MANAGER Les Parry insisted “I think we deserved to win” after Tranmere came from behind to secure a draw with Charlton Athletic at Prenton Park.
“When you are 1-0 down and someone offers you a 1-1, you would take it,” Parry added. “More pleasing than the result was the performance. The way the lads battled and came back into the game to dominate periods of it was very pleasing.
“I thought every one of them was magnificent. Charlton are a physical side and I don’t have a problem with that at all.
“I would have liked the ref to protect us a little better because that’s his job but I thought the lads coped with it. They did not let themselves be bullied off the ball and everyone put in 100 per cent.”
Striker Enoch Showunmi fired Rovers level with his fourth goal of the season on 53 minutes after a handling error from on-loan goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi gifted a sixth minute opener to Charlton midfielder Scott Wagstaff.
The young Hungarian goalkeeper was brought in on loan from Liverpool at the weekend as Parry sought to ease the pressure on 18-year-old Joe Collister, who became the only fit professional keeper in the club after Gunnar Nielsen suffered a shoulder injury.
Parry said: “The biggest problem with playing youngsters is that when they make mistakes, they can have problems dealing with them and dig themselves a hole. Peter is only 20 and he did not let the goal impact on the rest of his performance. He took crosses and his handling was clean. The goal was just a blip for him.”
Parry praised the contribution of skipper John Welsh, who returned to the heart of the midfield after a two-game absence.
“I think we miss Welshy when he is not in the side and I think today showed why,” Parry said.
“He was all over the pitch. He nearly scored a magnificent goal in the first half and he was driving us right to the last whistle.”
Dale Jennings, a 17-year-old scholar, made a positive impact on his first senior appearance as a 45th minute substitute for the injured Sam Morrow. The energetic youngster had a big hand in the goal and was denied a spectacular winner when Charlton goalkeeper Ross Worner tipped his 30 yard shot over the bar on 66 minutes.
Parry said: “It would have been great for Dale to score when he came on. He twisted and turned them. He still has a lot to learn. We have got to look at his performance honestly and say he made a few mistakes which nearly cost us. But that is the type of player he is.
“The type of player who creates things often causes his own team problems as well. Dale almost got us a winner and is not frightened to shoot.”
