|
The 1:00pm kick off meant no pub stop and arrival at the ground at 12.30pm, maybe it's because it's the third time we've been there in the last 10 months, maybe becuase we gave Tranmere a hiding at Ninian the other week, maybe the early kick off but it was a quiet Prenton that I drove into and Parked within 100 yards of the ground. No jokes, I left with all my wheels as well.
Tranmere took first blood in a classic cup tie. A neutral following City over the last two weekends would have been thoroughly entertained. A corner was flicked on by Haworth, Maxwell blocked it on the line but it fell for Stuart Barlow to fire home.
Kav put a free kick over the bar, Legg volleyed over, but City got a break when Tranmere gave away a needless corner. Kav appeared to overhit his cross, Thorne rose deep and nodded down for James Collins to score.
10 minutes later, on the stroke of half time Jason Bowen broke, City were 3 on 3 when Bowen played Campbell in, Connolly (who gave away the corner that led to City's first goal), took Campbell out and got himself booked.
Kav scored with a perfect free kick. The keeper was no where.
City could and should have won the game, the Bluebirds had several chances, Prior went close, Thorne was an inch away from a winner, Earnie was a live wire when he came on. A draw though was probably fair after Alexander produced a superb one on one block.
City brought in James Collins who I thought was excellent and he scored. He replaced Daniel Gabbidon. Barker replaced Croft, Legg in for Whalley, Bowen for Boland and Campbell for Earnshaw. Earnie, Hamilton and Leo came on. Margetson and Croft were the unused subs.
As I walked out of the ground I assumed Osama Bin Laden had been captured in Birkenhead, either that or Paul Burrell was doing a book signing. Why so many police. 300 City fans and the nearest sign of trouble was when my son realised he did not like the tomato sauce on his hot dog.
A 3:00pm departure from Tranmere, a trip through the Mersey Tunnel for my lad and even allowing for 45 mins worth of stops on the way home I was relaxing with a beer by 7:20pm.
City will use their squad again next week. Chesterfield in the league on Sunday, Tranmere replay on Tuesday and QPR away on the Friday. 3 games in 6 days.