Scunthorpe United v Tranmere

Saturday, November 19, 2005

Football League One

Scunthorpe United :
Musselwhite, Byrne (Crosby 83), Stanton, Butler, Williams, Taylor (Till 63), Hinds (sent off 90), Baraclough, Sparrow (Johnson 62), Sharp, Keogh
Subs not used:
Evans, Richie Ryan

Tranmere :
Achterberg, Linwood (Francis 78), Jackson, Sharps, Goodison, Jennings, O'Leary, Harrison, Gareth Roberts, Greenacre (Dagnall 89), Facey (Zola 87)
Subs not used:
Aiston, Wilson

SULSESC REPORT

by Colin Lowe at Glanford Park

THE highs and lows of following the Iron.

The team this year have had some excellent results and some not so good. So far I've been a bit of bad luck it seems as (other than the trip to Forest) I've only seen us lose - to Brentford, Donny, MK Scum, Brum, Blackpool (on the telly) and now Tranmere. Mr. Laws may ask me not to come again…

This match was nowhere near as bad a performance as some I've seen this season. Indeed most of the team put in half decent performances - Stanton, Williams, Sharp, Keogh and Barra to mention a few.

Even Mussy pulled off another good save and, considering shots on target were at a premium, his hand must have stung at being called suddenly into action on this frozen afternoon.

So, where did it all go wrong? Scunny had plenty of the ball but were not making much use of it. Tranmere seemed happy just to try and get at least a point off us this year having been beaten twice already.

Their defence was packed quite solid and on the odd occasion they tried to hit us on the break. It was just such a break which ended in a bundling over of defender and striker adjudged by the ref worthy of a penalty. Musselwhite went the right way but was beaten for pace.

A few moments later and Butler's shirt was tugged in the opposite box and the ref returned the compliment. Whilst Laws was sorting items out on the bench, he missed Sharp giving the ball to Keogh for the kick. With a little shout from the crowd, his ears perked up and screamed at Billy to take it - which he duly did…1-1. Things did not look too bad for a while as the Iron pushed on for a winner, but to no avail as Tranmere once more broke forward and a decent shot squirmed under our 'keeper and my track record was continued.

If there is one overwhelmingly frustrating aspect to Scunny's game, it's that when we fall behind we resort to Mussy hoofing it long EVERY time. Sharp and Keogh are just not built for aerial assault and I wish we would use the football skills we have to build from the back a bit more. It was not as bad as it was away at the Dons, but it was still just as ineffective.

I was looking forward to Aldershot - but might be paid by other SULSESC members to stay away!