Tranmere Rovers
Rovers Do Themselves Proud in Wolves Defeat
By Mark Ridgway
January 4 2010
Mark Ridgway reports on Tranmere’s undeserved 1-0 home defeat to Premier League strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday evening which earned Mick McCarthy’s side a fourth round home tie against Crystal Palace in a few weeks time….
Tranmere R 0 - 1 Wolves
Jarvis 77
Attendance: 7,476
Tranmere put in a spirited performance as they unluckily lost to a strong Wolves side at Prenton Park with Matt Jarvis scoring the winner for the Premiership outfit towards the end of the game after Rovers had had the better of the chances.
Rovers Boss Les Parry named the same starting eleven that had drawn 0-0 with Carlisle United in the League the week before meaning the starting line-up looked like this....
Daniels
Logan, Taylor, Goodison, Bakayogo
Edds, McLaren, Welsh
Thomas-Moore, Gornell, Curran
Prenton Park had a good old fashioned atmosphere about it as the fans got behind the players from the start and the hosts had the first goal attempt with Gareth Edds shooting at Hennessey early on.
The action was end to end without there being many goal attempts in the early stages of the half although Ian Goodison stormed down the left wing, exchanged passes with John Welsh and after he took it past Richard Stearman he picked out Welsh who clipped an effort straight at Hennessey.
John Welsh was Influential in Midfield
Edds had an effort from the edge of the box kept out by Hennessey, and after the keeper rushed his clearance, John Welsh had a low effort turned around the post superbly by the Welsh International.
From the resulting corner Ian Thomas-Moore flicked a header goalwards only for it to be cleared off the line by Kevin Foley as Rovers came within inches of taking a deserved lead.
Despite the pressure from Rovers though, Wolves should have taken the lead just before half time when Chris Iwelumo set up Matt Jarvis, who from about six yards out sliced horribly wide to the delight of the Rovers fans behind that goal ensuring the half somehow ended goalless.
Half Time: Tranmere Rovers 0 - 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
The first chance of the second half came for Sylvain Ebanks-Blake but his goal bound header was spectacularly palmed away by Luke Daniels - a wonder save!
McLaren then shot horribly wide and Rovers should have taken the lead soon after. Terry Gornell won a 50/50 with Wayne Hennessey and bore down on goal before losing his composure and hitting the side netting with only a defender on the line putting him off.
The miss wasn't too dissimilar to Ian Thomas-Moore's miss against Carlisle only a week ago and both are misses that have cost the club in hindsight.
Terry Gornell Missed Rovers' Best Chance
Craig Curran then volleyed wide as Rovers continued to press but the Premiership outfit took the lead on 77 minutes when Matt Jarvis atoned for his earlier missed sitter by converting when clean through to give the visitors an undeserved lead. It was harsh on the Rovers defence who done superbly throughout.
Rovers responded by bringing on Michael Ricketts and Chris Shuker for John Welsh and Terry Gornell and Shuker looked lively and immediately earned Rovers a corner. From that corner, Goodison flicked on to Curran whose effort was smothered behind by the excellent Hennessey.
In Injury time Shay Logan shot straight at Hennessey for the last chance of the game and Rovers were undeservedly beaten whilst Wolves progressed to a fourth round home tie against Crystal Palace.
Full Time: Tranmere Rovers 0 - 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Ian Goodison
The Jamaican defender dominated the defence and had Ebanks-Blake in his pocket as well as venturing forward a few times. Shay Logan, Luke Daniels and Craig Curran also had very good games.
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04/01/2010 13:13
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Be really annoyed if its only 1 when we give McLaren 2 and Mahon 3.
Broomes too I think, Logan and Daniels return to their parent clubs, Curran, Shuker, and Edds are also out of contract.
Whats Mahon here for then.. last pay packet and good treatment from Les on his dodgy knee's?
ryan giggs-alan mahon look how he plays now should be how we use alan. and until welsh can pass to one of our players thats how it will stay FOR ME.
I can't believe you think Welsh is irreplaceable...
An I thought losing Tony Kay and Jennings was bad in the summer how silly do I feel now.
Im not sure there well be that many clubs after him as i dont think there were many in the summer. If we stay up i think he will stay wiv us if we go down we probably wouldt be able afford 2 keep him.
Bas is another player out of contract in the summer.
U made out he was irreplacable and called me a wally for suggesting otherwise, I would argue it was you jumping on one but to be honest I'm not that arsed its just a thread about a hypathetical situation
