Millwall 0, Tranmere Rovers 1 - post match analysis

Jan 21 2008 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

A CASE of a role reversal marked the end of Tranmere’s winless start to 2008. Ejected from the FA Cup after dominating the third round replay at Hereford in midweek, Rovers were the team on the back foot for most of an absorbing League One encounter at the New Den.

This time the luck ran for Ronnie Moore’s players, who weathered some periods of strong Millwall pressure, then snatched the points with an 87th minute goal from defender Antony Kay.

It was a classic smash and grab raid rather than a victory of the well-rounded quality Tranmere were posting at places like Gillingham, Carlisle and Southend early this season.

But after taking just two points from their previous eight away games in the league, it was a welcome and timely success, keeping Rovers in touch with the teams chasing a play-off spot.

Whether it marks a turning point that puts Tranmere back on track to rejoin the promotion race only time will tell.

Ian Goodison’s return to the action after a four-match suspension made a significant difference to the strength and resilience of Rovers’ defending.

They also benefited from the fact that Millwall’s finishing did not match the quality of some of their creative play.

The missed opportunities caused the Lions supporters to groan at the injustice of the outcome – just as Tranmere’s followers had done at the end of the cup tie at Edgar Street three days earlier.

Even so, more than a murmur of grudging respect for the defensive expertise of the Jamaican centre-back could be heard among the locals, who know a class act when they see one.

At the other end of the pitch, there was little sign of Tranmere increasing the punching power to an attack that had failed to find the net in three previous games.

Kay’s strike came from a set play, always a potential source of profit given the quality of Paul McLaren’s delivery from free kicks and corners.

And just as well given that Rovers created few opportunities for the strikers from open play.

In spite of a great deal of hard work in midfield and plenty of attacking ambition they threatened more than they actually delivered.

Moore reported that striker Calvin Zola and midfielder Steve Jennings had run themselves to a standstill by the time they were substituted in the final quarter of the contest.

So the pressure was always on the defenders to hold the line. Moore’s decision to favour Kay over Ben Chorley was rewarded with the bonus of former Barnsley defender’s fourth goal of the season.

Tranmere had a third star turn at the back in goalkeeper Danny Coyne, who made several sharp saves.

Millwall’s invention and movement going forward set some difficult problems for the visiting defence. Adrian Forbes, a striker recently recruited from Blackpool, was an enterprising leader of the front line and Jay Simpson and Ali Fuseini threatened from midfield.

Coyne made his first intervention in pushing out a low shot from Simpson at the near post on six minutes.

Rovers were grateful to see efforts by Fuseini and striker David Alexander just miss the target before Coyne’s opposite number Lenny Pidgeley made his first save on 26 minutes, scrambling at the foot of a post the deal with a half volley on the run from Shane Sherriff.