Tranmere feel Terriers’ bite at just the wrong moment in home defeat

Feb 24 2010 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

TRANMERE manager Les Parry spoke in his programme notes about nearly “keeling over” as Saturday’s win over Leyton Orient went right to the wire – but last night’s defeat will have simply left him pulling his hair out.

There was to be no happy ending at Prenton Park on this occasion as generous defending allowed Huddersfield Town striker Lee Novak to fire the ruthless visitors to a victory which cements their billing as play-off contenders, while plunging Tranmere closer to the dreaded drop zone.

Goals early in each half stunned Tranmere who, despite showing the spirit which has come to define the Parry era and carving out some chances, suffered a relapse of bad defensive habits which have blighted their season.

Parry’s men remain out of trouble in 19th position in League One after the loss to a smooth operating Terriers but many more displays of poor defending and Tranmere will soon be back where they do not want to be. Parry must hope all the hard work does not unravel at a pivotal time.

Both sides entered this League One encounter with unchanged line-ups from their respective weekend wins.

Huddersfield’s 2-0 win over Hartlepool kept their promotion hopes alive and stretched their unbeaten run to nine matches, whilst many will have considered Rovers’ victory over Leyton Orient of more significance.

Goals on the day from Ian Thomas-Moore and Marvin Sordell took the Wirral side out of the relegation zone for the first time in six months so manager Parry put his faith in the same 11 players for the game against Lee Clark’s men.

A light snow shower greeted the players as the game got under way with the home side making the better use of the orange ball early on.

Thomas-Moore had a goal-bound shot blocked bravely as Sordell caused the Huddersfield defence problems with his pace and tenacity.

However, Rovers’ decent start was brought to an abrupt end and was in many ways a self-inflicted wound.

Defender Ian Goodison hesitated deep in his own half which allowed Anthony Pilkington to steal the ball and feed Jordan Rhodes inside the area an d his powerful shot was finely saved by Luke Daniels.

The Tranmere keeper was called upon again from the corner to palm a header into the air but from the scramble which ensued striker Novak, a man playing in the Blue Square North last season, nodded home from less than six yards despite the best efforts of the keeper and defender on the line.

Rovers were reeling, and in the wintry chill were defending with none of the presence which has dragged them out of the League One drop zone.

But at the other end, Parry’s men were not short of chances and Huddersfield, a slick group going forward, showed further signs of uncertainty at the back.

Opportunities for Craig Curran and Goodison presented themselves as Rovers steadied the ship, yet both chances failed to pose Alex Smithies too many concerns.

Rhodes nearly doubled the visitors’ lead just before the break, but after slaloming past Goodison, his shot was parried with comfort by Daniels.

Tranmere’s resurgence almost came to ah ead a minute into the second period when Sordell cut inside from the left and unleashed a vicious drive at Smithies’ goal but the Town keeper saved well low down.

It would prove a pivotal save as from the clearance, Huddersfield struck in clinical fashion to double their lead when Novak latched onto a flick on a fired sweetly past Daniels from the angle on the right.

A flat-footed Rovers’ backline was punished by Huddersfield’s potent attack, one which had provided them with 56 league goals ahead of the trip to Merseyside.

Tranmere dominated possession for the remainder of the second period but met a much more stubborn Town defence to the one which had allowed Rovers room to play in the first half.

But as Parry’s men persevered with the hunt for a way back into the contest, Huddersfield almost punished them on the break but Daniels twice thwarted Novak as he went in search of his hat-trick.