As Tranmere host Braintree Town in the National League on Saturday, keep up to date with the action and have your say on what’s unfolding with our Match Thread......
After an encouraging midweek win away at North Ferriby United, Rovers host Braintree Town this Saturday as Micky Mellon's side look to return to winning ways.
Whether you are at the game or are following from somewhere else, why not discuss what you are seeing or hearing from the match as it progresses, using our Message Forum facility at the base of this story? Fans of both Tranmere and Braintree Town are welcome to join in the discussion before, during and after the game.
Also for anyone who is part of our Total Tranmere Prediction League, don't forget to make your prediction for this game by clicking on the 'Prediction League' option at the top of our left page menu and then clicking on 'My Predictions'. Any predictions made can be changed any time up until kick-off.
A big weekend for us, either Forest Green or Lincoln will drop points, and below us the same goes for Macclesfield and aldershot who have both hit form.
For once we must turn up from the start,be alert go for goals hopefully 3-0+ and once in front no sitting back trying to hold on.
Let's hope we can destroy Braintree and show them we are Tranmere Rovers and this result is too show the rest of the league we mean business let the battle cry ring out for England and St George (in this case St King.Ah well that's my rant of the day
We are at home and playing a side with a porous defence,so I expect we will do our usual struggle to win by a single goal.And that will do for me.At this stage entertainment is not a priority
Been looking around the other forums and neither Lincoln nor FGRs fans see us as challengers, couple mentioning our home form/fans being against us, on the Lincoln forum one even used us as an example not to follow after their defeat Tuesday. I think we'll secure a big win today and I'm hoping for a Forrest Green win over at Lincoln too. I think 93 points will be enough.
I've learnt to ignore much of what is said on other forums as this forum and our fans (in general!) appear to have sanity on their side. As has been quoted on here recently, they're talking bollocks (how that slipped through the net bemuses and amuses me as I thought I was on Deva Chat for a minute reading that!). To be fair, one or two remind others that we are certainly a threat; if they're lulled in to a false sense of security that's fine with me! I'm confident that we will win today and hopefully a draw or win for Forest Green today throws it wide open again. The table will make healthier reading tonight! Come on you whites!!
I thought we showed passion on tuesday night allied with great support it must be said, I see us getting a healthy win today.
As for other forum posters not seeing us as challengers (lol), the deadly submarine might just sink them all.
we need a penalty taker in the mould of the old west ham right back, ray stewart. he very rarely missed and he always blasted n hammered them home with no messing about whatsoever.
Couldn't go today so had to radio it. Sounded like we went a goal up then stuck it in reverse, every week at home. Must be frustrating for the Mellon, 2 points off top!
I've just heard the news that a man has been released from a toilet at Prenton Park after being found bound, gagged and naked following today's game. The man informed those that discovered him that he had been taken hostage at approximately 2 p.m. and the hostage taker had beaten him with a white stick and then proceeded to steal his black outfit. The hostage taker was described as bald and short-sighted. A man fitting this description was seen hurriedly leaving the ground at 4.55 p.m. accompanied by a dog, which witnesses described as having the appearance of a Labrador. The man had also been spotted by a number of other witnesses during the course of the game.
Ghandey's circus, who were recently based outside the Prenton Park stadium, have also reported that one of their clowns is on the loose; they have warned the public not to approach him as he is described as being deranged and armed with a small device that makes a piercing noise which some have described as sounding very much like a whistle. If anyone has any further information they are urged to contact Merseyside Police who believe he is part of a ruthless gang who have recently been frequenting Prenton Park. Tranmere Rovers are also offering a reward and would like to speak to the suspect to gain an insight into his subterfuge and escape methods to assist them in their current plight.
As I have said a few times our home performances scare me .i don't go with the comments that the poor little dears don't like playing at home because the supporters have a go at them .the support has has been good so far .when they do get some stick it is because this habit of dropping off the pace and letting the other team back into the game ,it happens a lot .was it the FGR or Dagenham boss who said you have always got a chance of points at Tranmere .nearly every home game is hard work .why it is I don't know .the last 10 minutes is a nightmare hoping they don't throw it away .can anyone explain why this is so ..but a win is a win .got to find a penalty taker or maybe 5 .
steve mungalls Highlights Would really like love to see a performance after last week, but would take an ugly win.
Was that ugly enough for you? Once, just once I'd love to see cool, calm relaxed win when we dominate from start to finish. Am I really in cloud cuckoo land??
How did we manage to get 4 players booked and yet Braintree only had 2! The referee today was very poor again today! I wonder whether the powers that be want to send us all the bad refs. We are clearly the biggest draw in this league and perhaps they want to ensure we are still in this league next season!!
