Tranmere Rovers 0, Wolves 1: Andy Walker's big match verdict
Jan 4 2010 by Andy Walker, Birmingham Mail
THE FA may have attempted to strangle the magic out of this fixture but at least Tranmere put up a fight worthy of a fairytale.
The ludicrous kick-off time of 6.15pm on a Sunday meant this game marked the end of an underwhelming third round for the world’s greatest club competition.
Leeds United were the only saving grace on a weekend that saw very little of David beating Goliath coupled with falling attendances and weakened line-ups.
In their wisdom, the FA opted to use their rights to choose this match as one to livestream on their website, the reason behind the unusual start time.
No offence to either side, but this was hardly a mouthwatering tie and it would be interesting to discover just how many viewers it received. Not very many would be the guess.
While it drew a season-best crowd of 7,476 at Prenton Park, the travelling number of 1,129 Wolves fans, many of whom probably returned to work bleary-eyed early this morning for the first time since their Christmas break, suggests that the FA’s scheduling probably wouldn’t have been popular in the old gold and black half of the Black Country.
Fortunately Tranmere, no doubt buoyed by Leeds’ giant-killing antics earlier in the day, ensured it didn’t turn out to be a complete flop – 51 places separated these two sides but the League One strugglers pushed their visitors for the entire 90 minutes.
And on the other hand, Wolves’ Premier League professionalism ensured there was to be no banana skin.
Crystal Palace at home now awaits Mick McCarthy’s men in the fourth round.
True to his word, Wolves boss McCarthy named a strong starting XI as out of the six changes from the side that lost to Manchester City, only the selection of Wayne Hennessey could be classed as ‘down-grading’.
This was Hennessey’s first game since being dropped at the end of November, after conceding eight goals in two matches, and the Welshman made the most of his opportunity.
Let’s not get carried away, while this game was entertaining, quality football was few and far between.
In fact, the only real moment of quality was for the only goal of the game in the 77th minute.
Nenad Milijas’ inch-perfect, defence-splitting, pass found the well-timed run of Matt Jarvis and the winger neatly tucked away his effort.
It was a strike that would have helped Jarvis erase the memories of a missed sitter in the first half.
