Tranmere recorded a second straight league win and a second league double of the season today at Prenton Park with a 4-1 win over play-off chasing Chesterfield.
Brian Little selected the same side that won at Swindon (2-1) in mid-week and it paid off as Tranmere over-ran Chesterfield in all area's of the pitch.
The game started poorly as a Church-style atmosphere was reflected by poor football on the pitch, although Rovers did have one chance on four minutes through Calvin Zola which went just wide.
It took a Chesterfield wonder goal on 30 minutes to spark Tranmere into life. Jamie O'Hara picked up the ball on half way and from 30 yards struck a wonderful half volley which looped over Dino Seremet, who had no chance, into the top left hand corner.
The goal, which got applauded by many of the home fans put some life into Tranmere's football and within six minutes they had equalised.
So far, chances had been few and far between. About as frequent as a Sam Aiston goal. But low and behold, Aiston popped up to make it 1-1 with a tap in from yards out.
After a good passing move down the left, Carl Tremarco passed to Jason McAteer, who instead of shooting crossed to the far post where Sam Aiston beat his man, sliding in to make it 1-1.
After a Carl Tremarco shot had gone just wide, Sam Aiston put Rovers ahead. Calvin Zola brilliantly flicked on a Dino Seremet kick to Aiston who volleyed his best Rovers goal yet from outside the area past the diving Muggleton who had no chance (and was wearing the most disgusting Goalkeeping jersey ever).
In the 45th minute with just seconds remaining Chris Greenacre grabbed his second in two games to make it 3-1. After more good work by Zola, the tall Congolese striker got a shot away only to see it palmed away by Muggleton. Greenacre ran on to the loose ball and tapped into the empty net from a yard out.
Half time and Rovers lead a, in all honesty, poor game 3-1. Tranmere's performance since the goal though had been brilliant, a great response from the team.
However, their opposition had just crumbled since Sam Aiston's equaliser. Much Like Rovers usually do themselves when they conceed, if one goes in, two or three more can too.
After some pressure from Chesterfield, Jason McAteer went agonisingly close with a free-kick from 25-yards after Zola had been fouled whilst Zola and Greenacre continued to be a threat.
On 65-minutes Tranmere scored their fourth goal, the third time this season they have scored four in a game. After a fantastic passing move which included at least 20 passes along the backline and midfield, Carl Tremarco played Calvin Zola down the wing who in turn ran into the area and placed an inch perfect cross for Steven O'Leary to score his second goal for Rovers, exactly a month to the day after he scored his first.
On 72 minutes Steven Jennings replaced Jason McAteer who had a brilliant game. Controlling the midfield for the time he was on the field and placing some brilliant passes which lead to the first goal and other Rovers chances.
Jennings was very good when he came on as well, a solo run into the area almost ending in a goal just after he came on, but he slipped at the crucial moment.
Delroy Facey then went close with a header which was saved well by Muggleton after the Yorkshire man had replaced the hard working Calvin Zola.
Rovers were now having every touch cheered by the Kop and were controlling the game. Roberts flashed a left-footed thunderbolt agonisingly over the bar from 22 yards as he searches for a good-bye goal for Rovers.
Chesterfield pushed forward but Caleb Folan and Adam Smith missed their final two chances of the game as Rovers made it two straight wins.
It was overly a good performance but in all honesty Chesterfield were a poor team at best. I think Rovers will be dissapointed they have conceeded as the Spirites hardy had a chance but you have to just stand and applaud such a good goal as their's.
Still, you can only beat the team put in front of you and Rovers did this comprehensively. More to the point Brian Little didn't sit back on a two goal lead at half-time, he went for more goals. Hopefully a sign of things to come as there are still 27 points left to play for - are the play-offs within our reach?
Jones' Man Of The Match: Everybody did their bit today, knowbody had a poor game. I got down to two contestants for the Rovers man of the match - Calvin Zola and Jason McAteer. McAteer bossed the midfield and so often played the killer pass. However, Zola gets the award from Tranmere Rovers Mad today.
Now I know his first touch isn't the best and he didn't score today but, and this is a big but, we all know he isn't going to score many goals. He set up the second and fourth goals brilliantly and had a big helping hand in the third for Greenacre. He often turned his man with ease and on the occasions he didn't win the ball in the air it was often because, I think, he was being tugged back. Zola and Greenacre is our best strike partnership and it showed today.