Phil65 I've just heard the news that a man has been released from a toilet at Prenton Park after being found bound, gagged and naked following today's game. The man informed those that discovered him that he had been taken hostage at approximately 2 p.m. and the hostage taker had beaten him with a white stick and then proceeded to steal his black outfit. The hostage taker was described as bald and short-sighted. A man fitting this description was seen hurriedly leaving the ground at 4.55 p.m. accompanied by a dog, which witnesses described as having the appearance of a Labrador. The man had also been spotted by a number of other witnesses during the course of the game.
Ghandey's circus, who were recently based outside the Prenton Park stadium, have also reported that one of their clowns is on the loose; they have warned the public not to approach him as he is described as being deranged and armed with a small device that makes a piercing noise which some have described as sounding very much like a whistle. If anyone has any further information they are urged to contact Merseyside Police who believe he is part of a ruthless gang who have recently been frequenting Prenton Park. Tranmere Rovers are also offering a reward and would like to speak to the suspect to gain an insight into his subterfuge and escape methods to assist them in their current plight.
One things sure,Uriah Rennie's got no need to worry about being upstaged. This gent didn't seem to know that a push in the back is a foul.
Where do we start : probably the first minute when Norwood again blew a 1 on 1 and nobody was surprised, he was actually offside but the beaut of the line on the JK side got his first decision wrong, he went on to show that every other decision he made was wrong, please learn what handball is because it was embarrassing, shame the ref was just as bad. Good job we had Cook & Davies to save us today as the rest of our lads couldn't score in a you know where. Then when we finally get the goal we revert to a 7 man defence - what a joke, we should have been out of sight by then and finally the sponsors must have been watching the game through beer goggles to give McNulty MOM. We've got a chance to make amends on Tuesday so let's take the pressure off Cook, come on lads we want automatic promotion as I can't take too much more of this.
martyd12 How did we manage to get 4 players booked and yet Braintree only had 2! The referee today was very poor again today! I wonder whether the powers that be want to send us all the bad refs. We are clearly the biggest draw in this league and perhaps they want to ensure we are still in this league next season!!
He wasn't quite as bad in the second half as he was in the first.Having said that,it would have been virtually impossible.
Fiftyyearsarover As I have said a few times our home performances scare me .i don't go with the comments that the poor little dears don't like playing at home because the supporters have a go at them .the support has has been good so far .when they do get some stick it is because this habit of dropping off the pace and letting the other team back into the game ,it happens a lot .was it the FGR or Dagenham boss who said you have always got a chance of points at Tranmere .nearly every home game is hard work .why it is I don't know .the last 10 minutes is a nightmare hoping they don't throw it away .can anyone explain why this is so ..but a win is a win .got to find a penalty taker or maybe 5 .
Braintree only seemed to try to attack once they'd gone behind.They would have equalised too,but for Ihiekwe's great header off the line[not sure if he knew much about it] and also one glaring double miss. But how it was 0-0 at half time is one of life's mysteries.
Doogie'sGhost Nothing matters but the result. A win, whether by 1, 2 or 10 is just window dressing. 3 points is all important.
They will defend in numbers and try to hit us on the break and with set pieces. We've got to be ready for this and not get bogged down.
SmartRover Where do we start : probably the first minute when Norwood again blew a 1 on 1 and nobody was surprised, he was actually offside but the beaut of the line on the JK side got his first decision wrong, he went on to show that every other decision he made was wrong, please learn what handball is because it was embarrassing, shame the ref was just as bad. Good job we had Cook & Davies to save us today as the rest of our lads couldn't score in a you know where. Then when we finally get the goal we revert to a 7 man defence - what a joke, we should have been out of sight by then and finally the sponsors must have been watching the game through beer goggles to give McNulty MOM. We've got a chance to make amends on Tuesday so let's take the pressure off Cook, come on lads we want automatic promotion as I can't take too much more of this.
There's nothing to make amends for-we won didn't we? If we win 1-0 on Tuesday,I will be just as happy.Three points are all that matters.
There where 2 sponsors today one gave mcnulty and 1 Harris .my heart tranmere my heart !no finger nails left .and good post Phil hope the assessor scored the ref0
Earlier in the season you can raise questions about performances, at this stage it matters not one bit. Win at all costs, that's got to be the ethos going into every game. We haven't quite clicked like we were all hoping for and we can't blow teams away but unlike last season we have a cutting edge, that cutting edge is Andy Cook, he will convert chances. We have two very difficult games coming up and just hope the team are right up for both of them.
