“Those who win never give up
Those who give up never win.”
R.T.Bennett.
Recent form suggested that Rovers were just coming to make up the numbers. Our team has improved immeasurably since our 0-0 bore draw at Prenton Park earlier in the season, a game of such stultifying dullness that it’s a wonder that any of those who watched it ever went to a football match again. Tranmere have been on a poor run of late, although they always seem to score away from home and certainly had their moments earlier in the season. Generally speaking if we’re not playing well, I wander off for a coffee. The soothsayers on Habbin North reckon that we are always more likely to score if I am away from that venerable and all knowing terrace. I could have been outside for the entire half and missed nothing, except Tranmere’s vaguely deserved and well worked goal just before half time. It was very well worked and well taken but I would have to ask why Dylan Jones’ header was completely unchallenged. An unusual lapse for what has been a very effective and well drilled defence. In fairness we had been disappointing throughout. Rovers had got away with some over robust challenges by a Referee who seemed to think he was the star of the show. As a result Bennett, Brophy, Knight and, in truth, one or two others, didn’t seem to fancy the physical approach of a very big team, fashioned in the way most League Two sides seem to be. No doubt Mr Harris would have made one or two shrinking violets aware of his disappointment at Half Time. Habbin North certainly tried to help Ross Martin with his decision making -as we always do.
The second half seemed to promise little better- until some substitutions were made. One of them, Shane Lavery, showed what we’d been missing, seemingly within seconds, with a blistering shot that Murphy probably never saw. Back to the script then. We attacked with purpose. Brophy was booked for nothing. The Rovers number two was lucky not to add to his yellow card with a number of sly and petulant fouls, kicking the ball away and over zealous protestations. Appere should have had a penalty for a blatant trip and then Tranmere’s number seven Charlie Whittaker, who’d been looking good for a while, went on a run, took a return pass and placed a fine shot into the Cambridge net. The lack of challenge was baffling. I’d just been saying how good he looked when he scored. I’d have been better off going for another coffee. Ah well. It’s not my fault that Kaikai didn’t hustle but our defence is normally super watchful. Two bad goals conceded in one game. That’s asking for it. And then the game changed. And how.
Brophy charged down the Tranmere left and put in a cross which Kell Watts turned in neatly with his head. Murphy got a hand to it but couldn’t stop it. He must have been upset because later in the game he sank to the ground with an imaginary injury, as new instructions were given to the tiring Rovers defenders. They were to no avail. James Gibbons shot from the right and there was Watts again heading past the disappointed keeper. Would he get a hat trick now? We hoped he would. We love his trick of kneeing the ball back to the keeper, which is perfectly legal ,even if opposition fans haven’t quite cottoned onto it. Talking of which, Tranmere brought 500 fans with them. All credit to them. Proper fans of a proper club.
Could we, would we do it? Pelly Mpanzu played an exquisite ball through to Ben Knight , who finished with aplomb and it was all over. With a win on Tuesday we will be in the automatic promotion places where we will almost certainly remain. Our new acquisition looks a really good prospect and it would be great for U’s fans if we get to see United playing with two up front, at least at home. The plaudits went to Kell Watts understandably but I felt that Mpanzu was our real man of the match. He has his critics because there are times when he doesn’t seem to be doing much. He is a class act though. He has vision, a great pass and yesterday he cleared a shot off the line too. Luton fans are very upset that he was ever allowed to leave them. Bradshaw is now back from injury and who knows who might come through the door in this window? An established star? A loan player from a top club? I’m not saying that we could see Mullin back but we must look like a very attractive prospect to anyone whose future is uncertain.
I was sad to hear Crosby lambast his own players, rather than giving his opponents credit for a very impressive fight back, but that would require a degree of sportsmanship lacking in some managers. To be a little more fair to the Referee, he didn’t get much help from his Linesmen. Aren’t they called Referee’s Assistants? Why? The ones I see at the Abbey are mostly decorative. And then not very.
Finally, a word for Joey Ironside. It was great to see him back at the Abbey and he gave us problems all afternoon. We will never forget his winner at Newcastle which puts him into United folklore. He fully deserved the welcome he got. Real fans appreciate players with a big heart and he will also know The U’s Are Going Up!
See Marvin showing some moves: Marvin at kick off