Brighton and HA v Tranmere Rovers Match Discussion
By Deadly Submarine
March 12 2011
Tranmere Rovers travel to Brighton's Withdean Stadium for the final time in N Power League One on Saturday, so for all the latest news and match updates, and all the pre, during and post-match discussion, don't forget to check out our Match Discussion thread............
Copyright Historical Football Kits and reproduced by kind permission.
For those fans who can't make some of the Rovers games this season, particularly the high number of costly and time consuming southern away games, we at Total Tranmere will be providing a Match Discussion Thread on the Site for every Rovers game.
The thread will allow you to discuss everything from the pre-match build up and starting line-up to the game it as it progresses and the post-match analysis.
Where possible, Total Tranmere staff will post up the starting line-up and substitutes on the thread as soon as it is made known at the game.
Tranmere of course travel to Brighton and Hove Albion in N Power League One on Saturday but if you're not going to the game why not join in the banter right here while the game is going on.
Maybe if you have a friend or family member texting you from the game you can post their views here for others to see as the game progresses.
You could also use this thread to discuss other interesting scores throughout the league as well as discussing this game afterwards if you have been along to the game.
What you discuss below is up to you but hopefully it can all be focused on one thread to make it easier for everyone to use.
Admin staff will try and add the team and updates on the game on this thread where possible but these details are updated also on our Twitter Page throughout the game so if you're not following us already why not do so at www.twitter.com/totaltranmere.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:03:18:17:51:02 by Mikey.
I dunno whether his arms were up.. just going of our twitter.
The penalty decision without doubt changed the gamme. It looked very harsh to me, but I've since heard from Derrick Jones and Tony Warner that they both though it was a penalty.
Up until then, we had played very well. We'd completely stiffled them. Our two central midfielders were excellent, winning a number of balls, interceptions and tackles, then getting it to the feet of Robinson and Showunmi to push forward.
It shows how well we played by how few shots they had. The centre backs were constantly blocking their runs and bursts, with Warner dealing (Bar one excellent double save) in coming to the edge of his box to collect loose balls in this first half.
Don't be fooled by the stats on the official site. They are wrong. It says we only had three shots which makes us look pretty weak going forward, but I can remember over double that, with Goodison, Akins (x2) and Robinson having shots on target, plus Welsh, McGurk (x2) and Showunmi putting shots wide. I wouldn't be surprised if the possession stats on there are wrong too because I thought we had a lot of the ball.
It was a very tight game. Both sides cancelled each other out really and until the goal, Brighton weren't going to score. We in fact probably shaded the game up until then, and after the first goal too, but when they got their second it was a killer.
They were able to bring Noone on at 0-0 and he injected some life and spark into their team whilst we look at our bench and there was only really McGurk available. We need Pan and Dale back ASAP, just so we have the extra options.
Saying that though, I can't understand why Morrow wasn't on the bench today. The lad is a striker and it's time he got his chance. Look at our bench today and we had Blanchard and Cathalina, who can both play right-back, as well Weir on the pitch who can go there too, if need. In my opinion, that should mean Tim Cat isn't needed on the bench and we could have put another striker, Morrow, there instead. That would have given us a few extra options in the second half.
Overall, as I say, I think we did well. Weir and Welsh in midfield both had very good games and stopped a lot of attacks. Michael Kay looked back to his solid self after a little rest and Cresswell was good too.
Akins looked threatening on the wing and created a few chances, arguably our best going forward, whilst Enoch held the ball up well.
Just a shame really that we couldn't get in the box more. Most of our shots were from outside the area, with Ankergren looking a little dodgy when the ball came his way.
Promising performance, again, jsut a disappointing result, but then most people wrote us off before we travelled anyway...
Murray's goal was superb, not much could be done about a strike of such quality. From what I've heard, we can take heart from the performance and we'll move on to Colchester looking to sort things out ahead of another busy period for us.