I was near the sponsors when they selected man of the match, none of them had a clue who any of the players were and eventually one of them said number 6. I wouldn't read too much into their choice as there wasn't much of a thought process!
As for the game I thought it was nervy and scrappy, which was what I expected really. York are a very well drilled and organised side and I think they will do well this season, if they had a bit of potency in the final third (I understand their two main strikers were missing). They've clear been built with a clear plan of having a big strong side (nearly all the players were 6ft plus) with a tight defence and an attack which exploits a classic lower league weakness - set pieces and crosses. Hopefully in 6 months time you will be able to look at the Tranmere side and say they've been built to a specific vision, but it will take time.
I think a draw was a fair result, both teams had two clear chances - Stockton's air kick and Baggies one on one where he laid it off, York's two clear chances came from corners - one of which was their goal.
Player Ratings:
OFW: 4 - His communication, dealing with crosses and distribution are awful. For every 2/3 shots he saves, he causes one through his inability to command his defence. We wont mount any kind of promotion challenge with him between the sticks. God knows why we didn't offer Mooney a 3 year contract with number 1 status - he looks such much better.
Holmes: 7 - Solid game and did reasonably well going forward, looks much fitter than he has for a while.
Ikiewe: 7 - Very calm and composed, didn't really do anything wrong (reminds me of Gibson). Man of the match.
Holness: 6 - Was a bit shaky at times but looks fairly solid. I thought he could have been more vocal, especially when OFW wasn't sorting out balls over the top.
Woodards: 6 - Very solid defensively but pretty poor with the ball. Hopefully that was down to nerves, as if he can keep the ball better he will be a very handy player. He could also be considered for the defensive midfield role if Laird continues playing like he did.
Kirby: 3 - Never looks to beat his man, always passess backwards, doesn't run with any purpose, out of his depth. His only moment of note was his lay off for Stockton's air kick - maybe he'll learn that he needs to be a bit more aggresive and get forward to do this more.
Power: 5 - One or two good moments in the first half but didn't really have any influence. Correct decision to take him off.
Laird: 3 - One of the worst debuts I can remember - up there with Godwin Antwi! Played like he couldn't trap a bag of cement and seemed to be colour blind, hopefully it was just nerves.
Richards: 5 - Worked hard but clearly out of position and couldn't seem to make his mind up on which foot to use. Put him upfront or don't play him.
Koumas: 5 - Anything positive in the first half usually involved him, but was anonymous in the second and didn't seem comfortable in the hole. I'd play him in a free role from left midfield or in a midfield 3.
Stockton: 4 - Wasn't his day, touch was off, and he got bullied easily by their defenders. Needs to learn to mix it up with big centre backs.
Subs:
Rowe: 7 - Came on and grabbed a great goal, also very good with the ball and shows that more than one player can take a corner. Would like to see him given a run of games.
Baggie: 6 - Typical Baggie: lively and unpredictable and never completely in control. Got the assist for Rowe's goal and surely worth a start ahead of Kirby.
Odajeyi: 6 - Did what Stockton didn't: Got stuck in to their centre backs and dished some out, caused a bit of chaos which contributed to the goal. Could be worth a start alongside Richards (Classic little and large combination).
I think the reaction of some of the "fans" to Koumas getting taken off was pathetic. He hadn't done anything in the second half and it was clear the system wasn't working. Koumas isn't exactly some kind of brilliant performer either, he plays well in 5/10 minute flashes but most of the time he's a passenger. I'm beginning to question the wisdom of building a system around a player as erratic as Koumas.
Also, as an opposition player, the fans booing the substitions must be music to their ears and a great morale boost. I can understand people might have been frustrated that Laird stayed on, but it was pretty obvious that Laird was kept on to play the holding role in a midfield 4. As we saw last season, Rowe, Power and Koumas are all incapable of playing this role.
Hopefully Rovers will improve over the next few games but it's not going to be a quick process and people need to give Edwards time. After so many of years of hoof coaching from Parry, Moore, Little and others it's going to take a while for changes to take effect.