Don't know where to start with the referee, describing his performance as poor just doesn't do It justice. If I could ask him one question it would be how can you give Braintree players multiple warning before being carded and not do likewise for our players.
Phil65 I've just heard the news that a man has been released from a toilet at Prenton Park after being found bound, gagged and naked following today's game. The man informed those that discovered him that he had been taken hostage at approximately 2 p.m. and the hostage taker had beaten him with a white stick and then proceeded to steal his black outfit. The hostage taker was described as bald and short-sighted. A man fitting this description was seen hurriedly leaving the ground at 4.55 p.m. accompanied by a dog, which witnesses described as having the appearance of a Labrador. The man had also been spotted by a number of other witnesses during the course of the game.
Ghandey's circus, who were recently based outside the Prenton Park stadium, have also reported that one of their clowns is on the loose; they have warned the public not to approach him as he is described as being deranged and armed with a small device that makes a piercing noise which some have described as sounding very much like a whistle. If anyone has any further information they are urged to contact Merseyside Police who believe he is part of a ruthless gang who have recently been frequenting Prenton Park. Tranmere Rovers are also offering a reward and would like to speak to the suspect to gain an insight into his subterfuge and escape methods to assist them in their current plight.
Love it. Spot on
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:03:25:21:49:16 by Tranmere69.
Could have sworn I saw the ref pull up in the car park 2 hours before the game wearing an orange top , Orange scarf , Orange scarf with a back window sticker saying ` Come on the Iron ` ! Could be wrong though !
Fiftyyearsarover As I have said a few times our home performances scare me .i don't go with the comments that the poor little dears don't like playing at home because the supporters have a go at them .the support has has been good so far .when they do get some stick it is because this habit of dropping off the pace and letting the other team back into the game ,it happens a lot .was it the FGR or Dagenham boss who said you have always got a chance of points at Tranmere .nearly every home game is hard work .why it is I don't know .the last 10 minutes is a nightmare hoping they don't throw it away .can anyone explain why this is so ..but a win is a win .got to find a penalty taker or maybe 5 .
Why do you bother going? Tranmere, as I have already posted, have one of the best records at home in this division.
Not being perfect doesn't necessarily mean failure.
Wozza 3 points won is that matters now but going forward the crowds are going down ever so slowly which is sad we've got a real good chance of going up rrr
In relation to this and the previous post from 8530kg, for the "faithful" it is relatively easy to rationalise and accept dour victories and take on board the concept that it's a results game; the "3 points is 3 points" argument. The only issue with this is that the disaffected and those that have gradually disappeared also want/expect a degree of quality to back up the results; we can't "walk a mile" in each other's shoes but empathy can be enlightening. Do we believe that first time visitors or potential new customers will be bitten by the TRFC bug with the current "entertainment" level? (I have my doubts). As an example I'll use my son, who is not just a Tranmere Rovers fan but loves football generally, who has struggled several times this season to maintain his enthusiasm at games. I have used the results argument but, bless him, he craves a little more; is he so wrong? For the last ten minutes of yesterday's game he got his mobile phone out and played a game on it. This is worrying for me as, of course, I want him to keep the faith. We must try to empathise and understand that for the younger generation, potential new supporters and the disaffected that entertainment/quality is important. Many of us will have brought guests along in the past and will have prayed for an entertaining game; have our prayers always come true? Certainly not in my case!
Wozza 3 points won is that matters now but going forward the crowds are going down ever so slowly which is sad we've got a real good chance of going up rrr
In relation to this and the previous post from 8530kg, for the "faithful" it is relatively easy to rationalise and accept dour victories and take on board the concept that it's a results game; the "3 points is 3 points" argument. The only issue with this is that the disaffected and those that have gradually disappeared also want/expect a degree of qualit
y to back up the results; we can't "walk a mile" in each other's shoes but empathy can be enlightening. Do we believe that first time visitors or potential new customers will be bitten by the TRFC bug with the current "entertainment" level? (I have my doubts). As an example I'll use my son, who is not just a Tranmere Rovers fan but loves football generally, who has struggled several times this season to maintain his enthusiasm at games. I have used the results argument but, bless him, he craves a little more; is he so wrong? For the last ten minutes of yesterday's game he got his mobile phone out and played a game on it. This is worrying for me as, of course, I want him to keep the faith. We must try to empathise and understand that for the younger generation, potential new supporters and the disaffected that entertainment/quality is important. Many of us will have brought guests along in the past and will have prayed for an entertaining game; have our prayers always come true? Certainly not in my case!
