TRANMERE ROVERS ............. 2
SWANSEA CITY ...................... 4
Prenton Park was the scene of our Saturday night game this week with Tranmere Rovers, managed by Frank Hirst, entertaining Swansea City, managed by Fred Dodger. The hosts have been a major disappointment so far having only won one game, against Queens Park Rangers, from the 8 games played. The success story of this small club, situated across the Mersey River from the big two in Liverpool, has been amazing. In Season 1, they won the Division 3 title by 5 points from Sheffield United and one of the strange stats is that they never had a player in the top 25 goalscorers. In Season 2 they stormed to the Division 2 title, earning the exact same number of points, 97, that they won Division 3 with. Many thought they had reached the top flight too soon and that relegation would inevitably follow. Season 3 followed and amazingly, they challenged Manchester United at the top and finished runners up, leaving their critics speechless. Frank Hirst was made a freeman of the Prenton area of the City for his achievements and had left the giants of Liverpool and Everton in his trail. Could he keep it up? In Season 4 he not only kept it up, to the delight of his wife, he led Tranmere to the Division 1 title, edging out Chelsea by 3 points. Tranmere were now easily the best club in the country, a fairy tale story that enthralled almost everybody. Season 5 arrived and Hirst found out what everyone else in the game already knew. Winning the title was one thing, defending it was another story. No club had successfully defended the title yet and Tranmere were no different as they had to settle for fifth place but their biggest achievement came at the end of the season when Tranmere won the European Champions Cup by beating Borussia Dortmund 1-0 in the Final. So what has happened this season? Well, it's still early but already people are saying that Tranmere have peaked and now the only way is down. I am sure Hirst will have plenty to say about that.
Swansea City started Season 1 as one of the smaller clubs in Division 1. Nothing was expected from them but they managed to finish in a safe mid table position (11th). There was no improvement in Season 2 as the club settled for 14th although settled may not be the right word as 14th was only 2 points above the relegation spots and probably flatters their efforts that season. After the discomfort of that season, Swansea made a few changes and in Season 3 they found mid table safety once more by finishing 11th for the second time and well away from the danger area. Season 4 was the most successful one yet as they played their best football for a long time and managed finish an all time high of 5th place. A position that put them into Europe for the first time with a place in the Euro Shield. That season also seen a spell where Lee Reynolds, now manager of Peterborough, took the reins for 14 games and he must take credit for his part during that campaign. His departure at the end of that season came as a surprise and left Swansea looking for an experienced manager to take them into Europe. Up stepped Fred Dodger, the man that was given the challenge of trying to keep Swansea on the up. It soon became apparent the combination of league and Europe was a very tough task and because of that the league form suffered. A fine performance in the Euro Shield was being matched by a reasonable performance in the league but the further Swansea went in the Euro Shield, the further Swansea dropped down the table. In the end 4 points from their last two games meant they escaped the drop by 3 points but the sensational run in Europe meant they would meet FC Basel in the Euro Shield Final, a game they won 3-1 to lift the trophy. That meant that this season, Swansea would play tonights opponents Tranmere for the European Super Cup. Goals from Bonaventura and Lukaku seen Tranmere win 2-0 and lift the trophy.
That result had set this game up perfectly. Swansea, lying 14th, out for revenge against the surprisingly struggling Tranmere Rovers, bottom of the table.
The stadium was disappointingly only half full. Despite the recent success of this club, they could not get out of the shadow of their more illustrious neighbours when it came to support. There were less than 14,000 in the stadium of which around 1,000 had made the trip from Swansea although they were already making the noise of three times that. Last season the corresponding fixture had seen a 1-1 draw so this was a difficult one to call. Could Tranmere kick start their season or was it to be revenge for Swansea after the Super Cup defeat. The team sheets arrived in the press box and Frank Hirst has opted for a cautious 4-2-3-1 with counter attacking almost certainly to be the main tactic while Fred Dodger has went for a 3-5-2, with 3 at the back away from home always being a brave choice.
