Tranmere Rovers
Review of the 2007/08 Season Part 1 (A)
By Mark Ridgway
January 3 2008
With 2007 gone and the Season now at it's halfway point, today Total Tranmere will be bringing you two different reviews of the first half of this 2007/08 Season so far from two different Site Reporters. First up is Mark Ridgway's Review with a further review to follow from Mikey B later this afternoon.....
Tranmere kick-off their seventh season in League One but probably this kick-off was the most eagerly anticipated. Recently relegated Leeds had to start their season with -15 points and a trip to Prenton Park. Ronnie Moore completed four new signings in Danny Coyne as Goalkeeper, Ben Chorley and Antony Kay for the defence and Adnan Ahmed to strengthen the midfield.
August
Over 11,000 people crammed into Prenton Park on a sunny August afternoon for the visit or former champions league semi-finalists Leeds. Tranmere wore their new home kit, all white with a blue left sleeve and controlled the first half and took a deserved lead when Greenacre tapped in Shuker's cross.
In the second half Rovers had a goal disallowed but Leeds equalised and ended up winning. Heath headed them level and Kandol headed in the winner in the last minute to undeservedly take their points total to -12.
Rovers felt robbed so they were desperate to make immense when they took the short journey to Stockport in the Carling Cup where despite dominating Tranmere again lost to a late goal.
Rovers had dominated two games and it had been defensive lapses at the end which had cost them. Just to make thing worse they now faced a huge journey across the country to Gillingham, but an early Chris Greenacre header was double by a long range Steve Davies shot to send Rovers home with a deserved three points.
Action returned to Prenton Park when Brighton visited and lost 2-0 eventually. After a fairly even game Brighton cracked with about ten minutes left when Shuker crossed for Greenacre to head in. As the game drew to a close Brighton then had their right back sent off and Shuker lobbed the keeper from 35 yards to wrap the game up.
September
The first day of the month and Rovers were once again on the road for a long trip to Yeovil. Tranmere had never lost to Yeovil in a competitive game and wanted to keep it that way.
After and even game on the hour Yeovil took the lead when Marcus Stewart scored from long range. The game entered the 96th minute and Tranmere were given a free kick on the edge of the box. Steve Davies expertly curled in the free kick into the top corner to send the travelling fans wild, and leaving Rovers still unbeaten against Yeovil.
Another cup exit came the following Tuesday as Morecambe won 1-0 at Prenton Park in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. The good league form was continued though with a fantastic result at Brunton Park. Second placed Carlisle hosted Rovers having not lost since the start of the season.
However, Rovers outclassed the hosts and Craig Curran volleyed in to give us a deserved win although there were a few nervy moments at the end but the lads stuck together.
That same attitude was carried into the next game as recently relegated Luton turned up at Prenton Park for the first Friday night game of the season. Paul Furlong headed Luton into the lead and it stayed like that until seven minutes from the end, when substitute Craig Curran smashed in the equaliser before another substitute in Antony Kay looped a header into the top corner with four minutes left to earn Tranmere the win and send Prenton Park wild after another thrilling Friday night game.
A week later Rovers travelled to Cheltenham and wore the new away kit which is gold. A long ball from John Achterberg (making his first appearance of the season) was met by Chris Greenacre who volleyed in from twelve yards.
Cheltenham went on to equalise and the game ended as a draw which was probably a fair result. The last game of the month saw Tranmere host Northampton.
Northampton were probably underestimated and shot into a 2-0 half time lead, leaving Rovers rattled. Ronnie Moore obviously had harsh words though as Rovers came out fired up, but nothing was going in until twenty minutes left when Shuker blasted in low from the right.
Despite severe pressure Northampton were holding on well until with two minutes left a Shuker cross was met by Gareth Taylor whose header dipped just under the bar to earn a point for Rovers.
October
The Northampton game was quickly followed up by another home game on the Tuesday night against Crewe. Rovers outclassed a poor Crewe side but failed to lead at the break despite Jennings hitting the post.
Just after half time Crewe took the lead from a dubious penalty. Quickly after though Shuker equalised after a superb pass from Mike Jones and it ended all square at 1-1.
Southend were next on the fixture list away at Roots Hall where Rovers took a deserved lead when Ben Chorley knocked in McLaren's corner. Undeservedly Southend equalised before half time but the winner came to Tranmere after half-time when Gareth Taylor headed in McLaren's free kick to give the three points to Tranmere so send us top of the league.
