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Rovers 2-2 Southend

Ian

Ian

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Wow! What a game. I'm very disappointed we didn't come away with all 3 points especially after that fantastic first half when we looked like a different team from what I'm used to seeing.

They were all over Southend and the chances they had, I still don't know how we only scored 2! :-k

But whilst I'm disappointed because I think we deserved more, it was a great game to watch. It was one of those games that had everything. And the game had an edge to it, both teams really going for it. I thought the referee bottled a few important decisions, but really, we should have had that game wrapped up at half time.

How Tranmere played in the first half is exactly how I wanted them to play. Every single player was working hard. They were chasing every ball, passing well between them and they certainly weren't afraid to shoot. I don't think anyone could complain at half time that they hadn't been entertained.

For those sitting at the kop end, I'd like a perspective on Southend's goals as I couldn't see them too well from were I was sitting. Was it poor defending? It looked like the first one took a wicked deflection which seemed to loop over Coyne. Unlucky? The second, everyone seemed to react quite slowly.

Couldn't really fault any of the players for their efforts today and I thought young Cresswell had a great game considering it was only his second game this season.
 
Agree it was a decent game. Should have done better when 2-1 up, a number of good chances not buried. Disliked Southend, a lot of theatrical rolling around and a Chelski-style approach to hassling the ref, who was wet behind the ears and gave some awful decisions. Hope that Rovers stick to this formation at home, though given who's coming up next not sure we will. Cresswell had a decent game and the attacking side of his game is stronger that Taylor's. I liked the way he demanded the ball at times; no shrinking violet here.
 
Consider your sentiments echoed.

Today was a really good game, and i agree with Ronnie's opinion; that we made a "very good side look average." That said, I thought Southend defended pretty well considering the pressure they were under. They were quick to cut out most of our crosses, but on the many occasions that we played our way through, they certainly had the keeper to thank for the fact that it was 2-2 as opposed to 6-2.

Although i sit in the JK stand, I think it would be harsh to blame Coyne for the first goal - it was just a fluke. The second goal was a calamity of errors though; caught short down the left hand side, IMO Coyne could have got a stronger hand to the shot which he tipped onto the post, and the aftermath in which Goodison's decision to take a touch instead of hoofing the ball away effectivley cost us all 3 points.

Southend rather underhandedly seemed to target a few nasty challenges and ear whispers in the direction of Jenno and Kay, the former deservedly sent off for a characteristically unneccessary challenge on the edge of their box, and the latter probably deserving of 2 or 3 red cards over the course of the game. Although I thought they both otherwise played pretty well, it was dissapointing - though not surprising - to see them play right into their opponents hands in completely losing their common sense and discipline. That said, it's arguable that to lose common sense you have to have it in the first place...I'm not quite sure why Barnett didn't come on for one of them, given that they were both booked and both quite clearly on the verge of being sent off.

Elsewhere, Bas certainly looked greatful to have a strike partner alongside him, and I thought Greenacre put in a decent shift this afternoon. Out wide, Moore looked like a new player, and was unlucky not to score more than once (great goal!) whilst Shuker continued his good form on the other side. The back 4 didn't have a lot to do in fairness; Chorley was ok, Goodison didn't look very sharp, but Shotton and Cresswell did a decent job both defensivley and going forward - credit to Aaron for a good performance on his home debut, he looked very confident and is certainly more of a threat from direct free kicks than shuker.

If we can keep picking up points with the 4-5-1 away from home, and play good open attacking football like today in our home games, we shouldn't be far off going on a decent little run of results...
 
You'd have a better view of the early Kay challenge by the touchline, where he got a yellow, with some of their players trying to get him a red. Right decision? Didn't see the first Jennings card clearly. The 2nd was a wild challenge and nailed on yellow, BUT bourne out of frustration, when Bas was clearly fouled on the edge of their box in front of the ref, who gave nothing. Agree once they'd gone to 10 men it would have been wise for Ronnie to take Jennings/Kay or even both off, given we had Barnett and Edds on the bench.
 
