By Deadly Submarine
February 21 2007

Chris Greenacre secures a late point for Rovers after a disappointing first half performance saw the home side 2-0 behind at half-time to goals from Lowe and Odejayi before Chris Shuker and Chris Greenacre secured a comeback that a point which was just about deserved in the end.

 

 

Attendance: 5,576

 

Match Referee: Colin Webster (Tyne and Wear)

 

 

CLICK HERE FOR FULL MATCH STATISTICS AND TEAM LINE-UPS

 

After such a good win away at Yeovil on Saturday, expectations amongst some Rovers fans prior to this game were for a win to the home side but in the end Tranmere escaped with a point that they just about deserved after a disjointed first half performance saw them 2-0 behind after 25 minutes.

 

Second half strikes from Chris Shuker and Chris Greenacre secured a vital point for Rovers against a team who whilst being in the bottom four in League One, also came into this match on the back of three straight wins and who were therefore never going to be pushovers.

 

Ronnie Moore made two changes to the side that started the match against Yeovil on Saturday with the injured John Achterberg replaced in goal by Gavin Ward and Robbie Stockdale who was injured, being replaced by Carl Tremarco who started at right-back, a position which is unfamiliar to the player apart from a spell playing there in the game at Brentford earlier in the season.

 

Young goalkeeper Shane McWeeney was on the bench for Rovers for the first time as back-up for any possible injury problems for Gavin Ward.

 

Rovers began the game by playing the same 4-5-1 formation that they had utilised at Yeovil on Saturday with Chris Greenacre and Chris Shuker supporting Gareth Taylor upfront as a lone striker.

 

Rovers also opened the game in the same style as they had played at Yeovil, by keeping the ball on the ground as often as they could and trying to play football.  However, Cheltenham were organised and it was clear early on that they were set up to try to stop Rovers from playing football and to an extent they succeeded in the opening period of the game although Gareth Taylor had a decent shot blocked early on from a Paul McLaren cross.

 

With the just over half fit Ian Goodison looking troubled at the back, the Rovers defence was coming under more pressure than should have been expected and in the 18^th minute disaster struck when a JJ Melligan cross was headed in past a static Rovers backline by Keith Lowe to give the visitors a lead they probably deserved.

 

The goal prompted a return to some more regular high ball play from Rovers as they looked for an equaliser but after Shuker and Greenacre missed chances for the home side, things went from bad to worse when, not for the first time in the opening 25 minutes, Kayode Odejayi broke clear of the Rovers defence and scored with a superb chip over the stranded Gavin Ward.

 

By half-time, the visitors could have had three or four goals as Rovers defence struggled but there were chances for the home side with McAteer and Mullin both missing chances that ensured the visitors led 2-0 at the break.

 

Rovers switched to 4-4-2 at the start second half with Mullin and Shuker in the wide positions and Greenacre moving upfront alongside Taylor.  Within four minutes of the re-start the change had paid off as Rovers pulled a goal back.

 

Chris Shuker cut inside his man and fired a low shot past Higgs in the Cheltenham goal to make it 2-1 and it was very much game on again.

 

The goal inspired Rovers and the home crowd but in spite of the home side inflicting more pressure, Cheltenham with Odejayi and Melligan were always looking dangerous on the break and with Ian Goodison still struggling at the back, the danger of a third Town goal was always there.

 

Just after an hour had passed, Steve Davies replaced Jason McAteer despite Shane Sherriff thinking it was him who was coming off.

 

Cheltenham were denied by a save from Gavin Ward which the keeper tipped onto the crossbar although Ward’s failure to come for the cross in the first place was the reason for the chance occurring.

 

With ten minutes remaining, Rovers were hit by yet another defensive injury blow when Carl Tremarco limped off and was replaced by Calvin Zola who was to have a big say in the outcome of the game.

 

As the torrential rain poured onto the Prenton Park pitch, Zola chased a seemingly lost cause in the final minute and after winning the ball back he got to the by-line and crossed for Chris Greenacre who flicked his header in at the near post to the delight of the home fans.

 

Just as the goal went in, the board went up for four minutes of injury time and that gave Rovers the hope of a winner but in all fairness that would have been harsh on an excellent Cheltenham side who will surely avoid relegation if they can play anything like that every week until May.

 

Rovers next game is a trip to Leyton Orient on Saturday and with the gap between Rovers and seventh place in League One now standing at five points with Rovers having played a game more, a win is vital in London if Rovers are to maintain their play-off chances.

 

 

Man of the Match

 

 

Chris Greenacre – Playing a supporting role to loan striker Gareth Taylor, Chris Greenacre held the ball up well all night and capped off a good performance with a superb equalising header in injury time.

 

 

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Gaffers Comments….

(Ronnie Moore Speaks to the Official TRFC Website)

 

"We really want to forget about the first half. We went with the 4-3-3 and had a little look at it but they took us too literally on pass, pass, pass and played straight into their hands. But we had a chat at half time and spoke about it, and we came out blood and guts and gave everything. It wasn't easy to come back under those circumstances.”

 

"We had a bit of luck when they attacked us in the second half but I'm looking at the positive of how we played in the second half. We'll put the first half right, that's for sure. I don't think the lads were complacent, I just think they weren't at the races in the first half. The crowd gave them a rollicking at half time as did I. I thought they responded very well for us.”

 

"We put Shukes on the left hand side to see whether he could rock the centre half who was playing right back and he did that quite a few occasions. I was pleased that he got himself another goal. He thinks he'll get ten goals and we had a little bet on it. At the moment it looks as though he might win that.”

 

"The crowd got behind us when we got the ball. What they wanted to see was passion and desire. Tonight wasn't about pretty passing and we said that at half time. But we put it right in the second half.”

 

"Results haven't hurt us that much so it is really a point gained. We'd have taken a point at Yeovil and won tonight but we've done it the other way round.”

 

"We go to Orient now with one fit defender. Carl Tremarco thinks he has done a bit more damage than cramp so we'll have to have a look at that. God knows what we'll do. Maybe we'll go away and play 4-5-1, but who fills the gaps at the back isn't going to be easy."