Attendance: 7, 866

Referee - Mr Mike Russell (Hertfordshire)

CLICK HERE FOR FULL MATCH STATISTICS AND TEAM LINE-UPS

Don’t you just love Friday the thirteenth?  For the superstitious Rovers fans it wasn’t the ideal day for Rovers to be looking to get back to winning ways after a  disappointing run of form but sure enough in true Friday the thirteenth style, Rovers can count themselves unlucky to have finally lost a home game this season against a time-wasting Port Vale side.

First half goals from Jeff Smith and Leon Constantine set Vale on the way to victory and despite a dominant second half display from Rovers and a goal from Chris Greenacre, Rovers could not find the net for a second time to get a point they deserved.

Ronnie Moore made one change to the side that drew 0-0 at Swansea seven days ago with Ian Goodison returning at the expense of Carl Tremarco, resulting in captain Shane Sherriff moving back to left-back.  The Rovers bench was very midfield orientated with McAteer, Harrison and Jennings joining Tremarco and Achterberg.

Rovers started brightly with Steve Davies and Chris Shuker looking particularly lively for the home side.  The visitors from the Potteries had the first chance in the second minute but Danny Whitaker fired wide of Ward’s goal but it was Rovers who had the better of the game and the better of the chances in the opening 15 minutes.

Shuker forced Goodlad into an early save and Chris Greenacre headed wide before Chris Shuker was sent clear in acres of space.  With just Goodlad to beat in the Vale goal, Shuker fired his shot too close to the Keeper and the chance went begging.

Just a few moments after that chance the ball fell to Rovers’ other winger Kevin Ellison around 6 yards from goal but his turn and shot was saved by Goodlad when perhaps Ellison, like Shuker moments earlier, should have done better with the chance.

When Rovers were awarded a free kick just outside the Vale penalty area on the half hour mark it was a chance for the home side to finally break the deadlock but instead it turned into a nightmare for the men in white.

Ellison’s free kick, which can only be politely described as poor on a respectable website such as this, was easily cleared and within seconds Vale were on the break and when Ellison, trying to make amends for his poor free-kick, was nutmegged on the touchline, the ball eventually fell to Jeff Smith who finished excellently into the bottom right corner of the net.

Despite the boos of the home crowd turning into some support as Rovers kicked off, the players heads appeared to drop and Rovers game fell apart to such an extent that the visitors added a second goal in first half injury time.

Ian Goodison was judged to have fouled Vale substitute Akpo Sodje on the right hand side of his own penalty area and Vale were awarded a free-kick from which Vale’s top scorer Leon Constantine found the net.

As the second half got underway the signs were a little more promising from a Rovers point of view as they created a few early chances including a shot from Shuker that was deflected over the bar and then a point blank save by Goodlad from a John Mullin header.

As the visitors deadball timewasting became ever more evident despite having been in evidence from the start of the game to some degree, Rovers finally got the reward their pressure deserved.  John Mullin won one of the many long-balls Rovers had played forward all night and headed on for Chris Greenacre who went around Goodlad and tucked the bsall away.

The goal seemed to help Rovers and they were soon pressing for an equaliser with Shuker and Ellison and also Davies trying to get the ball into the box.

John Mullin and Paul McLaren were working hard in midfield but Rovers could not find the breakthrough with Goodlad making late saves from Greenacre, Mullin and finally Ellison’s volley with the last kick of the game.

So Rovers failed to get a deserved point but were made to pay for a bitty first half display.  That fact, added to some poor decisions from the Referee’s Assistant on the Main Stand side in the second half and the timewasting tatcivs from Port Vale from minute one of the game, made it a frustrating night for Rovers fans as their side still failed to go top at their third attempt.

Man of the Match

John Mullin – At the heart of the midfield and complimented well by a good performance from Paul McLaren, the central midfield proved better than the wingers on a frustrating night for Rovers.

Gaffer’s Verdict

(Ronnie Moore Speaks to Tranmere’s Official Website)

"We've been mugged.  At least Dick Turpin wore a mask.  Every time we've had an opportunity to go top, we've blown it.”

"The goals we gave away were a joke.  The free kick wasn't brilliant, but they've still gone 70 yards and put it in the back of the net and then when you're in the position we were in, you can't give away silly free-kicks bang on half time.”

"We had a bright opening, but when we get in good positions in the final third we pick the wrong decisions.  It's easier to lay somebody in rather than having shots.  It's no good playing like Real Madrid and not punishing teams.”

"The crowd had a little pop at half time, but if I'd paid £20 to watch them I'd have had a pop at them as well.  But they went out and gave their all in the second half.”

"We've made it easier for the sides tomorrow now.  It would be nice to be sat top of the league and put pressure on them.  We've played into their hands.”

"People are shouting 'get a sub on Ronnie', but it would have meant taking Davies off and moving Ellison or Mullin up and the midfield was doing well.  We had a lot of attacking opportunities but didn't take them.  That's where you miss Calvin Zola and Gareth Taylor as they would have been options on the bench.  I'm hoping Gareth will be fit next week, that's the news coming from him."

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