
Tranmere 0 - 0 Hartlepool U
Attendance: 5,409
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Unlike last week where a 0-0 draw was welcomed, this week's result against Hartlepool is exactly what Rovers didn't need. In a game targeted to help us secure League One safety, the team didn't turn up and produced one of the worst displays of the season.
Hartlepool had lost their last nine on the road, and turned up at Prenton Park with little hope but they were the better side and could have nicked the points in the second half.
Les made two enforced changes to the side that drew at Bristol; Ian Thomas-Moore picked up a late injury and was replaced by Terry Gornell. Zoom Bakayogo's red card last week meant a start for Aaron Cresswell as left back in the following line-up......
Daniels
Logan Mccready Goodison Cresswell
McLaren Taylor Welsh
Curran Savage Gornell
The opening to the game was a low tempo affair with nobody taking the initiative and it took until the 20th minute for either side to threaten with McLaren missing the target from close range for Rovers when it seemed impossible to miss the target he put it wide.
A few minutes later John Welsh attempted a Clint Dempseyesque lob that almost snuck in the top corner from long range.
Goodison did well to block an Antony Sweeney effort before Terry Gornell headed well wide from a Cresswell cross.
Savage shot wide at the end of a dire first half where the second half could only get better surely?
Half Time: Tranmere Rovers 0 - 0 Hartlepool United
Hartlepool came out for the second half in the more determined mood and controlled the opening stages of the half in the pouring rain, with Brown heading wide for the visitors.
Curran then did well down the left and drilled a low effort just past the post from the edge of the box.
In an attempt to liven the game's tempo, Parry brought on Chris Shuker for the ineffective Terry Gornell.
On 67 minutes the visitors should have lead, Ian Goodison missed his kick and let Roy O’Donovon clean through, but he was foiled by Luke Daniels who did superbly to keep him out.
Taylor then volleyed horribly wide after good build up play down the right, before he headed wide from a McLaren delivery.
With the game over 80 minutes old the last throw of the Rovers dice was to bring on Gareth Edds and Marvin Sordell for John Welsh and Craig Curran, this left fans wondering why the disappointing Paul McLaren was still on the pitch and the busy John Welsh was replaced.
Sordell's weak left footed effort was fumbled by Scott Flinders in goal, but there was nobody close enough to capitalise for the hosts.
Hartlepool piled on the pressure late on but couldn’t force a winner, when the final whistle went a chorus of boo’s echoed around Prenton Park, with the fans clearly not appreciating the poor performance and apparent lack of desire and effort.
The players are going to need to pull their socks up to stay in the division, and they’re not making it easy for themselves.
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Luke Daniels
In such a poor performance, Daniels made one superb save when keeping out O’Donovans effort when he was clean through, earning Rovers a point which could be crucial.

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Quote:Ingleboro08
The reason we are struggling now and have dropped to the standard is not our managers or players fault. It is the total lack in investment in the club and the infrastructure!
We are slowly withering away!
If we are to ever get out of this mess, MONEY and Good Investment in the future is the only way forward!!
Unfortunately modern football is a business and like any business we need investment.
If we manage to stay up, Something has to happen at boardroom level, to finance our future. Otherwise, I can only see the Rovers getting relegated next season and then, further into obscurity.
I pray, that, somebody comes in and starts trying to build a future here, rather than letting it slide the way it has over the past ten or so years!