Attendance: 7,328 (487 Tranmere Fans)

Referee - Mr Clive Oliver (Northumberland)

CLICK HERE FOR FULL MATCH STATISTICS AND TEAM LINE-UPS

Rovers crashed to defeat at Brunton Park as they were made to pay for a dismal first half performance yet again having seemingly learnt nothing from last Friday’s 2-1 home defeat to Port Vale.

Kevin Gall scored the only goal of the game on 35 minutes in what was almost and exact replica of a goal conceded by Rovers at Rotherham some weeks ago which on that occasion also proved to be the difference between the sides.

Ronnie Moore made three changes to the starting eleven from the Bury game in midweek with John Mullin, Paul McLaren and Gavin Ward returning to the team at the expense of Danny Harrison, Steve Davies and John Achterberg. 

When the team was announced prior to the game, many Rovers fans expected John Mullin to be Chris Greenacre’s strike partner upfront but it soon became clear that Greenacre was to be a lone striker in front of a five man midfield.

Only one of Carlisle’s two former Rovers players made the home side’s starting eleven in the shape of Kevin Gray as David Raven was injured for this game.

The home side had the best of the opening ten minutes with chances for Murphy, Gray and Hackney but fortunately for Rovers only Murphy got his chance on target and Ward gathered easily.  Chris McCready was also also harshly booked after just six minutes as Jermaine Beckford made the most of minimal contact on him by going to ground.

Somewhat against the run of play, Rovers came within a whisker of taking the lead in the ninth minute when a Chris Shuker cross was met by Ellison ahead of his marker and the ball struck the right hand post and rolled to safety.

Just six minutes later and Ellison’s afternoon was over as an injury forced him off the field and he was replaced by Steve Davies in a straight swap on the left of midfield. 

Whether or not Ellison had been the planned support for Greenacre in attack was unclear but Rovers showed little sign of a breakthrough in the remainder of the first half as they resorted to frustrating long-ball tactics that do not suit Chris Greenacre as a lone striker.

Ward saved well from Gall on 20 minutes and Mullin and Davies had half chances for Rovers before the home side took the lead as Rovers, much like most of their travelling fans, fell asleep.

Kevin Gall received the ball from a throw-in on the Carlisle left and beat several Rovers defenders including Stockdale and McCready, to fire low into the bottom right hand corner of the goal to give the home side the lead.

Paul McLaren shot from distance in the dying seconds of the first half but his effort was straight at Westwood in the United goal.

Just four minutes into the second half there was more injury woe for Rovers as John Mullin limped off to be replaced by Danny Harrison.  Just seconds after coming on, Harrison could well have been off as he was penalised for pulling back Hackney when through on goal but the referee saw fit to give just a yellow card to the Rovers player.  From the resulting free-kick, Ward was forced into a save from Murphy.

Rovers began to spend more time in the hosts half as the second half wore on as the ball spent more time on the ground but there still seemed little sign of a clinical end product.

However with just over twenty minutes remaining, Jason McAteer was replaced by the returning Gareth Taylor and finally Greenacre had a strike partner again. 

Suddenly Rovers looked a little more like converting their chances and even when high balls were played, Taylor was able to win a few of them.  Rovers had the ball in the net with 13 minutes left from Chris Shuker’s corner but the referee ruled out the goal, apparently for a foul on the goalkeeper Westwood.

Late on, Danny Harrison fired in a shot that was saved by Westwood as the home side clung to their one goal advantage despite late pressure from Rovers.

Once again Rovers let themselves down by not playing well in the opening 45 minutes.  It has become clear to most fans that simply hoofing the ball forward does not work without Taylor or even Zola on the field and today Rovers again paid the price.

Wit three home games in six days coming up Rovers will be looking for maximum points in the League and a win in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy for good measure.  However after today’s performance, the players and coaching staff have much work to do before then.

Man of the Match

Robbie Stockdale – On a day of very few decent performances from Rovers, Stockdale shone through as the pick of the bunch with a solid performance at right back.

Gaffer’s Verdict

(Ronnie Moore Speaks to Tranmere’s Official Website)

"I'm flaberghasted by the first half performance, we couldn't pass the ball.  If we pass like that we'll lose games.  You can't give anybody 45 minutes head start.”

"In the second half we pummelled them without getting the goal. We had enough of the play to come away with something but how many times have I said that?  How many times have we got in great positions in their box and not picked out the right pass?  It's disappointing but we've just got to keep working away.”

"At times in the first half we were like a pub team. We've got enough quality in the dressing room to be sat top of the league.  But it's no good me talking about it, it's when they cross the white line that they've got to do it.  They have to get hold of the ball and take responsibility.”

"There were too many long balls. We said that with Gray and Murphy in there that we needed to pass it and not go long, but how many long balls did we put in in the first half?  It was embarrassing.  In the second half there's a pat on the back for work rate, but we've huffed and puffed without getting anywhere.”

"It doesn't matter what system we play, if we pass like that we'll lose games.  They didn't have millions of chances, it was a scrappy game.”

"Ellison, McAteer and Mullin are all injured.  I think they'll be alright for Saturday, we just can't tell at this stage.”

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