Stat of the day: The win was Tranmere's first at Prenton Park on a Saturday since January 22nd 2005 when they beat Walsall 2-1.
Brian Little selected the same side that won at Swindon (2-1) in mid-week and it paid off as Tranmere over-ran Chesterfield in all area's of the pitch.
The game started poorly as a Church-style atmosphere was reflected by poor football on the pitch, although Rovers did have one chance on four minutes through Calvin Zola which went just wide.
It took a Chesterfield wonder goal on 30 minutes to spark Tranmere into life. Jamie O'Hara picked up the ball on half way and from 30 yards struck a wonderful half volley which looped over Dino Seremet, who had no chance, into the top left hand corner.
The goal, which got applauded by many of the home fans put some life into Tranmere's football and within six minutes they had equalised.
So far, chances had been few and far between. About as frequent as a Sam Aiston goal. But low and behold, Aiston popped up to make it 1-1 with a tap in from yards out.
After a good passing move down the left, Carl Tremarco passed to Jason McAteer, who instead of shooting crossed to the far post where Sam Aiston beat his man, sliding in to make it 1-1.
After a Carl Tremarco shot had gone just wide, Sam Aiston put Rovers ahead. Calvin Zola brilliantly flicked on a Dino Seremet kick to Aiston who volleyed his best Rovers goal yet from outside the area past the diving Muggleton who had no chance (and was wearing the most disgusting Goalkeeping jersey ever).
In the 45th minute with just seconds remaining Chris Greenacre grabbed his second in two games to make it 3-1. After more good work by Zola, the tall Congolese striker got a shot away only to see it palmed away by Muggleton. Greenacre ran on to the loose ball and tapped into the empty net from a yard out.
Half time and Rovers lead a, in all honesty, poor game 3-1. Tranmere's performance since the goal though had been brilliant, a great response from the team.
However, their opposition had just crumbled since Sam Aiston's equaliser. Much Like Rovers usually do themselves when they conceed, if one goes in, two or three more can too.
After some pressure from Chesterfield, Jason McAteer went agonisingly close with a free-kick from 25-yards after Zola had been fouled whilst Zola and Greenacre continued to be a threat.
On 65-minutes Tranmere scored their fourth goal, the third time this season they have scored four in a game. After a fantastic passing move which included at least 20 passes along the backline and midfield, Carl Tremarco played Calvin Zola down the wing who in turn ran into the area and placed an inch perfect cross for Steven O'Leary to score his second goal for Rovers, exactly a month to the day after he scored his first.
On 72 minutes Steven Jennings replaced Jason McAteer who had a brilliant game. Controlling the midfield for the time he was on the field and placing some brilliant passes which lead to the first goal and other Rovers chances.
Jennings was very good when he came on as well, a solo run into the area almost ending in a goal just after he came on, but he slipped at the crucial moment.
Delroy Facey then went close with a header which was saved well by Muggleton after the Yorkshire man had replaced the hard working Calvin Zola.
Rovers were now having every touch cheered by the Kop and were controlling the game. Roberts flashed a left-footed thunderbolt agonisingly over the bar from 22 yards as he searches for a good-bye goal for Rovers.
Chesterfield pushed forward but Caleb Folan and Adam Smith missed their final two chances of the game as Rovers made it two straight wins.
It was overly a good performance but in all honesty Chesterfield were a poor team at best. I think Rovers will be dissapointed they have conceeded as the Spirites hardy had a chance but you have to just stand and applaud such a good goal as their's.
Still, you can only beat the team put in front of you and Rovers did this comprehensively. More to the point Brian Little didn't sit back on a two goal lead at half-time, he went for more goals. Hopefully a sign of things to come as there are still 27 points left to play for - are the play-offs within our reach?
Jones' Man Of The Match: Everybody did their bit today, knowbody had a poor game. I got down to two contestants for the Rovers man of the match - Calvin Zola and Jason McAteer. McAteer bossed the midfield and so often played the killer pass. However, Zola gets the award from Tranmere Rovers Mad today.
Now I know his first touch isn't the best and he didn't score today but, and this is a big but, we all know he isn't going to score many goals. He set up the second and fourth goals brilliantly and had a big helping hand in the third for Greenacre. He often turned his man with ease and on the occasions he didn't win the ball in the air it was often because, I think, he was being tugged back. Zola and Greenacre is our best strike partnership and it showed today.
Stat of the day: The win was Tranmere's first at Prenton Park on a Saturday since January 22nd 2005 when they beat Walsall 2-1.