Tranmere 2-0 Bristol Rovers |
19 December 2009 | Written by Paul Harper |
 Tranmere
produced a superb performance to defeat Bristol Rovers 2-0 on a cold,
winter afternoon at Prenton Park, with goals from Craig Curran and
Gareth Edds.
Newly-appointed manager Les Parry made just the one
change to his starting line-up with Marlon Broomes missing through
suspension, his place went to Paul McLaren who lined up in midfield
with Ash Taylor reverting to the back four alongside Ian Goodison.
Tranmere
began the game brightly and Shay Logan tried his luck from distance
only to see his effort drift high and wide, while good work by Terry
Gornell created a chance for Ian Thomas-Moore. The captain turned a hit
a goalbound shot which Mikkel Andersen in the Bristol Rovers goal did
well to parry past the post.
At the other end, Tranmere
goalkeeper Luke Daniels had to be alert to save a mishit effort by Mark
Wright, while shortly afterwards a high, long ball almost caught the
West Brom loanee out as the ball bounced over his head before he
collected at the second attempt.
Zoumana Bakayogo almost created
a goal for the home side on 20 minutes when his left wing cross found
Goodison in the penalty box. The Jamaican's header went just past the
post.
The deadlock was finally broken on the half hour mark.
Craig Curran collected the ball from Logan and cut inside towards the
penalty box. He looked up and fired a perfect left footed drive into
the top corner of the net to give Tranmere the lead.
The first
half ended with Tranmere in control, but the Pirates came out of the
blocks the quicker of the two sides after the interval and put the home
team under immense pressure.
They forced a few corners, although
Daniels wasn't forced into action. There was a scare on 55 minutes
though, when the visitors hit the woodwork. A corner came into the
penalty box and Chris Lines leaped the highest to win a header that
fired againts the crossbar before it was scrambled clear by the Rovers
rearguard.
And it proved to be a telling moment in the game.
Tranmere cleared the ball and went straight down the other end to
double their lead. Bakayogo made a superb run down the left wing and
put over a great cross which was flicked on at the near post by
Thomas-Moore to the feet of Gareth Edds, with the Aussie midfielder
controlling the ball before placing a shot past Andersen into the
corner of the goal to send Prenton Park into raptures.
The home
side had confidence flowing, despite their lowly league position, and
weren't ready to settle for just two goals. They kept pressing Bristol
Rovers back into their own half and created opportunities to further
increase their advantage.
Bakayogo crossed once more from the
left to an unmarked Curran who couldn't direct his header quite right
and it went straight at Andersen, while Edds hit two 20-yarders just
past the post as Rovers seeked a third goal.
On 70 minutes, they
came agonisingly close to that elusive third goal. Logan took a quick
throw-in down the right wing to Curran who was clear through. The young
striker raced down the line before sending over a low cross which fell
to the feet of Thomas-Moore. His shot beat a diving Andersen, but
behind his goalkeeper was Steve Elliott who managed to clear. The ball
ended up at Gornell's feet but he couldn't get himself into position
quick enough and the ball deflected just past the post.
With ten
minutes remaining, Curran was inches away from scoring as he burst down
the right before firing a shot across goal which went just the wrong
side of the post. That was to be Tranmere's last chance of the game as
Daniels had to make a late save to maintain his clean sheet from an
effort by Darryl Duffy.
An early Christmas present for all
Tranmere fans, White Review wishes you a very merry Christmas. See you
at Oldham on Boxing Day.
Tranmere (4-3-3): Daniels; Logan, Taylor, Goodison,
Bakayogo; Edds, McLaren, Welsh; Curran, Gornell, Thomas-Moore.
Subs not used: Collister, Cresswell, Barnett, Fraughan,
Ricketts, Shuker, Macauley.
|
Next Match |
Last Match |
Yeovil v Tranmere
League One
11.9.2010
Kick-off: 15:00
|
|
Tranmere v Peterborough Utd
League One
4.9.2010
Score: 1 - 0
 Match report |
|
|
Match postponed as the pitch at Brentford is waterlogged. The match will be rescheduled at a later date.
|
Marvin Sordell joins on loan Les Parry has signed Watford's Marvin Sordell on a month loan deal. After losing out to several targets, the first year pro will be available for selection for Tranmere's home game against Oldham. Les added, "We've been short of goals recently and hopefully Marvin will bring us some added firepower. He's fast and strong and will be a good addition to our squad". |
Bakayogo extends deal Tranmere full back Zoumana Bakayogo who has impressed with his performances over recent weeks has extended his contract until the end of the season. He added: "I'm very happy to have signed. I really like this club and the players and I'm happy here. |
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Date
|
Competition
|
Home
|
Away
|
Score
|
|
09.09.2005
|
League One |
Tranmere
|
Bradford City |
2 - 2
|
|
09.09.2000
|
League One
|
Wolves |
Tranmere
|
1 - 2
|
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|
| Pos |
Team |
Pld |
Pts |
13. |
Walsall |
5 |
6 |
14. |
Exeter City |
4 |
5 |
15. |
Tranmere |
5 |
5 |
16. |
Hartlepool |
5 |
5 |
17. |
Bristol Rovers |
5 |
5 |
|
