The performance was slightly improved but in the end the result was exactly the same.  For those who travelled to the Galpharm Stadium last Tuesday evening it was like deja-vous as Rovers again defended well but then allowed a second half lapse of concentration to once again cost them all three points in a game where a draw would have perhaps been a fair result.

Although Forest started the match brightly, the first-half didn’t really get going to any great extent.  The second half seemed a much more even affair but it was substitute Gareth Taylor, who had only been on the field for six minutes who did the damage with a goal that from Rovers’ point of view was yet again sloppy and a touch lazy.

In an attempt to right Tranmere’s recent bad form, Manager Brian Little made two changes to the side that started the midweek trip to Huddersfield with Sam Aiston dropping to the substitutes bench in favour of Carl Tremarco who played left back with Gareth Roberts just ahead of him in left-midfield.

The other decision made by Little was to bring in Steven Jennings to the midfield but the decision about who to drop was made easier for the Manager with the news that Mark Rankine had picked up a hamstring injury and was therefore unavailable.  Despite having a broken nose, Danny Harrison was named on the substitutes bench along with Chris Dagnall, Theo Whitmore, Sam Aiston and Steve Wilson.

The home side perhaps began with most possession but it was Rovers who crafted the first couple of half-chances with the first after just three minutes when a foul on Chris Greenacre gave Gareth Roberts a shooting chance from the free-kick which sailed high over Russell Hoult’s crossbar.  Just two minutes later, Chris Greenacre had a shooting chance from a difficult angle but the ball sailed wide.

The open start to the game continued and Jack Lester forced Achterberg into a save before Gareth Roberts was set up by Delroy Facey but denied by Hoult.  Nicky Eaden had a decent chance for the home side but saw his shot easily gathered by Achterberg as Forest and David Johnson in particular continued to be frustrated by an alert Rovers defence with Ian Goodison particularly outstanding.

Facey set up another chance for Rovers just before half-time but Chris Greenacre’s turn and shot was excellently blocked.  Despite a share of what might be called half-chances the game ended without a goal for either side.

At the start of the second half, Rovers replaced Nicky Summerbee with Sam Aiston in a straight swap on the right-hand side of midfield.  Just six minutes into the half though the majority of the home crowd thought their side had taken the lead when a David Friio shot was headed excellently off the goal-line by Carl Tremarco.  Despite the appeals from the home fans, there was no goal to be given.

Just before the hour mark, Kris Commons fired over Achterberg’s crossbar before a Facey cross at the other end was met beyond the far post by Greenacre but defelcetd off the striker’s shin and out for a goal kick.

Disaster struck though for Rovers in the 70^th minute when substitute Gareth Taylor – only on the pitch for six minutes - met a cross from the left hand side almost unmarked and Achterberg’s attempts to save the ball merely saw it deflect off him into the net to give the home side a 1-0 lead.

Going behind seemed to stir Rovers into action as they forced a succession of corners that sadly came to nothing.  Chris Dagnall replaced half-time substitute Sam Aiston eight minutes from the end shortly before Mike Jackson’s header from a corner won by Delroy Facey squirmed agonisingly wide to the extent that it almost seemd to clip the outside of the post.

That was to be Rovers last chance and after a second successive 1-0 defeat Rovers’ position in League one is not looking too healthy.  Some encouragement can be taken from an improved performance but positive results are needed and quickly before the whole season turns totally sour.

Rovers now face Scunthorpe United at home this Friday (October 7^th) with Kick-Off at 7.45pm at Prenton Park.

The Gaffer’s Verdict……..

The Team Line-Ups

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