The teams are:
TRANMERE ROVERS: Perin; Mario, Gimenez, Knoche, Ansaldi; Rode, Guilavogui; Bonaventura, Totti, Lallana; Lukaku
SWANSEA CITY: Vorm; Schwabb, Williams, Taylor; Rodriguez, Routledge, Ki, Salihovic, Danny; Gutierrez, Nilmar
The players emerge from the tunnel
The teams come out to a roar from around the ground with the Tranmere fans showing their faith in the team even though they are bottom. I am sure that if the worst happens and Tranmere are relegated at the end of the season, the fans will always remember the great times they have had. Anyway, it is still very early in the season and to talk about relegation is far too premature. The teams are almost ready to get us going and it was Swansea to kick off in what should be a hard fought game. Off we went and a ball back to Routledge was knocked up the park towards Danny but he couldn't stop the ball from going out of play. The ball was thrown back towards the keeper who laid it off to Mario as Tranmere came forward for their first attack. Mario done well to find Rodriguez and he made a nice move before giving it to Lallana, who had taken up nice position just outside the box. There was early danger here for Swansea. Lallana turned Schwabb before dinking a little pass into to Totti. The Italian legend turned back the clock with some great control before lashing the ball high past Vorm into the Swansea net. He turned to celebrate as the Tranmere fans let out a roar and with just two minutes on the clock, Tranmere were in front. What a start for the strugglers and just the boost they needed. How would Swansea respond to this early setback? They were keen enough to get the game restarted and immediately launched an attack down the right that was mopped up by Ansaldi. The game was certainly fast flowing with neither side getting time for a breather. On 6 minutes Swansea went on the offensive once more. This time they tried the left side and Salihivic found Danny out on the touchline. Some nice footwork from the wide man got him some space and he chipped the ball forward into the path of Ki, who was just a couple of yards outside the box. The Korean moved a pace forward and with no other options around him hit a shot towards goal that seemed to surprise Perin and the keeper somehow managed to turn the ball away before suffering the embarrassment of losing a soft goal. Tranmere cleared the ball but Swansea were on top and pushing hard for an equaliser, an equaliser that arrived a couple of minutes later. It was Rodriguez, this time, that collected the ball on the right and as he moved inside, he then caught out Ansaldi by quickly moving back to the outside. He spotted Ki making his way into the box and found him with a perfect pass and the midfielder hit it first time into the corner of the net, leaving Perin stranded. It was the turn of the 1,000 or so Swansea fans to jump off their seats while the players celebrated with Dodger on the edge of his technical area pumping his fist with delight. It was a superb reaction to the loss of the early goal and was deserved. Tranmere had allowed Swansea too much room, especially in the midfield and Frank Hirst did not look too pleased with his players. Tranmere kicked off again looking a bit unsettled and tried to keep possession but with the Swansea players in their faces, they were finding it difficult to get space. A couple of attacks from Swansea came to nothing and with now 15 minutes gone, Tranmere were starting to settle again without troubling the Swansea back 3. It was the visitors who looked the more dangerous side and again they launched an attack. Salihovic received in midfield before slipping it to Gutierrez. The striker made a run at an unsure Tranmere defence, who were backing off, supported well by Routledge. Just as Gutierrez reached the edge of the box with still no telling tackle coming in, he laid it back to Routledge who, with one swing of his leg, struck the ball superbly and watched it fly past a diving but helpless Perin. Routledge turned away with his hands aloft and Swansea were now in front. The Swansea fans celebrated in the Cowshed while Hirst looked absolutely livid at the schoolboy defending from his side. 16 minutes on the clock and Tranmere had thrown away their early lead.
