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Hume
73 Kay 90
Attendance:
11,519
An
impressive crowd at Prenton Park on Boxing Day saw Rovers lose maximum
points in the dying seconds as they were held to a draw by in form
Barnsley. A crowd of over 11,500 saw Rovers take the lead with almost
a quarter of an hour still to go through Iain Hume’s nineth
goal
of the season but in the final moments of injury time Tranmere failed
to clear the danger and substitute Anthony Kay scored the vital
equaliser.
Rovers
Boss Brian Little made four changes to the side beaten 6-1 at Hull
last week, two of them due to injuries. Russell Howarth recovered
from concussion in time to replace the injured John Achterberg,
with youngster Phil Palethorpe taking Howarths place on the bench.
The returning Chris Dagnall replaced the injured Gary Jones up front
whilst Ryan Taylor returned from suspension at the expense of David
Beresford who dropped to the bench. The final change was the replacement
in Midfield of Danny Harrison with captain Jason McAteer back from
injury. This change was to ultimately have an impact on the game’s
outcome.
There
was one other unusual change just before the game with Rovers forced
to change ends and shoot towards the Kop in the first half. Within
five minutes of the start, Hume fired a good chance over the bar
after beating the offside trap and 10 minutes later beat keeper
Ross Turnbull but the ball flashed across goal and wide.
In
between those Hume chances, Barnsley had a couple of chances in
front of their own supporters that were thwarted by good blocks
first from Goodison and then Ryan Taylor the second of which appeared
to stop a certain goal.
On
the half hour, a Ryan Taylor corner was met by Iain Hume who could
only head badly into the ground and over the bar from half a dozen
yards. More half chances for both sides saw the game through to
half time at stalemate.
At
half time Little made two changes, replacing Dagnall with Dadi and
Beresford replacing Goodison and Roberts moving to left back. It’s
fair to say that both substitutes made a decent impact in the second
half with Dadi often combining well with Hume and Beresford involved
in a number attacks down the left hand side. It would also be fair
to say that Tranmere were probably slightly the better side in the
second half with Beresford having a good chance after a Taylor free-kick
was half cleared and Dadi having at least three good chances before
Tranmere took the lead with quarter of an hour to go.
Hall
did well down the right hand side and ran into the area. Dadi knocked
down Hall’s cross for Hume who finished well from a dozen yards
and sent the majority of the huge crowd into celebration.
However
in typical Tranmere style they left their fans anxious to the very
end as the one goal cushion began to look like it was not enough.
The fans fears came true in injury time when captain McAteer picked
up the ball just outside his own area but instead of hitting it
clear he decided to dribble the ball out, lost it to a Barnsley
player and substitute Anthony Kay was able to finish past a helpless
Howarth from just inside the area and was subsequently booked for
taking his shirt off.
Tranmere
remain in third and still four points ahead of fourth but Hull and
Luton both won to open an even bigger gap from Rovers at the top.
Next up is Walsall on Tuesday for Tranmere and they will really
need to get out of this dip as soon as they can.
My
Tranmere Man of the Match:
Iain
Hume – for his well finished goal and general threat during
the game on a day when the defence once again looked shaky and the
midfield below standard at times.
The
Teams:
Tranmere:
Howarth, Taylor, Sharps, Jackson, Goodison (Beresford 46), Hall,
McAteer, Rankine, Roberts, Dagnall (Dadi 46), Hume.
Substitutes
not used: Palethorpe, Whitmore, Harrison.
Bookings:
Rankine, Hume
Barnsley:
Turnbull, Hassell, Williams, Reid, Vaughan, Burns, Chopra, McPhail
(Nardiello 81), Boulding (Conlon 76), Kay, Shuker (Carbon 76).
Substitutes
not used: Colgan, Austin.
Bookings:
Kay
Referee:
Mr J Ross
Match Report: www.totaltranmere.tk
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