We really should be able to beat this opposition and the conditions. 3 - 0 to Rovers, Sadlier, Ennis, Cole

3-0 to Rovers from me too. Cole, Ennis Whiteman.

I thought Taylor and Sheaf would be on the bench to make room for two new lads; however I'd like to see James back at left back. I understand Copps has an ankle knock.
With that pitch and new lads, who knows what will happen! I'll be my usual positive self and say Tranmere 1 Rovers 3 with Sadlier getting the first (Ennis and Cole the other two).

Tranmere 1-2 Rovers
Cole to score

Small Azza
Tranmere 0-3 Rovers
Ennis to score

2-0 rovers ramsey

Feel like should win this one but with conditions and new faces going 1-1 sadler

Just got in, was going for a sneaky win but just seen the team sheet, what has happened with James, on bench again.

Long night but worth it.
Fantastic performance.
Totally deserved the victory.

My first opinion is that if Tranmere cannot provide a better pitch, they should be kicked out the League. It was outrageous that teams have to play on such a pitch in a professional league. I understand that their drainage system has failed, but fix it by next season whatever the division they are in.
After that rant, I will say that once the Rovers got used to it, they played very well. Early, Whiteman was a little off with some of his passing, but once he got his measure of the pitch, he sprayed great passes everywhere.
All the new signings showed what they could do for us; Cole was very good earlier and then faded somewhat, but the young Aston Villa lad, Jacob, after missing a great chance in the first half, was outstanding - the Herbie Kane of this season?
Okenabirhie (we need to get an easier nick-name for this guy!) showed he may be a classic #9 as he pounced on his chance very well.
Although this was not a complete performance in any way, I'm encouraged that we might challenge for a play-off position, which I did not feel after the Fleetwood game.

I must add, Gomes is getting better and better by the game.

In the first quarter Tranmere had their chances to get ahead with most of the possession and better control in the conditions, but they did not take their opportunities and slowly Rovers took over.

I must confess that I did not see too much of Ramsey in the first 45. Gomez, the defence and Dieng were solid and the attacks, when they came, were smooth and sophisticated.

Possibly Tranmere were a bit tired in the second half because it was mainly Rovers in possession and passing the ball around slickly. Sadlier shows a lot of class and composure with the ball and all the team were working the ball forward with speed.

All three goals were a joy to behold, a class above the norm.

It is interesting to note that DM cannot include all the loanees in the 18 man match squad because we now have more than 5 fit to play and this will be even more restrictive when Baptiste is in contention. At least it will potentially provide a space for Watters, Amos etc.

Peterborough away 0 3
Bristol R away....0 2
Tranmere away 0.3
Who was missing from starting 11?

Agree Don although I was thinking Ramsay was positioning himself well in the first half.
2 centre backs were outstanding.
Ref just gave a free kick when anyone fell to ground.
A word on McCullock.
I believe that was his first game of season after another long injury.Feel sorry for him.
If he would be able to stay fit he would be at least a championship player.

Yes, I meant to say I thought he had a good game with good passing and movement. They presumably subbed him because he had only just got back.

Interesting to see if Copps starts on Saturday. He was injured for Tuesday. Gomes seems to be improving all the time. I think I'd have James back though last night's set up worked very well in the second half

When a game goes to form the scores are good, so well done to the 3-0 ers and special praise to Yorkshire Lad who forecast the dream debut goal(s).

As far as the pitch is concerned we perhaps forget that some of the best footballers ever produced were brought up on the most appalling surfaces. Those of my generation played all our games on the Town Fields where the surfaces were far from perfect yet the bast players could still control the ball better than the rest of us. There was no nudging the ball a couple of feet or so and then making your pass without looking down again - you could not guarantee exactly where it would be. Perhaps that and the heavy ball ensured that we got our heads over it when we played it.

And well done Nookie, comfortably in the lead.

Tranmere R 0 : Rovers 3 (Ramsey)
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 64 >>>> 64
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 63 >>>> 66
Yorks Lad>> 4 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 7 >>>>> 62 >>>> 69
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 28 >>>>>> 31
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 7 >>>>> 43 >>>> 50
Uthred>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 43 >>>> 43
Mooligan>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 57 >>>> 60
King Chmprr 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0
Small Azza> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 7 >>>>> 42 >>>> 49
Azza>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 11 >>>>> 11
Cheltenham 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 4 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 7 >>>>> 84 >>>> 91
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0
Lanza>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 49 >>>> 49
>>>>>>>>>> 4 >>>> 12 >>>> 21 >>>> 0 >>>> 37 >>>> 546 >>> 583

Forgot to but my 5 nil victory, Sadlier first goal down again lol.
I'll save it for Saturday,

Now this is where the fun starts, one loanee has to miss out, but still, who do you pick to start. Hopefully DM will not play one up front at home again this season.
Feji looks like he's what we've been missing, Whiteman on his own in front of the back four looks like his old self, Cole/Ennis looks like a toss up who starts each game. With games coming thick n fast over next 7/8 weeks we can now look forward to rotating the players so we dont get any burnt out on the way to the play offs.
I said before season started we could get 3rd, as there was no outstanding teams this year.
A few other teams have strengthened over the window, but, I do think we have really chucked our hat in the ring with the players DM has brought in, in the January window.
My teams are
Peterborough
Portsmouth
Ipswich (just)
Rothercoughham
Coventry
Mighty Ziggers.
I believe sunlund will implode again, Wycombe haven't got the strength in depth, Oxfords form could do them, could lose the next 3 after their FA Cup run.
I also believe the last 2 places could go down to the wire on the last day. Every team will take points off each other, end of February should show who will be chasing that play off place. Except Fleetwood, they dont play on last day, dont like them anyways. Would be nice if they were in play offs before kick off, then have to watch as they get overtaken by other teams

Comment number 12 (James Hayter).
The answer to my question is.
Number 26 did not start in those away games we won convincingly.

Don, Baptiste isn’t on loan so he won’t make any difference to how many loanees we have available on match days.