Savage Scores as Rovers Fall to Swindon

After all the build-up over the past few weeks, it just five minutes for the optimism to perish at the County Ground as Tranmere conceded early and then conceded twice more as they lost 3-1 on the opening day. Bas Savage added a late consolation to open his Rovers account.

Swindon 3 - 1 Tranmere 

   Paynter 5                                                Savage 85

   Cox 37

   McGovern 51         

The anticipation had gone on for weeks and the hopes and expectations for the season were all there to see as Rovers arrived in their hundreds for the opening game against Swindon Town on Saturday afternoon.

However, just five minutes into the game, the hope evaporated and anger set in as Rovers conceded a sloppy goal and didn't let it end there - conceding three more in the process before Bas Savage finally restored what would usually be called pride but on this particular day would seem inappropriate to be called that.

Rovers were admittedly stricken by injuries with goalkeeper Danny Coyne and midfielders Chris Shuker and Gareth Edds all out injured whilst Chris Greenacre who also had a knock only made the bench meaning that Rovers lined up as follows.....

Achterberg

Antwi Kay Chorley Taylor

Jennings O'Callaghan Barnett

Curran Savage Moore

Two changes to the side that beat Blackpool 1-0 in last week's home friendly saw the suspended Ian Goodison replaced at right-back by Godwin Antwi on whom there is more to come later whilst Edrissa Sonko, who for many impressed against the Seasiders, dropped to the bench in favour of Manager's son Ian Moore.

Surprisingly after some good pre-season performances there was no place on the bench for Danny Holmes with Luke Waterfall, Adnan Ahmed and former Rovers keeper Phil Palethorpe joining Greenacre and Sonko on the bench.

The question Rovers fans had been asking pre-match was how would the new 4-3-3 formation which had been effective in pre-season, transfer into the new League One and within a couple of minutes Bas Savage had headed a chance wide from a George O'Callaghan cross although the real answer to the question wasn't long in coming.

After Simon Cox headed just over for the hosts in the fourth minute, they took the lead just a minute later when Rovers failed to clear their lines and Billy Paynter headed home from a cross to the far post - disaster for Rovers after just five minutes of the new season.

Rovers were having their fair share of possession in the game but Swindon always looked much more dangerous in attack and with Antwi having a terrible time against McNamee, the Robins looked like scoring every time they went forward, keeping Achterberg busy in the Rovers goal.

A couple of awful back-passes to him did John no favours but it was clear that he was either not match fit or just not on his game as the Swindon Fans quickly caught on and began jeering in the build up to all his goal kicks.

Rovers had chances too as Taylor fired a shot over from distance and Antony Kay's header back across goal was cleared before a Rovers player could get on the end of it to slot it home.

In the 26^th minute came a chance for Ian Moore after a great chipped pass by George O'Callaghan but the striker couldn't get to the ball to chip it over the goalkeeper before the defender got there to clear.

Ten minutes later came Rovers' best chance of the match as Charlie Barnett, who despite not being mentioned up to now was running the show for Rovers, found himself in the clear 8 yards out but he sliced his shot wide when he really should have scored.

To make things worse, the home side made it 2-0 from the attack that followed that Rovers chance as a hoofed ball over the Rovers defence saw Simon Cox in the clear and he beat Achterberg from just inside the penalty area to make it 2-0.

As the disastrous first half drew to a close, Jennings had a shot go wide for Rovers whilst Achterberg had to save well to prevent Cox from making it 3-0 leaving Ronnie Moore with a difficult half-time team talk.

HALF-TIME - SWINDON TOWN 2 - 0 TRANMERE ROVERS

The second gave Rovers a fresh chance to get back into the game but just six minutes in it was game over as more poor defending allowed McNamee's cross from the left to beat everybody and John-Paul McGovern finished an easy chance which was judged to have crossed the line despite Andy Taylor's efforts to keep it out.

Whether Swindon stepped off the gas after scoring the third remains unknown but it would be fair to say Rovers dominated the final half an hour of the game particularly when Edrissa Sonko was introduced in place of the poor George O'Callaghan on the hour mark.

Prior to the change, O'Callaghan had shot straight at the Swindon keeper Brezovan and Cox had had a chance at the other end for the hosts.

Ian Moore headed wide as Rovers looked more likely to score all of a sudden before Bas Savage's goalbound header hit a defender and went out for a Rovers' corner, one of several they had in the second half.

Barnett for Tranmere and Cox for Swindon exchanged chances at either end before finally Rovers got a goal that their second half performance deserved.  A superb through ball from Ian Moore freed Sonko, who was very effective when he came on, down the right and his cross was bundled in by Bas Savage.

There was no moonwalk from the big man this time as he rightly seemed in a hurry to get the game re-started but there were to be no more goals for Rovers and a disappointing 3-1 defeat was how it ended.

The Players were kept back for at least an hour after the game and one can only imagine what was said in the changing rooms but hopefully a repeat performance will not happen on Tuesday night at Grimsby in the Carling Cup.

On the whole then a performance that at the time seemed terrible beyond belief but on reflection also had it positives.  Certainly young Charlie Barnett was one of those positives along with the ever-reliable Andy Taylor but more defensive work is needed along with a review of the 4-3-3 formation if such free flowing attacking is allowed against us in future matches.

FULL-TIME - SWINDON TOWN 3 - 1 TRANMERE ROVERS

Rovers Team:

Achterberg, Antwi, Chorley, Kay, Taylor, Jennings, Barnett, O'Callaghan (Sonko 82), Curran, Moore, Savage.

Subs Not Used - Palethorpe, Ahmed, Waterfall, Greenacre.

Attendance - 7,975

Match Referee - Fred Graham

Charlie Barnett 

Based on this display Barnett’s name will be appearing here a lot during the course of the season.  The boy looked calm and cool on the ball and also had a couple of goalscoring chances, one of which he should really have taken in the first half.  Impressive start though.