Plymouth Argyle 6 Tranmere Rovers 0

Last updated : 11 October 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Paul Sturrock's six-shooters mercilessly gunned down managerless Tranmere 6-0 at Home Park to climb to fifth place in the Second Division.

Six goals, three in each half, from six different scorers – David Friio, Paul Wotton, Peter Gilbert, Marino Keith, Mickey Evans and David Norris - ensured managerless Rovers went back up to the Wirral having slipped into the relegation zone.

And it is no exaggeration to say, had it not been for the woodwork and for Rovers' goalkeeper John Achterberg, the score would have been doubled.

The Dutchman made a string of wonderful saves, and Argyle's Ian Stonebridge and Steve Adams both hit the crossbar as the Pilgrims, missing five players through injury and international call-ups, ran riot.

Friio opened the scoring in the seventh minute, but, despite total domination of the game, it was not until the 38th minute that Wotton doubled the margin through one of his thunderbolt free kicks.

Man of the match Gilbert scored his first league goal just before the interval, and Keith and Evans both netted just after to ensure the home side were on the way to their biggest victory for 10 seasons.

Norris completed the rout 11 minutes from the end, and Graham Coughlan and substitute Nathan Lowndes both wasted headers to claim a seventh, before Rovers' substitute Eugene Dadi was denied a consolation late on when his header came back off the crossbar.