Ethan Hoijord

‘Yet again’ Micky Mellon’s men’s resilience was evident in a last-gasp 2-1 home victory against Burton Albion. Tranmere’s side were unchanged since their midweek bounce-back 2-2 draw against Peterborough, which amazed all spectators. Although being sent to the stands in the previous fixture, Micky Mellon stood in the dugout.

Similar to previous performances, Tranmere started off strongly bombarding the Burton defensive half with many attackive threats. Two early corners caused a scramble in the Albion box but Tranmere were unable to capitalise. Paul Mullin continued to chase the Burton defenders to force defensive errors, through Ridehalgh’s and Banks’ long range passing to the left side, yet no on-goal chances were created. Further running, from Paul Mullin, towards the Burton goal caused the first free kick of the afternoon. Although it was thirty yards out, Mullin attempted to strike the ball on target yet could only find the Tranmere kop faithful. The earliest shot on goal came on the stroke of the twenty-second minute, Morris finding the side netting after a beautifully placed pass by Potter. That was the closest Tranmere could get to the net behind Burton goalkeeper, O’Hara, in a half which Burton seemed to grow into, Sarkic forcing Davies into an excellent save around his post on the stroke of half-time. As David Perkins ran towards the Burton goal, Tranmere’s injury list grew. Perkins dropped to the floor with a hamstring issue, which forced the substitution and debut of Neill Danns. Tranmere supporters applauded loudly as David Perkins walked off the pitch as Perkins’ performances has meant he is a pivotal part of the Tranmere team. 

Half time commenced at nil-nil, which was a result more in Burton’s favour as Tranmere has dominated the game with many attempts. Another substitution appeared at half time, loanee Borthwick-Jackson replacing Ray, which seemed to bring Ridehalgh to the left side of the centre backs.

The second half commenced, both sides starting with an urge to attack. 

Burton found themselves on goal first, ex-Tranmere attacker Akins bursting into the box. However, a needed tackle from Borthwick-Jackson stopped the attack from progressing. 

On the stroke of the sixtieth minute, Banks tried to replicate his wonderful midweek volley. However, a shot from longe range could only find the Burton goalkeeper, not the Burton net. 

After a slow passage of play from the Tranmere defenders, Burton found themselves through on goal. However, Borthwick-Jackson brought the Burton attacker to the floor causing another penalty against the wanting of the ‘super whites’. Ex-Tranmere attacker, Akins, placed the ball on the penalty spot in front of the discomforted Tranmere kop stand faithful and sent Davies the wrong way. Ecstatic visiting fans meant Tranmere, the ‘comeback kings’, had to again use their bounce-back-ability to achieve any proud result.

Another sub for Tranmere found Blackett-Taylor replacing Potter as Tranmere needed to possess more fruitful attackers. However, the substitution initially strengthened the Burton attacking mindset. Scott Davies saving, but parrying, a Burton attempt meant he was called into action again when he provided a beautiful save, against Edwards’ follow up, whilst on the floor. 

Tranmere didn’t create much until an unbelievable five minute spell in additional time. Two goals in five minutes brought the hosts in front and sent pandemonium across Prenton Park. 

Banks with another beautiful free kick, beating O’Hara at his bottom corner, brought the hosts level and doubled Banks’ goal tally for the season. Stefan Payne, with another last minute goal, brought the hosts in front after a fantastic cross was sent into Danns’ head which was headed across goal for Payne to meet and become a new fans favourite.

Another resilient performance from the ‘super whites’, added the second set of three points to the league table and showed the team was more than capable of bouncing-back from a poor position. Quest, a television channel that displays football league’s highlights, labelled Tranmere as ‘Comeback kings’ after the fourth come-back in the first two months of the season.

After the game, numerous Tranmere related people took to twitter, to mention the fantastic win through bounce-back-ability. Danns, Banks, Monthe, Davies and the Palios’ all welcomed the proud victory and thanked the Tranmere faithful for supporting them throughout their performance.

