Tranmere Rovers FC boss Les Parry hails team’s character in defeat to Sheffield Wednesday

Jan 4 2012 by David Triggs, Birkenhead News

LES PARRY reflected with pride on a display which saw his Tranmere Rovers side come agonisingly close to snatching a draw at Sheffield Wednesday.

A terrible start saw Rovers fall 2-0 behind with only seven minutes gone at Hillsborough, where the Owls are yet to taste defeat in npower League One all season.

A dramatic improvement in the second period from Tranmere saw Ian Goodison’s header cut the deficit in half – but a second goal eluded the visitors.

Parry said: “I thought our lads were magnificent to be quite honest. In the second-half they showed character.

“They could easily have wilted. It’s a big crowd, it’s an intimidating atmosphere to play in.

“But we knew if we got a goal, then the crowd would turn, which they did. Full marks to our lads.”

Parry was left to rue his team’s sloppy start, which saw Reda Johnson net after just 90 seconds before Chris Lines made it 2-0 in the seventh minute.

“I’d have settled for 10-0 after five minutes!” said Parry.

“We just kept gifting them the chances. We kept gifting them the ball in poor areas. You never score 100% of chances but they easily could have got a couple more in that period. I just wanted to get to half-time to have a chat with the lads.”

ROVERS have reached an agreement with Leeds United to extend goalkeeper Paul Rachubka’s loan deal by another month.

Parry will also speak to Everton boss David Moyes this week to discuss the future of Jose Baxter, whose loan deal runs out after the next match.

Playmaker Andy Robinson missed Monday’s game after suffering a bout of food poisoning but should be available for Saturday’s home game against Brentford. The match kicks-off at 3pm.