Top Of The Table Clash Ends As A Stalemate

Last updated : 23 September 2006 By Matthew Jones
Ward and Goodison keep the Forest out as Rovers stay second
After all the hype and excitement, the top of the table clash between Tranmere and Nottingham Forest at Prenton Park ended in a 0-0 draw, in what turned out to be a pretty much excitement free game.

Ronnie Moore made no changes to the side that started against Northampton last weekend, as McLaren and Ellison retained their places whilst Greenacre and Sherriff only made the bench, along side Jennings, Davies and Achterberg.

The first half was largely dominated by Tranmere, although niether side had many clear cut chances, due to fine defending by both sides and poor service to the strikers.

Shuker had the first real chance for Tranmere, after Zola had played the winger through. However, the small-scouser could only fire well over Smith's crossbar.

On 10-minutes, Harris headed wide from Agogo's cross before Gavin Ward pulled of the first of a number of fantastic saves, palming Harris' effort from the edge of the area wide.

Rovers then started to have the best of the chances, as Taylor had a shot deflected wide, before Smith was forced to make great saves from firstly a Shuker free-kick and then a thunderbolt drive from Kevin Ellison, after the referee had blown up again.

Gareth Taylor then had another chance infront of the Forest fans, but could only head Stockdale's cross wide, before heading another chance wide from an Ellison cross, this just after McLaren had picked up his fifth yellow card of the season, meaning he'll miss the Huddersfield match on Tuesday.

The ex-Rotherham midfielder responded by hitting a 25-yard shot just wide infront of the Cowshed, as the two teams went in all square at half time.

Tranmere started the second half in much the same way that they finished the first, missing half chances which could have changed the game.

Gareth Taylor headed wide again on 48-minutes from John Mullin's cross, whilst Ellison missed two chances in four minutes for the Rovers.

With just under half an hour left, Forest brought on the big guns, as leading scorer Grant Holt replaced Harris and Commons, returning from injury, replaced ex-Gillingham man Nicky Southall.

The two substitutes made a difference immediately, as Perch curled wide and Colin Calderwood's side began to crank up the pressure.

A tired and limping Calvin Zola was replaced by Chris Greenacre with 19 minutes to go, as Moore tried to respond to Forest's pressure and create some attacks for themselves.

However, it was The Tricky Tree's who continued to attack, with Gavin Ward pulling off some magnificent saves from Holt, Commons and Morgan.

The game though finished all square, with Rovers boasting their biggest attendance at Prenton Park since the play-off semi-final against Hartlepool in 2004/05, with 11,444 people cramming into Prenton Park, including 1,765 visitors from Tranmere's Midlands opponents.

However, the big attendance made no difference to the atmosphere, which was appauling for a crowd of it's size. The Kop seemed reluctent to carry on a chant for more than 15 seconds, whilst it also appeared that only around 200 people were allowed to chant at one time.

What didn't help was fans sat in the home end who hadn't been seen at Prenton Park since the play-offs telling the one's trying to start off a chant to be quiet. Roll on the next Friday night home game.

Jones' Man Of The Match: Whilst Gavin Ward was brilliant in goal again, pulling off a string of good saves, Ian Goodison stood out from the other 11 players once more. Captaining his team for the second time, the Jamaican Sensation was calm and collected in defence, letting nothing past him and making a number of crucial tackles and interceptions.