Swansea go in front
There were a couple of calls from the Tranmere fans but although the defence looked in a shambles, the calls were a bit harsh. It was up to Tranmere to steady the ship and hit back but it wasn't going to be easy. The confidence looked, just as it has this season, short and the lack of a leader was showing. On 18 minutes though they could have equalised. Mario had the ball deep in his own half and decided to take route one by launching a long ball towards Lukaku up front. Whether it was great vision from Mario or just a hopeful punt was unsure but it reached it's intended target and Lukaku showed a world class touch as he controlled the ball with his chest before letting go a superb volley that dipped towards the bottom corner only for Vorm to dive across his goal and make a superb save. Classic stuff that was in tune with a great game. Surely this pace couldn't be kept up. The game flowed from end to end although final passes were being seized upon by the defences. On 26 minutes Williams was late with a tackle on Lukaku, leaving the Belgian writhing on the deck and leaving the referee with the easy task of brandishing the first yellow card of the match. There were more goals in this game and with Tranmere missing out the midfield, the Swansea defence had to be wary of leaving space in behind. Half an hour had gone and it had been pure entertainment for the fans with obviously, the Swansea fans the happier. That was soon to change as on 33 minutes Tranmere fashioned an equaliser. Routledge played the ball forward to Lukaku, who held the ball up superbly to allow the midfield to support. Lukaku then turned and played a superb curling pass, that Swansea failed to deal with, for Lallana who, despite the attentions of Williams, used his strength before firing in a shot that Vorm got a touch to but couldn't prevent the ball going into the net. The home crowd went wild and there is no doubt it was a superb goal made by the class of Lukaku and the determination of Lallana. Hirst looked much happier on the bench and Tranmere looked a bit like their old selves but could they now turn the game around and go on and win it? Not if Swansea could help it as they kicked off again and tried to go immediately on the attack but a poor ball from Ki rolled harmlessly through to Perin. On 37 minutes Swansea came forward once more. The pace was showing no signs of dropping as Ki made his way to halfway into the Tranmere half. Again the Tranmere defence backed off, affording Ki too much space. The South Korean played the ball out to the left for Miguel Danny and as he moved down the touchline he fooled Mario with a cut inside before easily slipping by Giminez and all of a sudden he was in the box. He looked up and placed the ball just inside the post with Perin looking a bit slow to get down and Swansea were back in front. The Cowshed end of the ground erupted for the third time. The Swansea players jumped on their team mate, congratulating a superb piece of skill and as cool a finish as you will see this season. There was still eight minutes until half time and we had already seen five goals. Tranmere kicked off again looking for another way through the Swansea rearguard but there was no chink in that armour. It was looking like Tranmere were going to settle for the half time interval and regroup for a second half assault but Swansea were doing no such thing. On 41 minutes Ki received the ball in the middle of the park but was immediately covered by Guilavogui. The tackle was strong but Ki managed to escape still with the ball leaving Guilavogui on the deck. Ki moved forward before playing an inch perfect pass just in front of the breaking Gutierrez. Gutierrez ran onto the ball before firing past Perin to make it 4-2. Another superb passage of play by the Swans and one that Tranmere could do nothing about. The away end of the ground was bouncing as the Swansea players almost crushed Gutierrez. The Tranmere keeper lay on the ground dejected as he was beaten for the fourth time in this half. Tranmere kicked off once again in this incredible first 45 minutes and a move forward came to nothing with the ball ending up in Vorm's hands. It wasn't long until the whistle went to end a superb first half which the Swansea fans stood to a man. The Tranmere fans weren't sure whether to applaud the level of play or to whistle at their side for being two goals behind. Hirst was first up the tunnel as the players walked off with no doubt a few words to say to his side.
HALF TIME: TRANMERE ROVERS 2 SWANSEA CITY 4
The teams came out for the second half and Hirst had wielded the axe by making three changes. Mario, who had been found wanting defensively, Totti, who had unsurprisingly found the pace too much and perhaps surprisingly, Lallana were no longer on the park with Goretzka, Son and Berardi taking their place. Fred Dodger made no changes and both sides seemed to line up with the same formation as the first half. Tranmere kicked off and the expectation of an all out attack didn't look as though it would materialise just yet. The first chance of the half did fall to them though on 50 minutes when two of the substitutes combined to set up the opportunity. Berardi was racing forward and slipped it to Son. Son laid it beautifully back into Berardi's path. The young Italian skipped past a couple of challenges before having a shot at goal but unfortunately he didn't get a good contact and it went straight at Vorm, who collected easily. It was enough to encourage the Tranmere fans who were delighted at the youngster being given some playing time.
