That’s more like it!

[GazLaz]

I’ll start by saying I thought we would win today (so I’m not a doom monger pessimist) but this feels like and massive over reaction to what was generally a fairly ordinary performance. The players gave it all and there were some decent performances out there but we weren’t great. Maybe it’s just the novelty and relief of winning, which is an all too unusual feeling!

[drfchound]

With regards to Wood organising things, at quieter moments in the first half when Tranmere were pushing us back, the loudest organiser out there was Olowu.
He was very loud and clear too.
Won all his heading duels too.

[BillyStubbsTears]

I don't like raising this, because the man has been such a servant to the club, but the difference between last week and this week was very stark.

Our record with Tommy Rowe in the side this season is

P22 W 5 D4 L13 PPG 0.86

Without him in the team, it is

P8 W4 D1 L3 PPG 1.63

[GazLaz]

With regards to Wood organising things, at quieter moments in the first half when Tranmere were pushing us back, the loudest organiser out there was Olowu.
He was very loud and clear too.
Won all his heading duels too.

He was good before he went off.

[mpc123]

Brilliant we needed that. Entertaining game of football.

If we can sort the midfield out. So happy when I left today, I didn't know when the next victory was coming.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I’ll start by saying I thought we would win today (so I’m not a doom monger pessimist) but this feels like and massive over reaction to what was generally a fairly ordinary performance. The players gave it all and there were some decent performances out there but we weren’t great. Maybe it’s just the novelty and relief of winning, which is an all too unusual feeling!

Generally speaking you're right although there were some small seeds of a structure and a plan today, backed by the effort, more importantly, not caving in when we conceded.

Yes, that's the very basic we should expect every week. The last couple of games show we've got something to work from but, let's not be fooled, there's still a frailty to our performances and it'll take a number of games to build that resilience.

[danumdon]

With regards to Wood organising things, at quieter moments in the first half when Tranmere were pushing us back, the loudest organiser out there was Olowu.
He was very loud and clear too.
Won all his heading duels too.

I think Alowu is what he is, a young player with potential, playing next to a calming old head should always allow players like him to prosper.

I remember when i was a young impressionable apprentice i quite liked the comfort and assuredness that an old technician gave me in my early years!

[keith79]

We beat a very poor side. But a wins a win.

[BigH]

I’ll start by saying I thought we would win today (so I’m not a doom monger pessimist) but this feels like and massive over reaction to what was generally a fairly ordinary performance. The players gave it all and there were some decent performances out there but we weren’t great. Maybe it’s just the novelty and relief of winning, which is an all too unusual feeling!

On the performance I agree. And that it's come to this that we go a bit mad over beating a team two places above us...

However, the positive I take is that I'm sensing that McCann has grasped the nettle and might, at last, be putting his own stamp on the team. Look at the central defensive pairing/goalkeeper make-up. The absence of Close has been forced on us. Really unfortunate for him - I think he's a good player - but he's a legacy of the disastrous Wellens era, with a poor injury record and needs to move on, for his sake and ours. So him not being around could allow McCann to work more with Westbrooke and use Craig as a blend until the next recruitment window.

Ditto the 30 something brigade. I know that Wood played and Anderson came on for Olowu but, that apart, McCann knows that it's over for them and that his best hope is for younger players and those that are coming through the ranks.

I wouldn't be surprised if the politics of the club has also got in the way a bit and that GM has been suffering this. It may be that we see JC move on in the next few months. The HoF concept is all well and good but it only works if the guy doing it is effective. If not then you might as well have the manager bridging the role, particularly at this level.

First, we need to stay up. But after that we need someone who can be effective and turn us into a serious L2 proposition. I'd say the signs were there today.

[danumdon]

I’ll start by saying I thought we would win today (so I’m not a doom monger pessimist) but this feels like and massive over reaction to what was generally a fairly ordinary performance. The players gave it all and there were some decent performances out there but we weren’t great. Maybe it’s just the novelty and relief of winning, which is an all too unusual feeling!

A massive reaction and a fairy ordinary performance are both things that we have struggled very badly to achieve this season, the fact we managed this, to whatever extent today marks this out as a positive for us in a season where there has been very few.

We have to start from somewhere and right here now looks to me like some sort of progress for us.

Small acorns and all.

[wilts rover]

Enjoyable game, Tranmere are a good team and you can see why they have had an upturn in form recently.

