherriff to take the pressure off.

Was also pleasing to see Jennings back in the squad who worked tirelessly in midfield today.

All in all, great result against a good Hartlepool side, but I think lady luck was on our side today.

Finally, I'd like to make a point of saying how entertaining the game was today.

Four goals, two penalties, a sending off and a quick, lively pace to the game made for good viewing. =D>

 

[Boz]

Agree with just about everything Ian has said above.

Our penalty was obvious, their defender was the last man, though as Ian Moore wasn't in total control of the ball, thought the ref could have issued a yellow. Think in these days of ref assessment, he probably felt he had no choice, but Mr Whitestone wasn't nowhere near as bad as some of the officials we've seen this season.

Had 3 other decent chances in the first half, Greenacre firing over, Ian Moore creating a chance out of nothing and a decent downward header by Sheriff well saved.

Second half was a 'mare. Good angled ball fired into the box by Shuker took a wicked deflection for our 2nd, in what was almost our first attack of the second half. It was a fair gamble picking Shukes given JMW injured and Mike Jones ill. However, while I can understand he lacked match fitness, he didn't go past his man once, using guile to compensate for pace and for someone I'd thought an intelligent player, this was disappointing. Their goal deserved, like Ian and RM could well see us losing had they converted the penalty which followed. Shane's header eased nerves at the end and only a decent save from Zola's shot stopped us going 4-1 up.

Agree with Ian about the quality of the entertainment. given there were over 200 away fans, in good voice, the 5.5k crowd was disappointing, especially with no proper Easter home game to come.

MoM Taylor played well, Jennings showed how much he'd been missed, hard to choose between them.