Tranmere tried to get back into the game
Swansea weren't resting on their laurels though and on 53 minutes Salihovic moved forward from midfield before whipping a ball into the danger area that Gutierrez got his head to but Perin seen it early and grasped the ball confidently. The pace had dropped but that was to be expected after that crazy first 45. The chances were still coming and on 56 minutes Tranmere created another. Berardi was again involved as he went out wide to receive a pass from Ki. With a drop of his shoulder he made enough space to send a cross into the centre of the box where Goretzka took a touch before sending in a shot that Vorm got down well to, getting both hands on the ball. Swansea started to try and slow the game down, realising that the substitutions had made a difference to Tranmere's play. The forward play of Swansea was looking to lack as much conviction as it did in the first half with them preferring to keep it tight at the back and leaving Ki and Routledge a bit deeper to offer protection to the back three. However it was Swansea who had the next opportunity on 67 minutes. Salihovic and Danny worked the ball down the left before Salihovic sent in a cross towards Gutierrez. The Colombian done very well to just get in front of Giminez to send in a header that went wide. Good pressure at the last second by Giminez was enough to put Gutierrez off. Every ball had been keenly contested but there had been nothing untoward by either team although the second booking of the game came on 71 minutes when a mistimed challenge by Rode on Salihovic seen the Tranmere midfielder go in the book.
The Cowshed end of the ground in the background of the action
On 73 minutes Vorm rolled the ball out to Williams and the big defender launched a long ball forward that was picked up by Routledge. The 30 year old Swansea player was all of 30 yards from goal but decided to try his luck anyway. It was a decent effort but Perin had plenty of time to go down to the left and make the save. A bit selfish from Routledge but when you are two goals ahead then I suppose it can be forgiven. There were fifteen minutes left on the clock and Tranmere needed a goal soon but it was Swansea who were bossing the midfield and possession. Danny had it on the wing and he cut inside before he was upended on the edge of the penalty area by Guilavogui. The Tranmere man became the third player to be shown the yellow for a tackle that looked borne out of frustration rather than anything malicious. It was a dangerous free kick and Rodriguez stepped up to take it. He got a clean hit on it as he aimed for the top corner of the goal but he got too much on it and it went over the bar. The pace from the first half was now a telling factor with neither team able to inject much pace into their attacking attempts. Time was running out for the home side and the first of the fans were leaving the stadium to avoid the rush and heavy traffic. Rodriguez had it in the inside right position for Swansea as they came forward once more and played the ball through to Danny, who seemed to be carrying a knock, but the Potuguese winger managed to hold off a defender and get a shot away that missed the target. Tranmere looked out of steam and the defeat was inevitable as Swansea kept the ball with ease now with their small band of supporters giving it 'ole' as they passed the ball about the back. Not long after the full time whistle sounded and it was revenge for the Welsh side as they shook hands and trudged off the park. Hirst and Dodger shook hands on a good entertaining match and then seen the players off the field followed by the officials . Three points for Swansea.
So, it's defeat number six from nine games for Tranmere and last season's exploits will have been forgotten for now as they try and rediscover the form that led them to last season's glory. The first half may have been entertaining but to lose four goals is not acceptable and at times the defence seemed scared to make a tackle in the important areas. Ansaldi was unusually quiet and his normal forward runs down the left side were kept in check by a lively Swansea midfield. Perin, in goal, will not be happy at the first two goals although there was nothing he could do with the third and fourth. Lukaku was the bright spot for Tranmere along with the second half play of the three subs who seemed to play with confidence. Confidence may be the only thing that is holding Tranmere back and a win or two could make all the difference. The surprising substitution of Lallana was explained by Hirst as a knock that was better rested than risk making it worse. The defeat leaves Tranmere at the bottom on their own after Blackburn won their fixture. Things don't get any easier as they make the short trip to face Manchester City on Wednesday but rather than look at what another defeat will do they should think what a win could do for their confidence. They are certainly capable of taking something from the game and one wonders if starting the likes of Son and Berardi would give the team a boost.
Swansea City climbed to tenth, just two points behind the sixth placed team, with this victory and in the first half some of their play was a delight to watch. The midfield were superb and the play from the likes of Ki and Salihovic would have caused many a team problems. Gutierrez was a handful up front and it is no surprise that he has now scored 7 goals already this season. On the downside, Nilmar was almost invisible and how he wasn't substituted is a mystery as he contributed very little to the game. Maybe that is the missing link for this Swansea side and Gomis might be the better option up front. The three man defence is always a risk on the road and it must be remembered that they did lose two goals and also that they wont score four every game but Dodger must be quite happy with the way it is working out. Swansea now face West Brom at the Liberty Stadium on Wednesday, a game that should be interesting as the Baggies will not ship four goals and have in fact only lost one goal in their four away matches. That will be a tight game and probably not a game for Nilmar.
Fannie Licker @ Prenton Park, Liverpool
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