Tranmere were still in pole position in the league after a 0-0 draw to Walsall the next week. For the first time since Leeds though, Tranmere lost soon after as Swindon took the spoils with a goal two minutes from time to disappoint Rovers fans.
Tranmere were back to winning ways a week later when Huddersfield were on the end of a 3-0 scalp, goals from McLaren, Sherriff and Taylor sealed an easy three points.
November
A tough November was expected with the start of the FA Cup crammed in between four tough League games.
The month started away at Forest which is always an exciting game, and for the first half Rovers more than held their own and could have been winning.
At the start of the second half Sherriff handled in the area and Forest scored from the spot and then with Rovers pushing forwards for an equaliser they were hit on the break and it ended 2-0.
This game was followed up by a really poor performance at home to struggling Oldham although a good atmosphere was created as it is every season at Oldham games.
Rovers survived pressure from Oldham including help from the woodwork more than once. Oldham got the point at the death smashing in at the Cowshed end in front of the travelling fans.
Tranmere could put their League form behind them and look at the FA Cup and a tricky away tie at Chesterfield. With the club aware this was a possible banana skin they helped their clause by offering free travel for fans. They didn't regret that decision as the fans sang all game long and helped in the final result.
It didn't start too well as Jack Lester gave Chesterfield the lead but Rovers quickly equalised when Greenacre scored from the spot. A pretty uneventful second half was lightened up when Antony Kay superbly volleyed in with five minutes left to give Rovers the lead.
Then with seconds left Chesterfield were given a penalty, Lester stepped up but his spot kick was saved by Danny Coyne and Rovers looked to be going through anyway.
There was still time for Craig Curran to be sent off for a two footed lunge, but Rovers were through.
Rovers then recruited two loan signings to boost the left hand side, Andy Taylor from Blackburn and Jennison Myre-Williams from Bristol City.
Back to League action away at Doncaster and again Rovers had ten men as Tremarco was shown red for a high tackle just after half-time. Rovers still hit the post, but were saved at the end as Coyne superbly kept out Hayters header with his legs.
The month was capped off badly as Swansea were victorious at Prenton Park. Jennings was unfortunate to put though his own net with 10 minutes left and the game ended 1-0.
December
The next round of the FA Cup started off December and Rovers again away this time to Bradford and again free coaches were on as this time 33 coaches went and this gamble yet again paid off.
Tranmere controlled the game and took the lead when Jennings scored from long range. The lead was doubled when Shuker's chip found Greenacre unmarked who slotted in. The third was on the cards and came mid-way through the second half.
An Ian Goodison hoof was chased by Greenacre and he used his strength and scored to wrap up the game. Rovers returned to League action the following Tuesday with a trip to Hartlepool but a horror start left Rovers 2-0 down after eleven minutes.
Shane Sherriff's free kick made it 2-1 before Hartlepool finished the game off with the third. Struggling Bournemouth then travelled to Prenton Park and the surprise of the day was that the game wasn't called off, the appauling conditions meant the ball couldn't move along the puddles.
The game continued though and Calvin Zola gave Rovers the lead and Chris Greenacre doubled the lead from the spot to make it 2-0 at half time. Steve Jennings then made it three before Bournemouth pulled one back after and Goodison error the game ended 3-1.
The following week and Rovers drew 0-0 at Port Vale. Vale had the better chances and hit the post from a free kick, but Tranmere held on for a draw.
Three days before Christmas and another away trip this time to Luton, a close game was settled with one goal, going to Luton in a game of few chances.
Rovers needed to get back on track but high-flying Carlisle wasn't the easiest game Ronnie Moore could have wished for. Nevertheless Rovers dug deep and thoroughly deserved to win 2-0. McLaren's shot deflected in off Raven and Antony Kay's individual brilliance was enough. The centre back controlled on his chest beat his marked and smashed in a right footed volley to finish the scoring at 2-0.
Carlisle missed two glorious chances and also hit the post and had a shot cleared off the line. The last game of the year was a home game to Cheltenham again conditions were poor (similar to Bournemouth) but Rovers grounded out a win Calvin Zola sliding in to earn Tranmere three precious points.
Lets hope the decent form will be enough to help us gain promotion back to the Championship.
READ MIKEY B'S HALF-SEASON REPORT HERE!
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Should we have had our whole squad available i'd really fancy our chances... but the loss of our real key players means i'm fearing we may slip off the pace over then next few months.
fingers crossed i'm wrong.
