Weekly Review

After hectic week ended on a reasonably positive note yesterday for Les Parry and his team, we take a look back at the past seven days and what it means for Tranmere Rovers

Two reserve games and two first team games, it's been a busy seven days for Tranmere Rovers, with a bunch of mixed results which ultimately leave them still clinging on for dear life in League One.

The week started on with a reserve team game on Monday, which saw Tranmere take on Blackpool at Prenton Park.

Managed by Kenny Shiels, Rovers fielded a very young side, with all the senior players set to travel to Brentford the day after.

Nonetheless, Rovers' youngsters put in an impressive display, despite a disappointing 4-2 defeat, which saw Cole Stockton score a brace.

A day later, Tranmere's first team travelled to Brentford for a vital first team game, knowing that a win would lift them out of the drop zone, above Exeter City by a point.

However, things didn't go to plan for Les Parry and his side, as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat despite holding their own against the Bee's for long periods.

The home side took the lead just after half-time when Kevin O'Connor's shot from outside the area took a huge deflection, leaving Gulacsi with no chance as the ball bounced into the net.

Tranmere hit back just after the hour mark though as on-loan West Brom midfielder Joss Labadie scored his second goal in as many games with a blistering drive from 20-yards after his initial free-kick had hit the wall.

Rovers pushed forward in search of a win, but ultimately this proved costly, as deep into the game Tranmere were hit on the counter attack by the home side, with Ben Strevens netting from Charlie McDonald's cross.

Tranmere came close to an equaliser in injury time as Marlon Broomes forced on-loan Arsenal 'keeper Szczesny into an excellent save, but Les Parry's side slipped to a 2-1 defeat.

A day later, Tranmere's reserve team were again in action and this time were much more successful.  A mix of seniors and youth team players featured against Oldham, with Mahon, Bain and Cresswell all starting.

Despite Mahon injuring himself in the game, ruling himself out of Saturday's trip to Colchester, Rovers' second string won 3-2, Bain, Cresswell and youngster Jamie Ashcroft with the goals.

Thursday saw Rovers announce that right-back Shay Logan had returned to training and would be available for Saturday's trip to Colchester, before a day later Rovers had a negative bit of news on the injury front when it was announced midfielder Paul McLaren would miss the remaining three games of the season with a thihg injury.

On Friday, Tranmere extended the loan stay of goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi from Liverpool by a further week.

The goalkeeper, who signed a week earlier and made his debut against Exeter City, joined Rovers as an emergency loan deal, with Tranmere given special dispensation by the F.A. to sign the player, due to injuries to Luke Daniels and Joe Collister.

With niether 'keeper having recovered in time for Saturday's trip to Colchester, Tranmere were given permission by the F.A. to extend the stay of the Hungarian U-21 international.

Tranmere then had another big first team game, this time at the Weston Homes Communities Stadium against Colchester on Saturday.

Rovers went into the game two points adrift of safety and 20th placed Exeter City, knowing that they needed to pick up, realistically, at least a point from this game.

Tranmere though couldn't have got off to a worse start as Antony Wordsworth fired a unstoppable volley into the top corner from 20 yards with less than five minutes on the clock.

However, Les Parry's side responded in the perfect manner as captain and leading scorer Ian Thomas-Moore netted his thirteenth goal of the season two minutes later to level the scores.

Niether team could find a second goal in the remaining 80 minutes in what turned out to be a very even game, though Rovers came closest in injury time when Marlon Broomes saw his volley from 20 yards tipped over by 'keeper Williams.

With Exeter drawing and Gillingham losing, the result leaves Tranmere in 21st place, two points adrift of both sides with two games to play.

That concludes then what has been another busy week for Tranmere Rovers and what could be a telling one when teh season reaches it's conclusion in two weeks.

Tomorrow, we bring you a special feature article called on beating the drop, so don't forget to log back in to Total Tranmere.