Once again it was a dismal home showing from Rovers that barely deserved anything but for once they rode their luck and dug in when behind in the game to grind out a 3-2 win in front of a disappointing Prenton Park crowd.

Despite going ahead through Delroy Facey’s strike in the opening minutes, Rovers found themselves 2-1 behind at half-time after a brace by Paul Tait for the visitors.  Danny Harrison clawed Rovers level after 67 minutes before Delroy Facey won a penalty which was expertly converted by Chris Greenacre for his 9^th goal of the season – a goal that turned out to be the winner for Rovers.

Rovers made one change to the side that beat Scunthorpe at the weekend with the injured Paul Linwood being replaced by Mark Rankine as Manager Brian Little employed a 3-5-2 formation with Steven Jennings and Gareth Roberts operating as wing-backs behind a three-man midfield of O’Leary, Harrison and Rankine.  Mark Rankine’s place on the bench was taken up by Theo Whitmore.

Rovers began fairly brightly and were ahead after just six minutes with their first real chance when Delroy Facey found himself in some space just inside the Dale penalty area.  The striker used to his pace and strength to beat off a challenge from the defender and blasted a shot past the outstretched hand of the goalkeeper Gilks to give Rovers an early lead.

The lead did not last long though as the visitors clawed themselves level just three minutes later when top-scorer Ricky Lambert broke into the Rovers penalty area.  Ian Goodison looked to be capable of running the ball out of play but the defender fell over under Lambert’s challenge and this allowed Lambert to set up Paul Tait to finish well from 18 yards.

Chances were exchanged there after with a long-range Chris Greenacre shot and a chance for Lambert both being defended successfully.  Just five minutes before the break, Paul Tait doubled his personal tally for the evening from a similar position to his first after Rovers had failed to clear the ball to put the visitors 2-1 up at half-time as boos rang around Prenton Park on the half-time whistle.

As Rovers struggled to make a breakthrough in the early part of the second half, Brian Little opted to replace Steven Jennings with Chris Dagnall and move to 4-3-3 formation.  This seemed to instantly improve Rovers performance and after Goodison had lamely shot straight at Gilks and Ricky Lambert fired over the Cowshed Stand, Rovers finally equalised through Danny Harrison on 67 minutes.  Chris Greenacre knocked the ball on for Harrison and he made no mistake from a dozen yards to put Rovers back in the game.

Just seven minutes later the home side were back in front when Delroy Facey was fouled by Goodall in the penalty area in an almost identical incident to the penalty he won at Scunthorpe on Saturday.  Chris Greenacre stepped up to score his third goal in four games and his second in succession from the spot to put Rovers in front.

The danger wasn’t quite over for Rovers as they survived three goal-line clearances in the space of a few seconds before the referee blew for full-time and a relieved Prenton Park cheered the team off the pitch.

Rovers now go into the Quarter-Final draw on Saturday morning with Bradford being the only other League One side through at the moment.

Tranmere Man of the Match

Steven O’Leary:  Whilst the midfield was more often than not bypassed by hopeless long balls forward, when the midfield did get hold of it O’Leary was the key man and he had an excellent game.  A good performance too by Delroy Facey including his goal but O’Leary showed today that he will be missed as his loan period at Tranmere comes to an end.

The Team Line-Ups

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Tranmere Rovers:  Achterberg, Jackson, Sharps, Goodsion, Roberts, Jennings (Dagnall 61), Harrison,  O'Leary, Rankine, Facey, Greenacre.

Subs Not Used: Wilson, Aiston, Whitmore, Zola.

Rochdale: Gilks, Brown, Griffiths, Boardman, Goodall, Briscoe, Warner, Jones (Clarke 71), Tait, Lambert, Sturrock.

Subs Not Used: Kitchen, Cartwright, McArdle, Gibbins.

Referee – Mr Graham Salisbury (Lancashire)

The Gaffers View

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Speaking to Tranmere Rovers Official Website:

"We were going to have to change what we tried to do but we said we'd give it ten minutes of the second half. Once we changed the system and played like for like against them we did well to get back into the lead.”

"In the last ten minutes we were very nervous but that's what is happening at home. We're a little bit more relaxed away than we are at home.  "It was good to win two games in a row.  They came as a team full of confidence and we're a little bit on edge and I think that showed. But once the substitution was made we managed to get back into the game.”

Speaking about another possible signing before Thursday’s deadline, Little added: "We've closed in on one or two people we know are available.  Whether or not we can make it happen is going to be the deciding factor. A lot of people were waiting to see what happened in tonight's games before deciding what to do.”

"Luton won 4-1 so hopefully that will help Steven [O'Leary] stay here. You can't blame people who wanted to see how the games went tonight as they have to analyse their next month.

"We're all doing it up and down the country. You can't blame people - nobody wants to make the wrong move and nobody wants to let the wrong player go. It's a cagey business."

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