I wasn’t to bothered about bringing a new keeper in, in January, but I’ve now been proven that I was wrong, he’s a hell of a keeper and brings reassurance (mostly) to the back 5.

Woods was a steady head and a leader we have been lacking most of the season

Craig had a hell of a game, great work effort and Bailey just ticked over nicely.

As for waters, what a hell of a game he had, ran his back side off!

I don’t know how molly keeps getting 90 minutes, good work effort running up and down, but what does he offer as an attacking threat. He would have been the first player I subbed

It's Molyneux tracking back, winning the ball back in his own half, then sending the pass square to Bailey, that set up the winner isn't it?

[ravenrover]

I feared the worst, and was nearly proven right, when Tom appeared for the 2nd half. No pace at all through the middle. I thought he would have dropped Bailey back along Wood and brought a midfielder on when Olowu went off.

[drfchound]

I was also surprised but to be fair to him, Tom was solid.

[dickos1]

We beat a very poor side. But a wins a win.

Not really.
Over the last 15 games or so they’ve been in good form

[drfchound]

We beat a very poor side. But a wins a win.

Not really.
Over the last 15 games or so they’ve been in good form

I thought Tranmere were better than us overall today.

[RoversInSpain]

Reading some of the above…..
Go on then, crack a smile…let yer hair down a bit
We won for gods sake, and at the moment that is massive, even if it is over a team 2 places above us.
Next week we’ll ask Man City if they want a game

Ffs

[belton rover]

I’ll start by saying I thought we would win today (so I’m not a doom monger pessimist) but this feels like and massive over reaction to what was generally a fairly ordinary performance. The players gave it all and there were some decent performances out there but we weren’t great. Maybe it’s just the novelty and relief of winning, which is an all too unusual feeling!

Ordinary, in an an extraordinarily disappointing season so far, is something to enjoy and give hope for better to come.

[Pancho Regan]

Craig is going to be some player

An interesting observation that Dickos.

I watched Craig closely today and thought at times he looked like a fish out of water. Those around me felt the same. He lost the ball several times in dangerous positions, especially in the first half, and he was bullied off the ball too easily by the Tranmere players.
He looked like he always wanted more time than he had.

I thought this was maybe because he’s used to playing at Spurs where he would be afforded more space.
League Two looked like the wrong place for him!

To be fair he improved in the second half, after I was hoping GM would sub him.

Adelakun I thought was brilliant. I’m so pleased he got his goal, which he took very well by the way.

[monkeytennis]

Craig is going to be some player

An interesting observation that Dickos.

I watched Craig closely today and thought at times he looked like a fish out of water. Those around me felt the same. He lost the ball several times in dangerous positions, especially in the first half, and he was bullied off the ball too easily by the Tranmere players.
He looked like he always wanted more time than he had.

I thought this was maybe because he’s used to playing at Spurs where he would be afforded more space.
League Two looked like the wrong place for him!

To be fair he improved in the second half, after I was hoping GM would sub him.

Adelakun I thought was brilliant. I’m so pleased he got his goal, which he took very well by the way.

I’m on the same page wrt Craig. Looked fragile and easily bullied to me.

[adamtherover]

Craig is going to be some player

An interesting observation that Dickos.

I watched Craig closely today and thought at times he looked like a fish out of water. Those around me felt the same. He lost the ball several times in dangerous positions, especially in the first half, and he was bullied off the ball too easily by the Tranmere players.
He looked like he always wanted more time than he had.

I thought this was maybe because he’s used to playing at Spurs where he would be afforded more space.
League Two looked like the wrong place for him!

To be fair he improved in the second half, after I was hoping GM would sub him.

Adelakun I thought was brilliant. I’m so pleased he got his goal, which he took very well by the way.

I’m on the same page wrt Craig. Looked fragile and easily bullied to me.

snap, our group thought the same, too long on the ball, then lost it..  glad.he pepped up a tad in the 2nd half...

[dickos1]

I think he’s just getting used to the pace and physicality of this league. But the touches and through balls he played today were very good. It’s only his 3rd game too he’ll get better and better I think

[ncRover]

He isn’t afraid of the ball like Rowe, Biggins and Broadbent. He was always showing for it. That’s really important.

[Pancho Regan]

I think he’s just getting used to the pace and physicality of this league. But the touches and through balls he played today were very good. It’s only his 3rd game too he’ll get better and better I think

Yep, fair comment. He is obviously a talent or he wouldn’t have a contract with Spurs.

