TRANMERE ROVERS V COVENTRY CITY: MATCH REPORT
It was Mark Robins’ ‘Skyblues’ that we’re the first visitors to Prenton Park of the 2020’s decade. They came into the game in good form, after a 4-1 victory at Adams Park. However, Tranmere were looking to extend their second half performance against Blackpool a few days earlier to gain a good result against Coventry.
George Ray replaced the injured Manny Monthe, for the hosts. Also, academy graduate Kyle Hayde was named on the bench. Micky Mellon stated the reasons for this later in his post match press conference ‘Manny Monthe had a knee injury’ ‘I picked the eighteen players I had available’.
The visitors opened the scoring with their first chance of the game, in the third minute. ‘SkyBlues’ top goalscorer, Godden, slotting past the loanee goalkeeper Aaron Chapman with a header away from all supposed to marking defenders.
The next chance in the game came for the visitors soon after, Dabo cutting back to Westbrooke who missed the target from inside the box.
Shortly after, at the other end, Guyanese midfielder Neill Danns hit the ball over the cowshed stand in an attempt to slit past the keeper from a long range volley.
Coventry man Shipley slotted past Chapman to double the visitors lead from inside the box.
Connor Jennings opened the scoring for the hosts with an excellent shot to the left of the goalkeeper, lowering a two goal difference to one. This came after a period of dominance for Mellon’s side as Jennings and Perkins crossed the ball into the visitors box but failed to find an attacking head. Forward Blackett-Taylor nearly found the back of the net, twisting and turning the opposite defence before releasing a shot which was blocked.
No further goal-bound action would be seen, in a half that had visibly lacked effort from the Rovers.
Tranmere started the second half in perfect fashion, Jennings scrambling the ball past the Coventry goalkeeper after Ferrier broke into the box but the ball was cleared away on the line.
A penalty was awarded to Tranmere shortly after the goal-line clearance, Ray being the man bundled over in the box as a cross was sent in his direction. Ferrier would be the man to take the penalty, he blazed the opportunity over the bar.
Godden extended the visitors lead, after an opportunity for Tranmere seeing Ferrier’s goal-bound volley being blocked.
This forced Mellon to make the first change of the game, Blackett-Taylor being replaced by Paul Mullin. Unfortunately, this change didn’t have the desired effect as no goal-bound chance was created.
After the fourth official hold the added time board up to award three minutes added time, Coventry were awarded with a penalty as O’Hare was tripped in the box. Godden converted this opportunity to seal his second consecutive hat trick.
Full time : Tranmere 1 Coventry 4
Attendance : 7,828 (1,452 travelling supporters).