During the post match interview, Micky Mellon praised the ‘fantastic crowd’ and praised all Tranmere players who showed ‘battle, guts and determination to win the game when called upon’ after giving away ‘another mad penalty’. Mellon claimed Perkins’ injury will be looked on in the following few days but Danns did a great job of replacing him considering ‘he had no pre-season and no match fitness’.

Tranmere are next in action in East-Anglia on the 28th September as they face legend James Norwood’s side Ipswich Town.

Yet again, Micky Mellon’s men shared the points in an empthatic 2-2 draw after being 2-0 down. Scott Davies’ 200th appearance was certainly one to remember for the Tranmere faithful.

After picking up a calf injury in the recent encounter with Oxford United, Woods was replaced by Kieron Morris. Ray replaced Hepburn-Murphy, as Tranmere looked to have a strengthened attack to cope with Peterborough’s attacking threat. Also, Banks replaced struggling Connor Jennings in the centre.

Similar to previous fixtures, Tranmere started very well from the off. Many attempts were sent towards ‘The Posh’ goal, Mullin, Banks and Potter all having shots blocked from in and around the box. This somewhat settled the nerves of the Tranmere faithful, who before the match feared they may have received the same scoreline as Rochdale’s 6-0.

However, Peterborough still found themselves through on goal. A poorly defended pass to Ivan Toney brought Scott Davies racing off his goal-line and diving to the floor to save the attackers attempt.

The game remained end to end. Striker Paul Mullin managing to get in front of the oppositions defence but was stopped with a sublime last ditch tackle. Peterborough also continued to counter attack with pace, Maddison finding Toney who could only find goalkeeper Scott Davies.

Half time came with a justified even scoreline. However, Tranmere supporters were incredibly pleased with their sides performance after having the mainstay of possession. 

The referee comenced the second half and Tranmere kept their attacking urge. The front two of Mullin and Payne provided superb pressing but nothing but a ball clearence came from their efforts.

Tranmere’s defensive mindset switched off as the attacking urge grew. Unfortunately, this only meant Peterborough’s attackers could get themselves through on goal as the ball was cleared from a Tranmere corner finding Eisa who expertly brought the scoreline in favour of the visitors. 

Seconds after the kick off, Scott Davies picked the ball up from his net for the second time. Tranmere’s defence switching off meant Ward could cross to Toney who got in front of Monthe to double the visitors lead.

Tranmere’s mentality was questioned again yet they remained with the urge to attack. Surely a repeat of the previous home fixture wasn’t going to occur.

Morris headed into the keepers arms from a Ridehalgh cross and Ray clipped a wonderful ball to Payne in the box who’s volley could only find Pym, ‘The Posh’ goalkeeper. 

The Tranmere faithful kept their support to the highest levels to create a wonderful expecting atmosphere.

Micky Mellon’s men finally got the better of Pym, Ridehalgh heading into the top corner from a Darren Potter cross. With twenty five minutes remaining on the clock.

The atmosphere was incredible as a repeat of Gillingham became visible. Yet with all of the Peterborough players seeming to be of the need for punishable action for foul play, it was Tranmere manager Micky Mellon who recieved a red card and a seat in the main stand. Although this annoyed him, it would soon come as a favour as he had a wonderful view of the Tranmere performance.

A cross came into the Peterborough box and was headed away to Tranmere midfielder Ollie Banks. Banks decided to replicate his play off semi final home distribution and scored another scorcher. A majestic thirty yard volley into the bottom right corner to send scenes of eruption across Prenton Park and to put the scoreline even. 

Tranmere still performed with an attacking urge as Mullin unleashed a fierce longe range volley into the arms of Pym. However, the greatest attempt on goal without finding the net came in the 90th minute as Rays wonderful towered header sent towards the top corner was unbelievably saved by the Peterborough goalkeeper.

The game fizzled out with the hosts performing better than the visitors but the scoreline remained even in another great game at Prenton Park. Tranmere supporters came home from Prenton park with a great smile, for the second time this season. 

