Going into the game there was some great news for Tranmere even before kick off, with the fit again Steve Davies starting on the bench.  After a seven month layoff since late September against Northampton with a cruciate ligament injury, it was nice for the fans to welcome back the tricky left sided winger. 

Ronnie Moore had to make two changes to the team that lost last weekend. Inevitably Antony Kay replaced the suspended Ben Chorley at the heart of the defence, partnering Captain Ian Goodison. 

The second change to the starting XI was made out on the wings were absentee Jennison Myrie - Williams was replaced by the improving Chris Shuker.   Calvin Zola was not included on the bench because of injury.

Starting XI - Usual home 4-4-2 formation

-----------------------------------------------Danny Coyne----------------------------------------------

--Robbie Stockdale--------Antony Kay---------Ian Goodison-----------Andy Taylor---

--Chris Shuker-------Steven Jennings---------Paul McLaren----------Shane Sherriff--

--------------------------Ian Moore-------------------Chris Greenacre------------------------------

I arrived with the stadium packed, the ground pumped to the tune of "When Two Tribes go to War" and all to be settled in a precious 90 minutes of football.  The result of this game would be here or there, the game would be defined by a one piece of magic, an error or mistake, or just sheer will to win.

As the teams entered the battlefield the Kop roared into action and clapped onto the pitch.  A lot of nerves were now going around, vibes passing through each proud fan and am sure even of Manager Ronnie Moore.

The early minutes of the game were all Rovers as they set about scoring an early goal which would rock the Forest back four and settle any tense feelings.  The first ball that was pumped into the box was from a move between Chris Shuker and Robbie Stockdale in the third minute, the latter whipping in a dangerous ball only for defender Ian Breckin to clear away for a corner.  This was met with a huge boom of "c'mon" near enough blowing the ball into the back of the net.

Chances were few and far between for both sides, Tranmere creating and raking the ball around the park with some crisp passing from especially Paul McLaren who was settling into his role with the dynamic and eager Steve Jennings.  Without any clear openings, the game went into a fencing match, busting a gut, probing but no answer to each other's defensive tactics which were cancelling both teams out.

Nottingham Forest had chances on ten minutes when the much travelled striker Brett Ormerod shot wide of the near post and just before a dangerously positioned free kick was curled towards Danny Coyne from Sammy Clingan.

Tranmere were not to be denied some chances of their own, as on 13 minutes McLaren fed Ian Moore down the channel who instinctively turned the right back to smash there defence wide apart, his shot was saved from the Forest keeper Paul Smith though as the angle was very tight to create anything serious enough to test the keeper.

Rovers home support kept with them, singing and chanting there team to race into a lead and all the signs pointed that sooner or later the deadlock would be broken.  Again with McLaren the provider, this time slipped Shane Sherriff in for him to cut inside onto his weaker right foot and rasp an effort off target.

On 20 minutes possibly came a pivotal part in the outcome of the game. Tranmere thought they had taken the lead when Chris Shuker had broken down the right and weaved his way past two players. He then slid a well weighted ball into the path of striker Chris Greenacre who had the simple task of tapping it in.  Prenton Park went up in raptures, even myself, only to find the linesman had ruled it out for offside.  How that decision would hinder Rovers and spur Forest on.

Though Tranmere had missed that chance, they drove on in numbers, creating overlaps and finding feet with ease.  This was a spell in the match in which they simply had to take advantage because at some stage Forest would get a decent chance or two.  With the sun beating down on what is turning out to be a weird month for weather, the fans sensed another chance would come along.

On 22 minutes Paul McLaren, seen as one of the best passers in the league, latched on to another Chris Shuker ball after good work from new Kop idol Andy Taylor. McLaren shot just wide of Smith's right hand post from 20 yards out and again the side from Trent blew a side of relief they were still in with a shout.

Paul McLaren was instrumental in many of the Rovers attacks and he found himself controlling the midfield. He and Chris Shuker were linking up really well and on the 25 minute mark when they created a chance for the work ethic Ian Moore who got in front of his marker and pulled out a header which Smith did well to catch.  We then came into a period of ten minutes were tackles were flying in and the craft and grinding had to put in.

After many of the Forest fans appealed against Ian Goodison's excellent interception which got the entire ball, a minute later Steve Jennings bettered that with an astonishing tackle when it looked like a promising break for Forest.  He had the energy to track his man back and come in with a hard, fair, crunching tackle which was met with applaud from three quarters of the ground meaning regaining possession.  The Steve Jennings these days is such an influential figure in the middle of midfield and look like we have a gem in the making.

After a sumptuous period of play from Tranmere, they were hit with the fatal sucker punch when going behind against the run of play.  Forest beforehand had been content on keeping things tight and keep hold of possession in the opponents half, but this was very fortunate on their part.

On 34 minutes Shane Sherriff lost the ball on the wing in his own half and the Tranmere defence were taken back when a first time ball over the top caught Antony Kay off guard and now had a foot race on his hands with the advancing Nathan Tyson.  He managed to beat Kay for pace and then touch it around Danny Coyne, who had come screaming out of his goal to clear it into row Z.

Instead Coyne found egg on his face rather than pleasure as Tyson had the simple task of tapping the ball into an empty net. Cue a massacre of red barmy army fans raise the roof.  Even they were taken by surprise at how they were in front.  Tyson went off to celebrate right by the Kop supporters only to trip and fall over.  The Rovers fans laughed with glee only to retaliate with fists and fingers when the striker seemed to intimidate the fans with a gesture of some sort.

Nathan Tyson Opened the Scoring

That was that 1-0 to Forest, the result that we couldn't afford, not after Leeds had come behind earlier in the day to beat Carlisle 3-2 at Elland Road, and the other playoff contenders were all winning.

Tranmere had to get that bit of their system and went about restoring the lead on 38 minutes when Andy Taylor stood up a cross at the back post only for the on rushing Ian Goodison to header into the side netting.  This was to be the last chance of the first half and this was met with a lot of mystery and shock.

HALF TIME: TRANMERE ROVERS 0 - 1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST

CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO - CLICK HERE