First time to a game solo for ages, couldn’t really justify the all day away day train trip the others were planning. 7.30am start to Tranmere. Its only in Liverpool y’know said H2. That’s the trouble with educating them they get to know too much, I man they have no right to know that Tranmere is in Liverpool have they. She did have a point though so off I set along quintessential Yorkshire Colne valley over the snow capped splendor of the peninnes and across to the other side. Absolutely beautiful I mused to myself. It was to be the last positive and righteous thought of the day.
Parked up and bumped into Peninne White and our old friend Gelderd ender so at least I had some good company in the pub with my mineral water.
Another fantastic turnout filled the cowshed end of Prenton park made all the more lively by the motley collection of assorted Birkenhead yoof to our right.
Apart from Telfer at the back the line up was quite pleasing given our constraints with the only question mark for me was Howson out wide.
We started ok, fairly composed with our usual measured rear guard passing tactics taking shape only for it to easily break down as soon as we reached the last third. Tranmere started to press and impose themselves on the game. They sent in a couple of crosses and set pieces obviously trying to exploit our vulnerability but Lucas punched a couple to safety and we generally did well to clear the danger.
It was us who scored from a set piece. I thought we’d delivered another lame near post effort but it was nodded on by Frazer for Showumnni to tuck it in with what looked like a class finish.
That set the nerves to rest a little but as is always the case with Leeds we let them come at us with renewed vigor and for some reason thought we’d start giving ourselves some more set piece defending practice by giving away free kicks left right and center. It wasn’t helped by some incredible refereeing and blatant homing by the linesmen. Sure enough it was a dodgy given free kick that escaped Lucas’ pathetic attempt at punching that led to a simple nod in for the equalizer. The tantrums and accusing glares all around was the cue for our composure and confidence to fall apart.
Trannmere then relaxed a little and allowed us back into the game but we were unable to capitalize. Johnny D was giving the ball away with alarming regularity and Rui was reverting back to Blackwell days with some diabolical hoofs into nowhere.
Snoddy was getting some space on the left and Frazer was able to push forward on a few occasions. We did in fact get some good crosses in but they all seemed to end up in space with no one at the end of them. This led to a couple of long range efforts and one in particular by Snoddy went narrowly over and wide. As the half ended I thought we were still able to get a goal. It was a dreary shoddy match but I thought we could up our tempo and provided we kept our shape and concentration at the back the game was still up for grabs.
Unfortunately Ian Moore and Tranmere thought so too. Id only just got back to my seat when he scored from a seemingly innocuous position to send the boys pen brigade to our right quite giddy with glee.
You would have thought that would have spurred us on and drove us forward with purpose but alas it did nothing of the sort. Instead we kept our by now ridiculous and predictable horizontal passing game until in desperation someone, usually Johnny D or the centre halves sent a useless ball to our front two only for it to be intercepted by center halves two full seconds and yards faster than our front two. When they did get the ball to feet some amateurish first touch control and inability to read each other gave away the advantage.
Kilkenny came on to replace the barely noticeable Howson and for a while he did show some more energy in midfield. There was some nice movements just in front of us down our left side involving Snoddy and again he did get some balls into the box but the lack of aggression in there made it really easy for Tranmere to deal with any danger. In fact Becchio did get a good header into the net only for it ironically to be disallowed as he showed a little too much aggression. This was really frustrating, the ref was penalizing us for every minor little clash and 50-50S. He even deliberately prevented our advantage twice by bringing us back to take a free kick back he awarded us presumably to even out his inept decision making. I can well understand the frustration we clearly show over the feeble refereeing but the constant remonstrations by JD and Prutts only seem to inspire the refs to more ridiculous penalizing as in the booking he gave Prutton.
Looking back we did seem to be bringing the ball forward more than Tranmere in the second half but it was the long way off the intense siege it should have been. Frazer didn’t really get forward in support enough. The midfield didn’t get in the box enough and the link up play between Becchio and Showumni was feeble.
When Tranmere did break it was with power and purpose especially the big centre forward who gave Rui a real torrid time and completely out muscled and maneuvered him.
By now there were some real screams of anger from individuals around me. Macca was getting his share of the venom as was Showummni. Me, I never slag anyone off at the matches but I was resigned to head bowed acceptance that this team, these players and those tactics are not going to get us promoted.
Got a text from H2 saying she was in Leeds shopping and I just had time to reply saying I wish I was there, at least I could be in the Vic for 5 o clock. After our final threat had broken down by Becchio giving away a stupid foul I was off. Got to the car just as a chorus of boos greeted the final whistle just behind me.
It was strange not having anyone to discuss the game with. Like a futile cold numbness so i put five live on but certainly couldn’t stomach the live game. It was the Kings Of Leon who had the task of bringing me out of a new low for this season. Predictably they didn’t but i am warming to it at last.
_________________
I might Be Middle Class but I'm Hard. Al Dente you might say
