Opener!

 

If there’s one thing that watching Rovers this season has proved it’s their total and utter unpredictability and the inability to determine what on earth is going to happen next during the course of a game!

 

After last weeks minute of madness at Valley Parade in the FA Cup that admittedly was more the fault of the officials than the Rovers players but still cost them the game, it seemed hard to think that anything more bizarre could be witnessed in a Rovers game this season.  How wrong we can sometimes be as Rovers proceeded to once again shoot themselves in both feet twice in the space of 60 unbelievable seconds.

 

After captain Mike Jackson had headed Rovers in front shortly before half-time, it seemed that Rovers may at last get over their recent home game blues but the conceding of a penalty converted by Izale McLeod followed by a gift to the same player immediately from the kick-off that followed the equaliser saw them slump to another home defeat and increase the woes of Manager Brian Little.

 

Little made just one change to the side that was unlucky to lose at Bradford last week with Steven O’Leary preferred to Mark Rankine in the starting line-up which meant that the veteran midfielder had to settle for a place on the bench at the expense of Chris Dagnall who did not feature in the matchday squad.

 

Rovers began the game brightly and were marginally the better side, although the midfield was scrappy from both sides throughout the course of the opening 45 minutes.  Steve Davies shot wide of goal after just two minutes and shortly after Chris Greenacre’s cross found Delroy Facey whose header was easy for the goalkeeper Baker.

 

Although dangerman Izale McLeod had a chance from distance that went wide for the visitors, it was Tranmere who were creating the chances and Facey headed a good chance wide and Steve Davies hit a free-kick straight at the Dons defensive wall. 

 

As the half drew to a close, the Dons looked a little brighter and Achterberg pulled off a great block when McLeod broke clear but the striker had already been ruled offside anyway.

 

However despite further Dons chances when Achterberg again saved from McLeod and Platt headed straight at the Dutchman, the momentum the visitors had begun to build up was cruelly flattened by a goal for the home side on 38 minutes.

 

Chris Greenacre was fouled on the left hand side of the pitch about 20 yards out and when Jennings whipped the free kick into the penalty area, it was met by the head of Mike Jackson to give the home side the lead.

 

On the stroke of half-time it was Jackson who was called upon to preserve the lead he had given his side when he produced a magnificent sliding tackle at the back to deny the ever threatening McLeod a shot at goal.   Rovers therefore went into the break leading 1-0 and hopes were high of a change in fortunes at last at Prenton Park.

 

The second half was equally as sloppy and scrappy in midfield as the first half had been but it was over ten minutes before any real chance of note came in the second half.  That chance came to the visitors and signalled the worst 60 seconds that many Rovers fans have ever, and maybe will ever witness.

 

Ian Sharps needlessly fouled Izale McLeod after being outpaced by the striker and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.  McLeod converted the kick in front of his own fans as John Achterberg went the wrong way.

 

So the visitors were level and now it was time for the Rovers players to learn the lessons of last weeks game at Bradford and keep their focus on the task ahead, right?  Oh no absolutely not as the nightmare continued.  The otherwise impressive Steven Jennings was caught in possession right from the kick-off and Izale McLeod broke clear of the defence, past a feeble attempted tackle by the helpless Achterberg and stroked the ball into the empty net to leave three sides of Prenton Park stunned.

 

Almost immediately, Sam Aiston came on to replace Danny Harrison as Rovers looked to get back into the game but anyone who had just turned up at the game may have thought that it was the Dons who were chasing the game as they continued to put Rovers under pressure.  McLeod broke through for another one-on-one with Achterberg but the Dutchman made a great save to deny him his hat-trick.

 

Calvin Zola replaced Delroy Facey on 73 minutes and shortly after he inexplicably missed an almost open goal from six yards out after good play by Steve Davies and Gareth Roberts had set him up.

 

That was to be Rovers last chance and to cap off a bad day for the home side, Steve Davies hobbled off with an injury after colliding with visiting goalkeeper Matt Baker in the final minute and was replaced by Ian Goodison.

 

 

Tranmere Man of the Match

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John Achterberg:  It’s fair to say that none of the players came out with any credit from this game so the award goes to John Achterberg who made a couple of decent saves to keep the game at 2-1, particularly when he thwarted a second one-on-one against the menacing Izale McLeod. Although Steve Davies did OK at times, Steven Jennings was the only other real contender for the award but his losing of possession resulted in the winner for the visitors.

 

 

The Team Line-Ups

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Tranmere Rovers:  Achterberg, Linwood, Jackson, Sharps, Roberts, Harrison (Aiston 60), O'Leary, Jennings, Facey (Zola 73), Greenacre, Davies (Goodison 90).

 

Subs Not Used: Wilson, Rankine.

 

MK Dons: Baker, McClenahan (Edds 52), Lewington, Morgan, Small, Mitchell, Platt, McLeod, Quinn, Mills, Ricketts.

 

Subs Not Used: Rizzo, Kamara, Crooks, McKoy.

 

Booked: Jackson (Tranmere) McClenahan and Lewington (MK Dons)

 

Referee – Mr Brian Curson (Leicestershire)

 

The Gaffers View

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Speaking to Tranmere Rovers Official Website:

 

"We weren't great but we were better than them in the first half.  McLeod up front caused us all sorts of problems in the second half and he's destroyed our two centre backs. On the back of his performance the rest of his team were lifted and probably should have won by more goals in the end.  We had a little shout - Calvin scraped the post and there was a push on him that the referee couldn't see.”

     

"The second half was as poor a performance as we've put up here. It's very disappointing.  There was no reason to suspect it could go the way it went.  We didn't do anything different in the half time team talk but they had a slight tactical change that worked for them.”

     

"The first goal was almost a rugby tackle and the second was probably the goal I've seen a team of mine concede in professional football. You just don't give the ball to the opposition from your kick off and let them score, I don't think I've ever seen that before.  "It really was tough to take but it's my responsibility and I've got to stand there and take it.”  

 

"The first goal was bad enough but to concede straight from the kick off is as close to schoolboyish as you can get at this level. To have given the ball away and see it in your net within ten seconds was bizarre to say the least. Then we huffed and puffed and were still cut to pieces with the pace of their centre forward.”

     

"We tried to put them under pressure but nobody played well enough. There was effort there but we weren't good enough. We caved in and didn't put pressure on them for any long period of time."

 

Speaking of the performance of Steve Davies, Brian Little added:

 

"He did very well and worked hard. He made a few mistakes, is understandable for a young player. But he didn't do himself any harm today. The problem I have with a young player like him is that playing in a team that's not winning could knock his confidence.”

     

"We have to keep working. To have gone from where we feel we've been over last week or two to the second half today is such a drop it's untrue.  That's my fault and I have to take it on the chin. I accept that there will be criticism and I understand that. But we are working hard to put it right. Whether or not people accept that, I can't answer for them."

 

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