A great win for Rovers at the right time o.k it was only 1-0 but we were creating chances that will be converted into goals in future games, the time to worry is if chances are not created, I think give the pen taking back to Nors as he had a decent pen record previously and tends to put his foot through the ball, lets keep the run going, could we have brought on one of our pacey loanees to cause mayhem in the last 10 mins?
The entertainment argument is valid in the long term but for the next few weeks winning ugly will do. I wonder if the gate drop off has less to do with entertainment and more to do with the fact that until a game ago it looked as if automatic was out and a play off certain.The other factor is the frequency of games
Can't agree with crisp rover that we will start converting our chances in future since day 1in this League we have bemoaned the lack of goals .the first words on Tranmere official website match report .Tranmere should have been 1nil up in the first minute .Norwood missed again .should have been 5-0 at half time .score a goal then sit back and invite trouble same every home game .l have said all season lack of goals will cost us .not so much on GD because that aspect has long gone .if we don't win the League we won't go up we will lose the playoffs because the teams that will be involved can score goals and we don't have a manager that is tactily savvy enough to survive a 2game playoff .after all the effort to get two new players in why did they not play some part in the game .thank god for Cook .i expect a mauling for this one but I am sure I will be proved right .dont buy your early bird tickets yet,
Old Rover A good win but we wont get away with sitting back all the time. Better teams will punish us
There aren't many better teams thats'why we're where we are in the league
I meant better teams than Braintree. We still have to play some good teams at home. When we had the free kick outside their box ( the one that Hughes passed back to their keeper ) we only had Cook and Mekki in the area. It was like they had settled for a 1 nil win.
Wozza 3 points won is that matters now but going forward the crowds are going down ever so slowly which is sad we've got a real good chance of going up rrr
In relation to this and the previous post from 8530kg, for the "faithful" it is relatively easy to rationalise and accept dour victories and take on board the concept that it's a results game; the "3 points is 3 points" argument. The only issue with this is that the disaffected and those that have gradually disappeared also want/expect a degree of qualit
y to back up the results; we can't "walk a mile" in each other's shoes but empathy can be enlightening. Do we believe that first time visitors or potential new customers will be bitten by the TRFC bug with the current "entertainment" level? (I have my doubts). As an example I'll use my son, who is not just a Tranmere Rovers fan but loves football generally, who has struggled several times this season to maintain his enthusiasm at games. I have used the results argument but, bless him, he craves a little more; is he so wrong? For the last ten minutes of yesterday's game he got his mobile phone out and played a game on it. This is worrying for me as, of course, I want him to keep the faith. We must try to empathise and understand that for the younger generation, potential new supporters and the disaffected that entertainment/quality is important. Many of us will have brought guests along in the past and will have prayed for an entertaining game; have our prayers always come true? Certainly not in my case!
Well ban his mobile at the match then ! 😅🤣😅
Might be a few games where I will need to leave early then! Alternatively, I could strap him to his seat and gag him (no it wasn't me who took the genuine ref hostage yesterday!)
Fiftyyearsarover Can't agree with crisp rover that we will start converting our chances in future since day 1in this League we haveh bemoaned the lack of goals .the first words on Tranmere official website match report .Tranmere should have been 1nil up in the first minute .Norwood missed again .should have been 5-0 at half time .score a goal then sit back and invite trouble same every home game .l have said all season lack of goals will cost us .not so much on GD because that aspect has long gone .if we don't win the League we won't go up we will lose the playoffs because the teams that will be involved can score goals and we don't have a manager that is tactily savvy enough to survive a 2game playoff .after all the effort to get two new players in why did they not play some part in the game .thank god for Cook .i expect a mauling for this one but I am sure I will be proved right .dont buy your early bird tickets yet,
Yes there will for sure be a mauling for you! I hope so much you are wrong but sadly I fear you may not be. Our goals/ chances ratio has been truly appalling all season. As so many posters formonths have been saying even when winning we are giving teams too many opportunities to come back at us by failing to be clinical in front of goal and then defending too deep. Heaven help us if Cook picks up an injury in the run in....
Time for some statistics I think. We may not be converting the chances we create as much as we would like but, there are only 3 teams with a better goal difference than ourselves.
We have a GD of +24 (37 Games)with D&R +18 (39 Games),we stand up to comparison with the best, as it isn't based just on goals scored but goals conceded also count which, is currently a strength . Whilst I accept that ultimately GD could be decisive, we are not drastically behind and winning our games in hand may cancel out FGR current advantage.
We also have the best home record (equal to Lincolns) and 6 home games left. I get as nervous as the next man but, see no grounds for all the despondence being posted.