During the post match interview, Mellon stated ‘The Peterborough goals came out of nowhere yet I always believed that if we scored one then another would come as there was so much in the game’. Mellon also stated ‘I can’t apologise for my actions relating to my red card as I did nothing wrong. I just politely and rightfully moved the official from my dugout’. 

Tranmere are next in action on Saturday as they face Burton Albion. 

Micky Mellon’s side travelled to the Kassam Stadium of Oxford United in the hope of gaining their first three points ‘on the road’ this season. 

Tranmere fielded two changes from their previous fixture, a 2-2 ‘bounce-back’ draw against visitors Gillingham. Woods replaced Ray as Sid Nelson returned to his natural position of centre back and Hepburn-Murphy replaced Morris as Micky Mellon looked to field three ‘out and out’ strikers. 

Similar to the previous fixture, Tranmere started with an attacking threat. Perkins with a blocked shot from 6 yards out after a perfectly timed cross by loanee Hepburn-Murphy. Paul Mullin also had an attempt from the edge of the box but goalkeeper Eastwood kept the ball from the back of the net. 

Oxford Uniteds first chance of the game came midway through the first half when Tranmere conceded their first penalty of the game. Henry slotting past Davies to give the hosts a relatively early lead.

More misfortune for the Rovers was faced on the stroke of the 40th minute as Woods picked up an injury which forced the substitution to bring Borthwick-Jackson into play. 

At the beginning of the second half, Tranmere appeared to have kept their urge to attack. Ridehalgh’s free kick finding Jennings’ head which failed to hit the target. Loanee and substitute Borthwick-Jackson had a further attempt on goal from 25 yards but could only find the car park. That’s a fine!

On the stroke of the 60th minute, Micky Mellon made his second sub of the game. Kieron Morris replacing Stefan Payne. 

Ten minutes later, Davies collected the ball from the back of the net again as the Oxford United faithful were reassured of their first goal of the season. Brannagans shot from 10 yards out deflecting its way into the net.

Micky Mellon made his final substitution of the game as David Perkins was replaced by Ollie Banks. 

The game seemed to be ‘fizzling out’ before the referee pointed to the penalty spot in favour of the hosts, again. Henry got his second goal of the game as he slotted the ball in the opposite direction of Davies.

The final whistle came when the result was 3-0 in favour of the hosts in a fixture that Tranmere Twitter described as a ‘game to forget’. Thus, the 639 Tranmere faithful made another long journey to Prenton Park with a heavy heart.

During the post match interviews Tranmere manager stated that his side still needed to ‘learn and develop’ as they still ‘couldn’t reach the tempo required to achieve any proud result’. 

Tranmere are back in action on Tuesday 17th September against Peterborough United under the lights of Prenton Park.

Yet again, Tranmere’s ‘never say die’ attitude was evident in a 2-2 draw with Gillingham. 

The hosts fielded an unchanged side which drew 1-1 in the previous fixture in an away tie at Rotherham. However, the visitors fielded a side of many changes from their football league trophy home defeat to Colchester midweek.

Tranmere started the strongest, with many creative attacks. The earliest strong goal opportunity came when Mullin smashed the ball onto the post in the 6th minute. 

However, the visitors soon found themselves ahead. Davies doing well to keep out an initial attempt from a corner but a further attempt was formed as the ball was dropped to Jakubiak who stood 2 yards from the goal line, who Tranmere’s website claimed as the one to watch.

Soon after, Davies greatly kept the score-line narrow with a double save after Morris loosely passed the ball from the halfway line straight into the attacking path of Mandron.

Tranmere were in the hunt for a goal as they sprayed a few crosses across Gillingham’s defensive box. Unfortunately, the final result was Connor Jennings’ volley which found itself placed ages from the crossbar. The hosts had a further few attempts on goal, yet couldn’t find the back of the net.

As the 35th minute arrived, the visitors found themselves 2-0 ahead. Davies dropping another cross ,from a deep position which looked to be going on target, into the path of Jones who rebounded into the empty net. 

At half time, Kieron Morris and Sid Nelson were replaced by Ollie Banks and Callum Woods as the hosts looked to narrow the scoreline.