He just looked a bit off the pace and intimidated in the first half but he did better second half.
Not easy for a player like him to be parachuted into a side struggling at the wrong end of League Two.

[Pancho Regan]

this feels like a massive over reaction to what was generally a fairly ordinary performance.

Despite that, I hope you were able to enjoy the game.

[GazLaz]

this feels like a massive over reaction to what was generally a fairly ordinary performance.

Despite that, I hope you were able to enjoy the game.

It was decent to watch as it was so open. Entertainment and quality don’t have to hand in hand do they. 3pts were this key today and we got them.

[roversdude]

I think he’s just getting used to the pace and physicality of this league. But the touches and through balls he played today were very good. It’s only his 3rd game too he’ll get better and better I think

Thought he was iffy in first half but excellent in the second.
One thing I did like was after he was (harshly) booked he ran back and gave one of their players a bit of a nudge to let him know he was still there

[Pancho Regan]

this feels like a massive over reaction to what was generally a fairly ordinary performance.

Despite that, I hope you were able to enjoy the game.

It was decent to watch as it was so open. Entertainment and quality don’t have to hand in hand do they. 3pts were this key today and we got them.

Yep, agree it was an open game and I actually enjoyed it.

I suspect the “massive over reaction” is due to Rovers fans feeling the emotion and relief of a win when we’re in such a precarious position.

It’s the sort of reaction you have when you’re a fan.

[Colin C No.3]

this feels like a massive over reaction to what was generally a fairly ordinary performance.

Despite that, I hope you were able to enjoy the game.

It was decent to watch as it was so open. Entertainment and quality don’t have to hand in hand do they. 3pts were this key today and we got them.

If you’re looking for quality in lg2, look away now.

Entertainment comes in many forms. We’ve seen precious little of it from our team this season, in any form.

What I did ‘enjoy’ from my team today was the fact we had not one or two good players performing well but more like five or even six.

Adelakun had a really good first start to a league game. His control (in the main) was good, he had the pace to go past players, he made himself available as an outlet, his cross for Joe’s goal was inch perfect & he took his goal with great composure throughout. I think him & Joe could make a great pairing.

Molyneaux ran their left back ragged. He could give him a metre start & still pass him. He could have cut inside onto his left more often perhaps which would have given him an opportunity to shoot
(I appreciate his xg is poor) or cross into the box with his favoured foot.

Senior (apart from always seeming to dally at throw ins) had a good game down that left hand side & ushered his opponent into cul-de-sacs most of the game.

Bailey yet again put his foot in whenever he had the chance & broke up a lot of their play. He always sweats blood for the cause & today was no different.

Wood was colossal at the heart of the defence. The fact that Tranmere didn’t have one opportunity on goal from a corner (if my memory serves me right) was certainly helped by his organisation in that penalty area & again I can’t remember him losing out to any personal heading duels.

Billy Waters chased after everything again & again. He refuses to give up. His first touch let him down on a couple of occasions true, but he never gave up the chase.

Joe Ironside. I’m actually starting to warm to him.

But apart from those players doing well in their given roles, we actually had players making themselves available to take a pass & move the ball forward. We strung more passes together today than we’ve done in a ‘collection’ of games this season.

“….this feels like a massive over reaction to what was generally a fairly ordinary performance”.

Mmmm, got to disagree.

This feels like a massive positive reaction on the forum to a game we all knew really WAS a must win.

The team now knows that with endeavour, what it lacks in skill can still win it 3 points. We now go to Salford on Tuesday night in the knowledge that we can find a way to beat teams, if we match up to them as we did Tranmere we can pick up more points from the remaining sixteen games than we lose.

I didn’t see “an ordinary performance” today. I saw a will to win.

Hope I haven’t come across as being ‘reactionary’ for the sake of it?

[Pancho Regan]

A good analysis of today’s game there Colin.

[Pliskin]

I didn't think it was a particularly good performance, but it's a massive win for us and that's what matters at the moment. Other results went for us so we've now got a 10 point cushion. A good day at the office overall.

Richard Wood made a difference in defence, thought he was good. The goalkeeper, who actually comes off his line, makes a difference. And having someone like Adelakun with a bit of class can turn a game in our favour. The quality of our crossing has been poor this season, but the one Adelakun put in for Ironside's goal was excellent.