Reality bites as talk turns to survival as Tranmere lost to Swindon

Nov 2 2009 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

SOME of the finest players to grace Tranmere’s teams of the past were given a close-up view of why the current side faces a long and difficult fight for survival this winter.

The heroes of yesteryear, parading onto the pitch before kick-off to mark the club’s 125th anniversary, put a lump in the throat of many a Rovers follower.

But the warm glow of nostalgia that bathed Prenton Park during the first part of the afternoon gave way to the uncomfortable chill of present-day reality by the time the main event was over.

The weaknesses of the team put together by John Barnes in the summer and passed into the caretaker charge of physio Les Parry just over three weeks ago, were ruthlessly exposed by Swindon Town.

The visitors are not an exceptional side by League One standards but they are good one. They had more quality than Tranmere were able to cope with, notably in the form of two-goal striker Billy Paynter and quick-footed winger Anthony McNamee.

Rovers, having shown a good deal of spirit and organisation in their first three games under the Parry’s temporary regime, were much less resilient this time.

The team’s confidence and defensive discipline melted away all too quickly after the game turned suddenly and decisively against them just after the half-hour mark.

No amount of honest endeavour could make up for the ragged covering and lapses that cost four goals and enabled Swindon to create enough chances to have doubled their tally.

It was easy, on this day of all days, to look at the famous faces among the crowd in the Main Stand and a wish for a player of Steve Mungall’s indomitable strength of character, a defender of Clint Hill’s uncompromising determination and a striker with the predatory powers of George Yardley.

But there is no turning the clock back and precious little prospect of the squad being overhauled and freshened up with new faces in the near future.

Whoever takes on the responsibility of guiding Tranmere through the remainder of the season will find the budget is largely spent, the scope for change limited.

Short of a new investor turning up, the manager has to work with the players already on the books.

Parry and coaches Shaun Garnett and Wayne Allison have made some positive progress by reorganising a squad, selected by Barnes to play a passing game, into following more direct and straightforward style.

However, they cannot escape the constraints of a lack of physical stature among the players and a shortage of pace in the midfield area.

None of those shortcomings held Tranmere back during the opening 25 minutes on Saturday when they looked capable of posting a fourth League One win of the season.

They were busy and purposeful.

If Rovers lacked the cutting edge to carve out clear-cut scoring opportunities, they at least pressed Swindon back into their own half for long periods and made the visitors look uncomfortable.

If Rovers had been able to convert one of their early half chances in to a goal, the psychological lift might have carried them through the rest of the contest in much better shape.

But they were unable to capitalise as Gareth Edds just failed to make contact with Michael Ricketts’ fifth minute cross at the far post, Ian Goodison’s header was scrambled off the line by Jean-Paul McGovern and Edds, set up by Ricketts’ neat lay-off, smashed a first-time half volley straight at goalkeeper David Lucas.

Swindon’s opener 34 minutes was entirely against the run of play and changed the game.

Tranmere were slack in allowing McGovern to find space from a throw-in to cross from the right. Defenders were left flat-footed as Paynter pounced on the chance at the far post.

Rovers players and officials were furious with referee Anthony Bates for dismissing their penalty claims when Craig Curran appeared to be barged off the ball as he moved onto a flick from Ricketts on 37 minutes.