Tranmere’s attacking intent grew as they had 4 good attempts on goal in the earlier moments of the second half. The best being Jennings’ one on one attempt which Bonham saved with his feet. 

On the stroke of the 64th minute, Tranmere were awarded a penalty. Paul Mullin struck a penalty into the bottom corner. However, Bonham miraculously saved it. Tranmere’s attacking intent still grew despite the lack of fortune they had previously endured. 

Straight after the penalty miss, Tranmere’s attackers spread the ball around the opponents box. Connor Jennings soon prodded the ball ‘home’ from six yards. Tranmere were looking for a result.

The scoreline was soon even when Paul Mullin hammered the ball into the roof of the net. Emotions were completely different than his penalty miss a few minutes before. Micky Mellon, Tranmere manager, rallied the Kop which had been in support of their players all game. 

The game soon came to the settlement of a 2-2 draw which was an incredible turnaround to the score many had feared at half time.

In his post match interview, Micky Mellon praised his players as they kept the ‘never say die’ attitude used to gain a last minute equalizer in the game before. However, was of the hope that the games would soon be in their favour from the start to finish. Micky Mellon also praised the home faithful who had rallied their players from a 2-0 losing position to a draw.

Tranmere manager Micky Mellon made four enforced changes to his starting line-up from the Bristol Rovers fixture, with Sid Nelson, Darren Potter, Paul Mullin and Payne coming into the side in South Yorkshire.

Tranmere goalkeeper , and captain, Scott Davies was called into action with eight minutes played when Michael Smith’s deep cross from the right found Clark Robertson who saw his downward header easily gathered by the Rovers captain.

Up the other end on 18 minutes, Tranmere threatened through midfielder Kieron Morris after he received Connor Jennings’ neat pass, to cut inside on his left-foot from the right to force Millers stopper Daniel Iversen into a low save down to his left.

As the first half progressed on a sun-kissed afternoon, Rovers dealt with their hosts well, with Dan Barlaser’s free-kick from 25-yards blocked by the wall.

TRFC then had claims for a penalty waved away by referee Andy Haines in the closing five minutes of the opening period after Mullin played Morris in down the right, with his cross blocked and protests waved away.

Tranmere would survive a scare moments later, with Wiles’ effort inside the penalty area bouncing off the base of the post from Davies’ initial parry.

After the break, Rotherham substitute Chiedozie Ogbene galloped down the left before flashing the ball across goal, with Rovers’ full-back Liam Ridehalgh doing well to head behind for a corner.

Roared on by 982 of the SWA who had made the journey over the Pennines, Tranmere almost went ahead 12 minutes into the second half as Mullin found space on the right-side of the box and forced Iversen to tip his right-footed strike over the crossbar.

On the hour mark of an even contest, Paul Warne’s men were close at goal again but after connecting with Ogbene’s flighted cross from the left, he couldn’t keep his close-range volley down.

Rovers’ forward Jennings then spurned an inviting opportunity, using the outside of his boot to curl wide when well positioned after being fed by Mullin.

With 72 minutes gone, Rotherham were in front courtesy of Wiles, who pounced on a loose ball inside the six-yard box to steer right-footed past Davies into the top right corner after Matt Olosunde’s cross.

Tranmere were very close to levelling six minutes after conceding when Potter’s strike across goal took a deflection which missed the diving header of Payne.

From the resulting corner, Nelson met Morris’ left-sided set-piece though his header was fumbled by Iversen, with Payne’s goal-bound effort thwarted by Crooks.

However, in the last minute of stoppage time Tranmere’s good fortune finally came into place. When their persistence was rewarded when Stefan Payne bundled in past Iversen to secure a deserved point and send pandemonium across the away stand.

During the post match interview Mellon praised the ‘fantastic away following’ which ‘deserved a point for its none stop backing’. He was also pleased with his sides performance which hold its own in a very ‘physical and demanding fixture’. However, he confessed Tranmere had another injury blow : ‘Wilson has returned to West Brom as he picked up a knee injury in training’.