Tranmere Rovers 3 - 1 Norwich City Match Snippets
By Deadly Submarine
April 3 2010
Following Friday night's 3-1 home win over League leaders Norwich highs and lows (but mostly highs) of the game as our Match Snippets feature returns for this superb win in front of the nation thanks to Sky TV............
Tranmere 3 - 1 Norwich C
Attendance: 6,263
Weather Report
Although the pitch looked to have suffered during the course of the past week, it was a dry and not too cold evening after downpours during the afternoon before the game.
Crowd
6,263 fans were at the game although with Norwich's decently numbered travelling contingent (well done to them on a Friday night with the game on Sky), it did seem like more were in the ground than the figure given.
Referee Watch
Eddie Ilderton (Tyne and Wear) - Has had a reputation for being bad for Rovers in the past but in this game it was quite the opposite. Correct decision for both penalties although the first was given by his assistant and also correct with the sending off of both goalkeeper and later Paul Lambert.
May have missed a handball by Curran for the third goal but after Norwich's penalty that never was at Carrow Road earlier in the season, justice was done here!
Best Moment
For once it's hard to pick one but I'd say the second penalty and sending off were the moment that we thought tonight might be our night for once and so it proved in the end.
Worst Moment
Norwich scored around the hour mark and a two goal lead against the team who are top of the League may not ever be too comfortable, especially against a team struggling as we are - we needn't have worried though.
Funniest Moment
The sending off of Paul Lambert after what can only be described as rush of blood that saw him run onto the playing area to retrieve the ball and then refuse to leave for the stands when asked by the referee until the police escorted him away.
Tranmere Man of the Match
Ian Thomas-Moore - Like the best moment above, it really is hard to pick a Man of the Match. Curran was superb, Welsh, Taylor and McLaren in the centre were excellent and the defence as well were brilliant, particularly Broomes in the second half. For his two vital penalties though and what would have arguably been goal of the season for his hat-trick that hit the bar, Ian Thomas-Moore gets the vote!
Connections
There were no playing connections between the two sides in this game.
Tranmere Fans
The home fans were going into the game on the whole hopeful that things wouldn't be too bad by the end so after 12 minutes and 2-0 up they were really alive and making some noise and rightly so! One or two idiots by me in the Main Stand moaning at the players at 3-0 up but there will always be one or two.
Norwich City Fans
Superb in the Clipper pub before the game, with some of them in fancy dress (including a Canary!) and made much noise during the game despite the way it went for them. Their chant at 2-0 down of 'we're gonna win 3-2' was quite funny but their 'your not fit to referee' chant seemed somewhat hypocritical after events at Carrow Road earlier in the season.
Summary
When you expect nothing from the game but then not only get three points but get them in such a comfortable and well performed manner it's a greatthing and depsite what Paul Lambert and perhaps Canaries ans might say, Rovers deserved this win on the night and even the bias media of Sky and the BBC would be wrong to say otherwise. Sit back this afternoon now with Rovers in 18th place in League One and hope the results go our way!
Entertainment Value
The game of the season without question! The win over Southampton a few weeks ago was brilliant but this was better by a long, long way.
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They were hellbent on having a go at the fourth official. I think that you'll find Lambert was sent to the stand,(as well as his director of football), (At this level!!!) for persistant swearing and abuse!
The F.A have got to do something about these sort of situations as fines & bans don't seem to work!
It was funny though!
As for the first one, you can't honestly believe that was handball. Hands down by the side and it hits him. If they thought it was handball it should have been a red. I didn't wan't Russell to get a red, of course, but it was another terrible decision from the referee by all accounts. The third...well, that was just laughable in a highly comic performance by the referee. I can't imagine the bright lights of League 1 will be graced with his presence for too long.
Anyway, other than some horrific decisions Norwich weren't bad in this game...just lacked the killer touch that has served us so well all season, and energy, of course, towards the end with 10 men. It was always going to be an uphill battle when the ref was definitely a homer on this occasion - probably even popped in the home dressing room at half time for an orange quarter and a nice warming glass of mulled wine - but we looked the side with more about us even though we were 1 man down. But, at the end of the day, this difficult game can only spur us on to wrap promotion up that much quicker.
Not defending the referee this time but what goes around comes around and justice was served for what should never have been a penalty at Carrow Road.
Also by the same token you could argue that Craig Curran's hand was mostly down but still.
Anyway good luck to Norwich! Rather see you lot go up as Champions than Leeds and Charlton and I have no doubts that despite yesterday it won't be long in coming!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:04:03:11:47:05 by Deadly Submarine.
Don't tell me you haven't had any luck this season either!
Regardless of the goals we were genuinely the better side last night in what was, finally, an entertaining game at Prenton Park.
Notice you didn't mention your goal was dubious whether the ball went out.
If we say Currans should of been ruled out its fair to say that evens it up.
And given the game at your ground, its fair to say that over the 2 games - Norwich more than got the rub of the green.
Its not just you who can do biased write-ups
It was an excting and entertaining game and was an ejoyable spectacle for a change.
2nd no striker in the world wouldn't have gone down would he? He exaggerated what was a terrible pass and a poor decision from the keeper. the manner he went down doesn't change the fact the keeper dived at the man despite the ball already being past him.
3rd goal was nice finish, yes it struck his arm an we definately got lucky with this one. However as said above your goal was debateable too so lets cancel that and call it 2-0 or even 1-0.. either way we won and sulking isn't going to get you anywhere..
ur 9 points clear we need the points more.. all the best hopefully urselves millwall an swindle to go up!
not the yorkshire @#$%&
A few more performances like that and the Rovers will be half way up the league.
Well done lads!
Now for Swindon, but after their win against Leeds,I fear it will be much harder than Norwich. Never mind it is a challenge!