Tranmere Rovers
Joss Sticks Header In to Earn Rovers a Point
By Mark Ridgway
August 21 2011
Substitute Joss Labadie's goal ten minutes from full-time earned Tranmere a deserved point at home to Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon, meaning a seven point haul from a possible twelve so far.....
Tranmere Rovers 1 - 1 Sheffield Utd
Labadie 80 Montgomery 44
Attendance: 6,244
Joss Labadie came off the bench to earn Rovers a draw and destroy Sheffield United’s 100% start to the season at Prenton Park on Saturday.
The midfielder headed home the equaliser with ten minutes to spare after Blades captain Nick Montgomery had earlier powered the visitors into a first half lead with an excellent long range strike.
Les Parry was of course forced into two changes after Adam McGurk and David Raven saw red on Tuesday at Notts County, so Michael Kay and Lucas Akins came in at right back and right wing respectively with Martin Devaney switching to the left side of midfield....
Fon Williams
Kay, McChrystal, Goodison, Buchanan
Akins, Weir, Welsh, Robinson, Devaney
Showunmi
Sheffield United may have already won all three games, but it was Tranmere who dominated early on by taking the game to the visitors, and Martin Devaney registered the first attempt with his right footed effort being kept out well by former Rovers keeper Steve Simonsen.
Enoch Showunmi headed wide and they Mark McChrystal had a volley easy saved, as Rovers took control of the early stages.
After a quarter of an hour Andy Robinson crossed for Lucas Akins, but his header was well saved by Simonsen.
Soon after an Owain Fon Williams save lead to a goal mouth scramble in the Tranmere area, however after a few nervous moments the home side survived.
However the visitors did take the lead on the brink of half time when captain Nick Montgomery fired in an unstoppable drive from 30 yards into the top corner.
Half Time: Tranmere Rovers 0 - 1 Sheffield United
Sheffield United took that momentum into the second half, but didn’t test Fon Williams, whilst Robinson curled a free kick over for Rovers.
On the hour mark Rovers changed to a 4-4-2 formation, with home fans seeing a rare switch in tactics as Mustafa Tiryaki replaced Lucas Akins.
The striker came close to levelling soon after, as his header from a Devaney crossed was kept out by Simonsen.
Joss Labadie came off the bench on 77 minutes later, and was the hero soon after as Devaney played his short corner to Buchanan, and the left back's cross was headed powerfully home by Labadie.
An irrational back pass from Mark McChrystal set Ryan Cresswell clean through late on, but the striker didn’t connect properly and Fon Williams saved it easily.
Sheffield United pressed during the five minutes injury time, however unlike Tuesday there was no late drama and Rovers held out for a well deserved point.
Full Time: Tranmere Rovers 1 - 1 Sheffield United
David Buchanan
Buchanan was solid at the back and provided a great attacking threat, seems a great find. Superb assist for the goal also.
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
21/08/2011 12:39
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
However if he does it this time, he'll get two hat-tricks. one against them at their ground and 3 in 3 games.
Hopefully if he gets used at any point and scores, he won't be an unexpected jinx like the last two times
Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.
