Tranmere 2 Cardiff 2. Match Report.

It was the third time in ten months that City have played away at Tranmere, and the City turn out suffered accordingly. The FA Cup tie in January and the last league game of last season in April were both sold out for away fans, but today the away end was sparsely populated. This didn't stop the City contingent outsinging their Birkenhead counterparts however.

Lawrence changed things around today, bringing in Collins, Bowen and Campbell and re-organising the formation.

Maxwell holds off the fruity Mellon

The game started at a high tempo with both teams spurning early chances. Spencer Prior from the off was having a nightmare, being beaten again and again in the air by ex-City favourite Simon Howarth. Collins looked solid yet unspectacular alongside him, although he has the reddest hair I have ever seen and was easy to spot as City's first goal scorer.

Early on, Legg had a volley which dipped just over the bar after good work by a much improved Kavanagh. Then disaster struck. A near post corner was flicked on unopposed by Howarth, with Prior seemingly rooted to the ground. This found its way to Maxwell defending the far post who failed to clear properly and Barlow bundled the ball in and City were behind after just seven minutes.

Full credit to Cardiff as this didn't seem to faze the players too much as they kept on attacking, both sides looking susceptible at the back in this end-to-end cup tie.

City were playing the better football, but Tranmere's direct style suited their front two of Howarth and Barlow. Prior was extremely fortunate only to be booked for pulling down a Tranmere player when he looked to be through on goal.

The equaliser came from a Kavanagh corner floated high and long to the back post, it looked like it was too long as it was drifting away from goal. However, Thorne returned the ball into the six yard box and James Collins pounced to volley home through the melee from close range. This seemed to spur City on as a the second goal followed minutes before half time.

Campbell was set free on goal and was chopped down by Connolly in prime free kick territory just to the right of the D. The wall was formed of around 6 Tranmere players and it looked ripe for a left footed Legg free kick as Kavanagh had spurned an earlier effort.

Kav strikes

At the last minute Kavanagh moved the ball around a foot to the right, the wall stayed where it was, he then ran up and bent a superb free kick around the wall and into the top of the net. The Tranmere keeper had no chance and City were ahead on 44 minutes.

However as the half time whistle approached Tranmere should have equalised as a fizzing ball across the six yard box was somehow left untouched by the incoming Rovers attacker.

HT Tranmere 1 - 2 City and you knew there was more to come

Tranmere started the second half in the ascendancy and had a number of corners and free kicks in dangerous positions, while City were content to attack on the break with Campbell looking sharp, and Bowen revelling in his role behind the front two. He really did look good, beating his man on a number of occassions and linking the play exceptionally well.

Haworth slips the ball into the goal

Tranmere's second goal came as Haworth chased Weston into the left hand corner after a long diagonal ball forward. Weston appeared to be fouled in the challenge, but Howarth picked up the ball descended on goal and beat a flat footed Alexander at the near post.

City then had a period of concerted pressure where City players missed a string of good chances, Campbell's cross was inches away from a Thorne finish at the far post. Kavanagh blasted wide from outside the box and Bowen lost his composure after ghosting his way into the Tranmere penalty area. An acrobatic effort from Prior ended up on the roof of the net.

Earnie and Hamilton were brought on to change things, replacing the tired Campbell and annoyed Legg. Earnie looked keen, making run after run to try and unlock the Rovers defence but was restricted to two half chances as the ball was played direct to his feet. One on the turn was just over, while the second was high and wide.

As the game wore on Leo Fortune West was brought on for Bowen in a last gasp effort to win the match on the day, but even then City had to withstand a battering from successive Rovers free kicks and corners.

Overall a highly entertaining and enjoyable cup tie, although we could have done without the extra game in the form of next weeks replay.

Prior goes close

In the end a draw is probably a fair result, but we had the chances in the second half to end the game there and then. It appears that the replay will now be sandwiched between league games at home to Chesterfield on Sun 24 Nov and away to QPR on Fri 29 Nov. 3 games in 6 days will mean that the side that faces Tranmere at home on Tue 26 Nov will probably be a significantly weaker one than played today.

In my opinion 6 points from those 2 league games would be fine recompense for an early exit from the FA Cup. Promotion this season is the priority, and as good as today's match was the cup competitions must play second fiddle to the league.


Report from FootyMad
Tranmere Rovers and Cardiff City must try again after a thrilling first round tie at Prenton Park.

Tranmere took the early initiative. Stuart Barlow fired them ahead on seven minutes with a close-range effort after a Gary Jones header following a corner that was blocked on the line by Leyton Maxwell.

Cradiff gradually warmed to their task and two errors by Sean Connolly lead to them being ahead before half time.

Connolly gave away a needless corner after 34 minutes with a wayward backpass and James Collins netted from 12 yards following the subsequent cross.

Then on 44 minutes Connolly fouled Andy Campbell just outside the box and Graham Kavanagh netted just inside the right-hand post with a fine strike.

The Mersysiders leveled it out at 2-2 with an angled shot by Simon Haworth as he capitaslised on Rhys Weston's mistake on 62 minutes.

"I thought we were marginally the better side but a draw was probably fair," said Cardiff boss Lennie Lawrence.

"We did not get one desision on the day and we are very disapointed not to have won it," said Tranmere boss Ray Mathias.


External reports
Wales On Sunday
The Football Echo