Spirited effort can’t prevent a fifth straight league defeat for John Barnes’s Tranmere Rovers

Sep 14 2009 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

TRANMERE put in a big, spirited effort to turn around their flagging early-season fortunes at Prenton Park on Saturday – and still could not prevent a fifth consecutive League One defeat.

Rovers’ commitment and hard labour were undermined by errors and moments of slackness that allowed Walsall to punish them with three goals and take away the points.

The home side were chasing a winning goal of their own when they were caught overstretched by a devastating counter-attack on 83 minutes that enabled Troy Deeney to plunder the fifth and decisive strike of the afternoon.

Manager John Barnes, under mounting pressure from results and the frustration of supporters, was more inclined to dwell on the flaws in the team’s performance than the virtues.

Those virtues were sufficient to keep the fans noisily behind the team until the last few minutes of the contest.

Only when it was clear the cause was lost did the chants of “Barnes out” rise from the Kop Stand in the closing minutes.

A hundred or so supporters continued the protest outside the main entrance for a few minutes after the game. But most slipped quietly away.

One of the issues confronting chairman Peter Johnson and the board of directors is how many of them will return for the next home game if the losing streak continues.

Johnson quoted declining attendances as one of his reasons for disposing of previous manager Ronnie Moore in the summer.

Saturday’s gate of 4,858 was around 1,000 down on last season’s average.

Those who turned out on a warm, sunny afternoon were offered more entertainment than they might have expected from two teams who had each failed to score on four previous outings.

Tranmere, without playing much of the pass-and-move football Barnes has attempted to introduce this season, nevertheless produced moments of enterprise amidst the hustle and bustle.

Their opening goal on 11 minutes was a good example. Michael Ricketts’ height and power won the knock down that sent Craig Curran into space. Curran’s short and perceptive pass gave Chris Shuker the opportunity to run through the middle, past a retreating defender, sidestep goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin and chip a neat finish into the open net.

It was the kind of goal to suggest there is still some confidence in the side – but not enough for them to build on the advantage over the remainder of the first 45 minutes.

Walsall began to find some of their own rhythm midway through the opening half.

Striker Darren Byfield headed a cross from right flank danger man Alex Nicholls narrowly wide on 23 minutes. Then Nicholls, well set up by Byfield’s back-flick on the edge of the box, drove a fierce shot narrowly wide.

Even so, Tranmere, benefiting from the experience of Gareth Edds at right-back and Marlon Broomes at centre back, looked more secure in defence than for some time.

The home side were a couple of minutes away from reaching the interval with a lead to protect when they conceded an unexpected equaliser.

Richard Taundry wasn’t closed down quickly enough as he cut inside from the left. The midfielder’s low shot from 20 yards bounced in front of goalkeeper Luke Daniels, who allowed the ball to run loose off his outstretched hands and straight into the path of Byfield, who scored.

When Daniels saved bravely at the feet of Troy Deeney a few minutes later, the 20-year-old sustained a gash on the knee that required 15 stitches and made it impossible for him to continue. Broomes was also forced out of the action by sickness.

Joe Collister, the 17-year-old understudy who signed his first professional contract this summer, took over the gloves at the start of the second half and had to pick the ball out of the net inside two minutes.

There was little the youngster could do when substitute Ash Taylor saw his attempted clearance from a right-wing cross by Nicholls rebound off Ian Goodison into the path of Deeney, who thrashed it home from six yards.

Collister made an outstanding save to keep out a close range header from Deeney two minutes later and when Nicholls blasted a half chance wide, Tranmere’s resolve looked to be wobbling.

But they stemmed the tide of attacks from an increasingly ambitious Saddlers’ side. The introduction of Kithson Bain, the Grenada international striker who signed a season long contract at the start of the week, had a positive effect.

The 27-year-old showed flashes of the pace and strength that could worry League One defences.

Bain could not have known much about the 25-yard shot from Alan Mahon that clipped off his head and carried beyond the reach of Gilmartin to finish in the top corner of the net for Tranmere’s 62nd minute equaliser.

Rovers enjoyed an advantage in possession and pressure from that point but when a move on the left broke down seven minutes from time, Nicholls caught them with a galloping 50 yard run that took him past Goodison into yards of undefended space.

A low cross swept to the far post found Deeney unmarked to side-foot the chance home.

There was still time for Ricketts and Bain to snatch at half chances for an equaliser.

But Walsall should have added a fourth goal on 86 minutes when Deeney ran clear of the offside trap but saw his attempt to chip Collister saved.