Tranmere hold on to claim massive three points in play-off fight

Tranmere survived a late fightback from bitter rivals Bolton to claim a 2-1 victory after the visitors had been reduced to ten men.

Ryan Delaney’s sending off for two yellow cards was the turning point as Bolton had just pulled a goal back and had begun to pile the pressure on the Tranmere defence.

Having been booked somewhat harshly booked for the challenge that resulted in a Tranmere penalty, Delaney then lent in with his forearm in an aerial challenge with James Vaughan and gave referee Neil Hair little choice but to give the defender his marching orders.

Bolton manager Ian Evatt will have been incensed by this particularly as Tranmere could have been a man down themselves. Manny Monthe, already on a yellow for stopping a quick throw in the first half, hauled down Antoni Sarcevic as he ran clear. However the referee didn’t give a foul for the challenge.

Whatever about Monthe getting a second yellow, it could probably have been a straight red and it will have done nothing to improve Evatt’s mood. He was then sent off himself following the final whistle and explained why to the Manchester Evening News:

“I said, ‘look, your key match decisions, you’ve got wrong today and you need to look at them’.

“He took offence to that and sent me off. The results aren’t there at the moment and it’s really disappointing and I’d be having a lot of headaches if I thought we were getting what we deserved.”

What should be of bigger concern to Evatt is the fact that his side didn’t really begin to play until they went 2-0 down. Tranmere came out of the blocks flying and took the lead inside four minutes as a poor Delaney clearance fell to Danny Lloyd on the edge of the area and he brilliantly fired into the bottom corner with his left foot.

The rest of the first half was played at a good pace but Tranmere were very comfortable. Bolton began getting on the ball a bit more as the half went on but never troubled goalkeeper Scott Davies, with Eoin Doyle starved of service upfront and having to drop deep just to get on the ball.

Indeed it was Tranmere who created the best opening for a second as Liam Feeney won the ball back and started a brilliant counter attack, which ended with Otis Khan firing over from inside the box when he should have hit the target.

The second half was cagey to start with until Tranmere were giving the ideal chance to double their lead. Feeney got a shot away in the box but was fouled by Delaney in the process. The Bolton defender needed lengthy treatment following the incident, but James Vaughan held his composure to roll the ball into the corner and have Rovers cruising.

At this point Bolton woke up and began to attack and they got back into the match. Doyle got the ball where Evatt would want him having it and found some space in the box, his low ball was turned in by Sarcevic.

From there Bolton grew in confidence and looked like equalising with substitute Arthur Gnahoua missing two great chances. But just as it looked as if we’d have a frantic final 15 minutes disaster struck for Bolton with the red card.

Tranmere boss Keith Hill will be disappointed with how his side dealt with the threat from the ten men and made life very difficult for themselves by sitting back. They were almost punished late on but Davies did brilliantly to claw away an Alex Baptiste header and the home side held on.

Rovers now find themselves just two points outside the play-off positions with another big home game with Harrogate to come on Tuesday. A win there will be the perfect start to the second half of their season as they look to return to League One at the first time of asking.

For Bolton, they go to Mansfield desperately looking to move clear of the relegation picture and will be glad that Stevenage and Grimsby also suffered defeats. Evatt needs to get his side playing from kick off if they are to move up the table.

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