Fiftyyearsarover Can't agree with crisp rover that we will start converting our chances in future since day 1in this League we have bemoaned the lack of goals .the first words on Tranmere official website match report .Tranmere should have been 1nil up in the first minute .Norwood missed again .should have been 5-0 at half time .score a goal then sit back and invite trouble same every home game .l have said all season lack of goals will cost us .not so much on GD because that aspect has long gone .if we don't win the League we won't go up we will lose the playoffs because the teams that will be involved can score goals and we don't have a manager that is tactily savvy enough to survive a 2game playoff .after all the effort to get two new players in why did they not play some part in the game .thank god for Cook .i expect a mauling for this one but I am sure I will be proved right .dont buy your early bird tickets yet,
Micky M is one of the most astute mangers around, what E aptly brings you to the conclusion he isn't. Bearing in mind the success he has had around the Llowes ends of the footballing pyramid. I appreciate everyone has their opinion but you seem particularly down on Rovers, cheer up we are two points off top with 10 games to go, enjoy the run in at the correct end of the table worst case scenario we have another exciting season at the top end next year.
I've said it before but the surest formula for a top 2 finish is to score on average around 2 goals a game and concede just less than 1. It's not the only way, but you will win a lot and not lose many games that way. Lincoln are doing exactly that this season. FGR score that many, but concede quite a few more. We don't score enough but concede an ideal amount. It's tight but Lincoln are top because they have got results more consistently than us or FGR. Our tendency to score just 1 goal and their tendency to concede more than 1 has cost us both the extra few points that could well be the difference at the end of the season. Let's hope we come good for the run in and find a way of getting those 2 goals per game.
I really don't have a down on rovers not after going since 1950 it's just the way I see it .we are an average side doing ok because of the standard of opposition MM is an ok manager but has been out thought by Lincoln (2) Dagenham and Macc (2) we know teams come to smother us at PP but we struggle to break them down and if we do we can't score .i will amend my thoughts slightly and say we might win the playoffs if we win 3-0 at home and then I would back us to go through away .its the home legs that scare me to death ..Macc beat us in the trophy just by being well organised and on the day wanted it more .thats all it would take to beat us over 2legs .but before that there is 3 potential banana skins coming up at home in Dover FGR Aldershot .but as much as it pains me to say and I have respect for your views .i still think we are going to be here next season .just not got that extra something to escape
A good result, but some games this season could have been more comfortable with a better goal conversion rate and right now there does seem to be a lot of pressure on Cook to score, because goals aren't always coming freely from all areas.
I was glad Harris bagged three in the previous game would have been more reassured by three different scorers.
Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.
Fiftyyearsarover I really don't have a down on rovers not after going since 1950 it's just the way I see it .we are an average side doing ok because of the standard of opposition MM is an ok manager but has been out thought by Lincoln (2) Dagenham and Macc (2) we know teams come to smother us at PP but we struggle to break them down and if we do we can't score .i will amend my thoughts slightly and say we might win the playoffs if we win 3-0 at home and then I would back us to go through away .its the home legs that scare me to death ..Macc beat us in the trophy just by being well organised and on the day wanted it more .thats all it would take to beat us over 2legs .but before that there is 3 potential banana skins coming up at home in Dover FGR Aldershot .but as much as it pains me to say and I have respect for your views .i still think we are going to be here next season .just not got that extra something to escape
Just because we lose a match,it doesn't mean that the opposing manager has out thought MM.That is definitely the case with the away game at Lincoln,when we were desperately unlucky to lose to a breakaway goal near the end.
By the way,MM wasn't even here when we lost at home to Lincoln-a certain GB was!!! Sept 10th-my wedding anniversary.
Every game is a potential banana skin at this time of the season..But that is the same for all the other teams too.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:03:26:23:21:49 by Hoots Mon.
I've said before that the Macc manager know's how to play us.Our record against them this season is'nt that good. Don't know if that means he out thinks MM or not.
With the exception of Lincoln (away) the comments about D&R and Macc to me appear a bit of "nit picking"
The facts of the matter are Macc are 9th 16 pts behind us with a game in hand. D&R are 4th 3 points behind having played 2 games more and with an inferior goal difference.
I for one would not swop our position.
Yes we have tough games ahead, as do all the top teams. Whilst we need to convert more of the numerous chances I for one am confident of winning these games even if its by the odd goal.
We have the best home record (with Lincoln) in this league.
Heard a few quotes about us having the best home record and also recent quotes alluding to negativity and our fans getting on the teams back at home and affecting their performances. We can't have it both ways so let's have consistent arguments; unless of course the players have suddenly developed broad shoulders and a pair of gonads.
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