The first challenge...well it's one of those where the Ref could neither win or lose. If he'd been sent off our lads would have argued the case, and when he wasn't, Southend got narked. It was really borderline, an "orange" card if you like; but for the stupidity of the challenge alone, he deserved a red.

Just prior to (or perhaps after, i cam't remember) Jennings being sent off, Kay did exactly the same challenge again right infront of me on the touchline, which seemed to go completely unnoticed by most fans and the ref (the incident where their player was lay off the pitch after being clattered against a sponsorship board) there were a few other challenges too which I thought on another day could have warranted a second yellow.

The penalty decisions (or lack of) were annoying, particulaly the one where Bas was climbed on and shoved over in the box. I'm not sure about the one in the second half where Moore or Greenacre had a freekick given against them trying to break past two Southend defenders, I'd like to see it again though. The ref, young as he was, seemed to shy away from many potentially controversial big decisions, and while this worked against us regarding the penalties, it certainly worked in our favour in ensuring that we finished the match with a certain "central midfielder" left on the pitch. It was a really difficult game to referee and I think Moore was wrong to come out and criticise the lino for his role in the Jenno sending off. I think one thing football could really benefit from is an increase in the quality of communication between lino and ref.

Kay is a very questionable club captain, but i'm not sure who else we could give it to...
 
View from Southend here!

First off, can I just say that I think you have a good side there! You're front four are particularly impressive. Savage was excellent for you, big and strong and surprisingly good with the ball at his feet for a big man. Greenacre was busy and Ian Moore looked useful out on the wing. Some of the stuff you played going forward should be encouraging for you fans. You could be up there coe the end of the season if you keep playing like that.

Now onto the game. Some of you have said that our players were narky. They were.....but your guys were equally as narky! Both sets of players were getting under each other's noses. Your 26 (Shotton?) was your equivalent of our 28.

The ref was a shocker for BOTH sides. From where I was in the Cow Shed, Kay's foul on our left back in the first half was bad and deserved a straight red. It was 5 seconds late with the ball already being gone, it was two feet, studs up, half way up his leg. Dan Harding isn't the type to feign an injury and when I spoke to him after the game, he told me that he feared his leg was broken at first, it hurt that much. Ronnie Moore's suggestion that you should have got a free-kick/penalty for a foul on Kay was a stab in the dark because the guy shouldn't have still been on the pitch at that point. He clattered someone else just before your 12 got sent off and that was a second booking, and he then absolutely smashed our number 8, who came on as a sub, into the advertising boards. He was down for a while, and we feared the worst because he's only just back from a knee cartiledge injury, and his knees are what appeared to hit the advertising board.

The sending off I can't complain about. The thing that gets me is that to me, BOTH players clearly moved their heads towards each other in an equally obvious way, so if Laurent goes for us, then Shotton has to go for you too. The thing that riled Laurent was Shotton physically holding him down on the floor and preventing him from getting up and playing the ball (play was still going on at this point). It was pretty blatant. So even if Shotton didn't quite deserve a straight red for the head incident, then it was a yellow for the foul/bad sportsmanship on Laurent and then a second booking for the head incident immediately after it. But the ref bottled it, just like he did most things.

We were lucky to be in it at half time, you played some great stuff first half, but second half was much more evenly matched. Our defence held pretty firm sometimes against your pressure, mostly in the first half. Good luck for the rest of the season!
 
Interesting to note that the Southend supporter is very keen to write about the ref and the sendings offs and all that, but sums up a cracking game of football in one paragraph. I think you could argue the bookings and sendings offs either way depending on the team you support. I thought the ref got it about right - he could easily have gone mad and sent off a few more, but he seemed keen to let the game flow - and thank you to him for that. It's an easy target to criticise refs, but it shouldn't take away from a cracking game.

I overheard a couple of Southend fans after the game saying they thought it was "a fair result". If that doesn't tell you how mypoic fans are I don't know what does.

I thought we were superb. Our attack play was brilliant at times and only profligate finishing the four top quality saves denied us a big win. I liked the formation, the attitude and the commitment. It was pure entertainment, the like of which I have only seen on a handful of occasions over the last 5 years. More please, even if we don't win every game. One error cost us two points.

