No solace as Bond’s tactics see off Tranmere Rovers

Mar 25 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

A TROUBLED Bournemouth put the brakes on Tranmere’s pursuit of a play-off spot at Dean Court.

The Cherries, odds-on for relegation after a 10-point penalty for lapsing into administration, found the spirit and tactics for a win that confounded form and the league table. Kevin Bond’s young side, including two teenagers making their senior debuts, wrong-footed Rovers by playing five men across midfield and attacking on the break.

Tranmere while winning the territorial battled struggled throughout to create opportunities for their front men, their moves frequently choked in the crowded midfield area.

Fired up Bournemouth made most of the possession they had, counter attacking with pace and imagination.

Ivory Coast-born winger Max Gradel was a thorn in the visitors’ side all afternoon. He provided Bournemouth with an important psychological lift by forcing an own goal by Ian Goodison in the first minute.

A second goal by striker Jo Kuffour on 33 minutes was probably more than the home side deserved at half time. But Bournemouth created enough second half chances to have made the game safe before Tranmere substitute Antony Kay pulled a goal back on 87 minutes, ensuring a nervy finish for the home supporters.

Tranmere could not complain however, they did not perform well enough to subdue the spirit and determination of a Bournemouth team who have probably already accepted they will be playing football in League Two next season. Rovers could not have made a worse start, conceding a goal after 33 seconds.

They were undone by a diagonal ball out to the right by Marvin Bartley that gave Max Gradel lots of space to attack the penalty area. The winger, on loan from Leicester City, drove in a low cross that Goodison, in attempting to intercept, deflected past goalkeeper Danny Coyne into his own net.

The goal had a positive impact on a young Cherries side, whose manager Kevin Bond was unhappy about Tranmere enjoying two days’ extra rest before the game, having played their first Easter fixture last Thursday. Bond also caught Tranmere – and most of Bournemouth’s supporters – by surprise in deploying 4-5-1 formation.

The visitors had difficulty in finding a way through a midfield shrouded with red and black shirts during the first half.

Andy Taylor was the first to open a path on 19 minutes with a determined run from the left. When the full back’s shot was blocked, Ian Moore lifted a first time effort from the rebound over the bar from 15 yards.

A minute later striker Chris Greenacre appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty after being knocked over by centre-back Jason Pearce as the pair chased a ball into the box.

But Tranmere laboured largely ineffectively throughout the first period. Their passing wasn’t sharp enough to penetrate the Cherries’ absorbing tactics. But Tranmere’s task became doubly difficult when they conceded a second goal in the 34th minute.

They made two attempts to clear a right-wing corner from Danny Hollands. But the ball dropped kindly for striker Jo Kuffour, whose bouncing shot from ten yards found its way past an unsighted Coyne.

Tranmere, needing a goal early in the second half to get back into the contest, should have had one on 48 minutes. A through ball from Shane Sherriff sent midfielder Steve Jennings running clear into the box through the inside right channel.

As goalkeeper Forde advanced, Jennings dug out his shot, lifting the ball high over the bar. The home side continued to show more enterprise and purpose going forward and but for two fine saves from Coyne in quick succession, would have put the game out of Tranmere’s reach before the hour mark.

Gradel cleverly played Kuffour into a threatening position at the near post on 57 minutes. The striker clipped his low shot towards the far post but the sprawling Coyne responded quickly stretching out a right hand to stop and hold the ball.

Two minutes later when Gradel’s cross from the right was met by a first time shot from Pearce, Coyne reacted instinctively to hook the ball off the line. Soon afterwards Forde, not to be outdone made an equally fine save in blocking a Greenacre header at point blank range when the striker was first to a left wing cross from Sherriff.

Tranmere introduced substitutes Calvin Zola and Antony Kay – in a midfield role – as they tried to force a way back. Robbie Stockdale and Ian Moore could not make the most of half chances but the better opportunities continue to fall for the home side.

Coyne made another sharp save from the dangerous Gradel and Tranmere were grateful to survive a penalty appeal for handball by Ian Goodison on 80 minutes.

Rovers finally found a lifeline on 86 minutes when Kay, unaccountably left unmarked by Paul McLaren free-kick, headed the ball into the bottom corner. But it was too little too late, in spite of some frantic moments in five minutes of injury time.