Tranmere R 2 - 2 Southend U

  Ian Moore 8                                   Alex Revell 9

  Bas Savage 14                                Kevin Betsy 34

Attendance - 5,019

Rovers and Southend played out a great game of football that ended in both teams taking a point.  Ian Moore and Bas Savage netted for Rovers who dominated for long periods and both teams were reduced to ten men during a fiery encounter.

There were a few changes to the team that drew with Accrington Stanley less than 48 hours before.  Chris Greenacre started up front as Barnett was sacrificed and the formation changed to 4-4-2. 

Gareth Edds also moved down to the bench as Ian Goodison returned and as a result Antony Kay moved into midfield.  Andy Taylor fell ill before the game so young Aaron Cresswell made his Prenton Park debut meaning the team looked like this....

Coyne

Shotton, Chorley, Goodison, Cresswell

Moore, Kay, Jennings, Shuker

Savage, Greenacre

The first shot on goal came from Cresswell as his power driver from a free kick was superbly tipped over by Federici on five minutes.

A passionate game already looked on the cards when Kay flew in with a high tackle near the corner flag, resulting in a yellow card for him and some lengthy treatment for the Southend man who possibly over cooked the time on the floor despite clearly having a blood stain on his sock.

Rovers deservedly took the lead on eight minutes when Chris Shuker's superb cross was expertly volleyed in from the edge of the box by Ian Moore.

Southend then equalised a minute later with their first attack and with an element of fortune as Kevin Betsy's cross hit Alex Revell and kindly floated over Coyne and into the net for Southend. It was only the second game in which Coyne had conceded in nine games.

Moore's Superb Volley Opened the Scoring

The scores remained level for less than five minutes though as Rovers again took the lead through Bas Savage.  He was found by Moore and then composed himself and found the bottom corner from outside the area.  The fans were yet again treated to the moonwalk celebration.

Shuker and Jennings then combined to find Savage who crossed to Moore and despite connecting well with the ball, his volley went just wide.

It should have been 3-1 when Savage volleyed over from six yards from a Shuker corner before Jennings then tested Federici and Moore fired wide.

Antony Kay then connected with a Moore cross well and as he headed across goal, the ball well kept out well by Federici, the on loan Reading keeper.

Southend somehow equalised again on 34 minutes with their second shot of the game as Hal Robson-Kanu forced Coyne to tip onto the post, but Goodison's hesitant clearance then hit Kevin Betsy and it went in, another fluke for Southend.  Kay then side-footed wide from a Cresswell cross.

Savage appeared to have been brought down in the area shortly after and Greenacre headed wide as the chances kept coming but the sides somehow went in level at half-time.

Half Time: Tranmere 2-2 Southend

The first chance of the second half fell to Greenacre who failed to score after good work from Shuker and then Greenacre did well to get a shot away on 53 minutes but unfortunately he could only find the side netting.

Another Cresswell free kick caused problems as his thunderbolt from almost the half way line was caught near the top corner from Federici.

Coyne then saved from Robson-Kanu and on the hour mark Goodison and Shotton did well to stop the ball being bundled in from a corner.

Jennings Saw Red in the Second Half for a Second Yellow Card

Savage found Shuker who put a great ball into the box low but Greenacre failed to connect and then Kay put the ball wide at the back post - another major let off for Southend.

Tempers reached boiling point with twenty minutes left as a scuffle ended with Laurent head butting Ryan Shotton and being shown a straight red card.

Another good save from Federici kept the scores level as Ian Goodison met Shuker's cross with a powerful header goalwards.  Greenacre got a flick on it and the keeper showed good reactions to keep it out at the second attempt.

Rovers pressure pumped up the atmosphere before another controversial refereeing decision cost Jennings his place on the pitch.  Kay had clearly been fouled by Grant in the build up but the ref played on and a frustrated Jennings lunged in and received his second yellow.  He was clapped off by the Rovers faithful who appreciated his efforts and passion.

There was more time wasting tactics from the Southend players as they hung on and the bad-tempered theme of the match continued as Ryan Shotton was also booked meaning that both he and Antony Kay, as well as Ian Goodison and Steve Jennings, are all out for the away game at Yeovil next week.

With Jennings not only being sent off but receiving his fifth yellow of the season he will miss Scunthorpe in two weeks time as well as Yeovil next week.

Full Time: Tranmere 2-2 Southend

Aaron Cresswell

For me Cresswell played superbly and better then Taylor has been playing recently.  It would be harsh to drop him for the next game and he could have easily got a goal as well.

Moore, Jennings and Savage were also immense.  Shotton put in an improved performance and despite his mistake Goodison was solid.

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