Could be interesting next week, three suspended and Goodison off to Jamaica. And now we have two decent left backs....
 
I though it was an excellent attacking performance especially in the first half.

We could have easily scored 6 or 7 by half time but instead it was 2-2 due to wasteful finishing, great goalkeeping and poor defending. I think in the second half Rovers should of scored Greenacre and Kay both missing an open goal from a Shuker cross spring to mind.

I don't think you can argue with either sending off - Jennings made a stupid lunge and their player instigated the head butt, Shotton was backing off. I also think Kay was extremely lucky not to be sent off for that horrific lunge in the first half and their left back/left winger should have been sent off after a cynical elbow into Shuker's face as he tried to race past - it was a bit like the one on Humey. You could tell there was going to be at least one sending off after the first 5 minutes, people were fighting all over the pitch! The ref should have told the players to calm down in the first half rather than letting the game spiral out of control.

Man of the Match for me was Savage, he scored a good goal and linked play well, yes he missed an easy chance - but so did everyone apart from Coyne! Moore was also excellent and Jennings played very well until he got himself sent off.

A very entertaining game it's just disappointing that we didn't take 3 points, it was a bit like the game against Huddersfield in Ronnie Moore's first season when we played them off the park and drew 2-2.

Goodison might be avaliable next Saturday if he gets back in time, I wonder if Waterfall will be recalled?

I would play (If Goodison isnt back):

Coyne

Edds Chorely Waterfall Taylor

Shuker Henry Barnett Creswell

Savage Moore

We could also give Steve Roper a game instead of Antwi (http://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10365~44416,00.html) - it's not me by the way!
 
Wrote a big long piece about the game yesterday, then my computer crashed and it didn't add it!

It was a cracking game, entertaining, and if we saw games like that every week, win lose or draw it'd be value for money and I for one wouldn't have too many complaints, even if we just finished mid-table. But playing like that more often would mean more wins than losses.

Thought Tranmere were excellent going forward, looking dangerous every time we attacked, and we should have won the game eaisly, scoring a lot more than the 2 goals we did. It was pleasing to see everyone attacking with confidence and looking to get on the ball and pass and move. We zipped it around with pace and looked a really good side. 2 excellent strikes by Mooro and Bas and I felt we would win by 3 or 4.

However, for all the good work, it was undone by poor defending. The first goal by them Goodison shouldn't have rushed out to a ball he was never going to win, to allow their player time and space to run into to score, albeit a wicked bounce over Coyne. And the secon should have been cleared by Goodi, he hit it straight at their player's leg and it richocheted into the net. Gutted.

Cn't complain about value for money, entertainment and quality and passion of the game. I'd pay good money to watch that every week, even though we drew. Pity at prenton park it happens about once a season if tht!
 
Just listening to it on Tranmereworld was very entertaining. Haha. Especially compared to some of the games recently. Like everyone has said it sounded like we should have won easily had we taken our chances, but their keeper sounded on good form too. Worrying that suspensions now mean we will be without Shotton, Kay and Jennings for Yeovil on Saturday and also there is the chance Goodison may not be back from Jamaica in time. Would have been nice to have kept the same 11 for next week.
 
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:wink:
 
Ohh, before or after the game? Seems like the team bonding sessions are working a treat!
 
Well, I picked the right game to make the trip for didn't I? It had everything except the well deserved three points. If they played like that more often I'd be inclined to make the journey more often.

Difficult to pick out any one good performance. I thought Shotton didn't a good job and linked up well with Shukes on the right. Jennings battled all afternoon. First time I'd seen Savage and he is a HUGE asset to the team. Holds it up well, good with the ball at his feet and scored a great goal. Great golf from Moore Jnr and Chrissy G battled as ever with little reward.

Kay's challenge early on was a shocker and I had a great view from the JK. On another day, or if the challenge had been made later in the game he would have gone. Late and high. Very nasty.

Very entertaining and as someones aslready said, if we play with that attitude every week we'll win more games than we lose.
 
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