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Rovers Slump at Home as Iron Strike Early

By Deadly Submarine
October 8 2005
Tranmere conceded a goal after just 20 seconds and never recovered as Scunthorpe helped themselves to a second victory over Rovers this season already. Goals from Andy Keogh and Billy Sharp were enough to send the Iron home with all three points leaving Rovers in desperate trouble near the bottom.

Tranmere Rovers 0 – 2 Scunthorpe Utd

Keogh 1

Sharp 39

Attendance: 7,522

Could Rovers’ season get any worse? Apparently so as they slumped to their first home defeat of the season against a Scunthorpe side that had previously lost all of their last five matches in League One.

Brian Little had promised a few changes to the starting line-up and possibly a different approach in an attempt to change Rovers’ dismal recent form both at home and away. However, whatever Brian’s plan had been for this game, most us may never know as the whole approach to the match went up in smoke after just 20 seconds when the visitors went ahead.

As Rovers tried to get back into the game, the Iron added a killer second blow shortly before half-time leaving many a half-time discussion amongst the Rovers’ fans about getting Mike Bassett in as our next Manager.

Brian Little made three changes from the side that started the 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest last Saturday with Mark Rankine and Ian Sharps returning from injury to replace Gareth Roberts who was injured and Nicky Summerbee who dropped to the bench as Little employed Goodison at left-back, Tremarco on the left of midfield and Jennings on the right of midfield.

Steve Davies replaced Chris Dagnall on the bench for this game whilst Scunthorpe were missing Ritchie Ryan through injury but did welcome new loan signing Peter Till from Birmingham City into their starting line-up.

For two teams so out of form going into this game it’s probably fair to say that an early goal would be crucial but every Rovers fan must have been shocked to see not only one of the quickest goals ever scored at Prenton Park but also by the fact that it went to the visitors.

Straight from the kick-off Scunthorpe built up an early attack and when Andy Keogh received the ball on the edge of the penalty area, he turned Ian Sharps and fired a shot into the top corner to leave Prenton Park stunned.

Rovers responded with a couple of chances of their own with the first falling to Carl Tremarco after five minutes but he lazed over the crossbar and into the Cowshed. Tremarco was beginning to look threatening going forward but no more clear cut chances fell for Rovers despite an excellent one-two between Tremarco and Facey.

The visitors almost added a second when Billy Sharp ran clear of Mike Jackson but luckily for Rovers he found the angle too tight and fired wide. The game was scrappy for the remainder of the first half with Rovers having the better of the possession and wasting at least three free-kicks and a couple or corners.

Somewhat against the run of play, the visitors added a killer second goal with six minutes of the half remaining. Jason McAteer gave away a free-kick about 25 yards from John Achterberg’s goal that earned him a fifth booking of the season that means he is suspended for next weeks trip Bristol City.

The resulting kick was headed back across goal and was met by Billy Sharp who stooped to head home a priceless second for the Iron. Mark Rankine had a shot blocked just before half-time as a chorus of boos rang out around Prenton Park at the half-time whistle.

Rovers needed to get at Scunthorpe from the off in the second half if they were to get anything from the game and Jennings had a terrific shot saved by keeper Paul Musselwhite after the ball had been laid off to him from a free-kick. Delroy Facey also had a good early chance with header before Brian Little decided it was time to change things after ten minutes of the second half.

Ian Goodison and Jason McAteer made way for wingers Sam Aiston and Nicky Summerbee with Tremarco moving to left-back. Rovers looked stronger and stronger as an attacking force but it was clearly not to be their night as Sam Aiston looked a dead cert to score when the ball fell to him eight yards out. Somehow though the shot was blocked by the defence and the chance was gone.

Steven Jennings also had another shot blocked as Rovers tried in vain to get back into the game. Andy Keogh scored the goal of the game after 65 minutes but with a great first time curled finish past Achterberg but his joy was shortlived as the goal was chalked out for offside.

Greenacre and Jackson had headed chances late on but time ran out for Rovers without even a consolation and questions need to be asked about where Rovers go from here. There can be no doubt that the shock early goal threw a spanner into Brian Little’s plans but this cannot be an excuse as 89 further minutes of play should be enough time to try to recover.

In fairness the players gave it a good go in the second half but with the visitors happy to sit on their lead, things were difficult for Rovers.

Just as it can’t get any worse for Rovers, next up is an away trip to Bristol City with Rovers having failed to win at Ashton Gate for around a decade.

Man of the Match Award

Carl Tremarco – Under the circumstances, Tremarco had a good game and came closest to scoring for Rovers. Delroy Facey once again looked a threat upfront but Tremarco provided a few chances from which the side should have done better.

The Managers Views

Tranmere Manager Brian Little (speaking to the Official Club Website):-

"Disappointed is a word we're using all too often. We had a few decent spells but they deserved to win. It's no good pretending we were unlucky, we were second best for quite a bit of the game.”

"I thought we created chances to get back into the game at 2-0 down. Commitment and endeavour was spot on but other things aren't going for us. We'll hopefully be given the chance to sort it out.”

"It's a tricky time for us and it's a tricky time for me. The only way through it is to work hard and we'll do that together. "I don't want to run away and hide from the situation, I'm here to try and sort the thing out. If there is extra pressure then fine, I'm willing to stand there and take it and hopefully get it right.”

"We've worked at everything and we'll work at it again. There has always been a temptation to go back to three centre backs which was where we started two years ago and made ourselves a hard side to beat. The most important thing is to get together and work at it. We have created chances but we've leaked too many goals.”

"We set a line up to keep it tight and then take it from there. In previous games we've tried to be very open early in the game and that hasn't worked. "We've been looking at a loan signing or two and we have made inroads. We'll continue to look at that and we'll try to strengthen."