Huddersfield Town (1) 3
Allison 10, Stewart 67, Hill 77 og.
Tranmere Rovers (0) 0
Saturday 14 March 1998
Attendance 10,844
Reported by Robin Stewart (this page)
Reported by Martin Sykes (via link)
Huddersfield: Harper, Phillips, Edwards, Browning (Dalton 84), Collins, Gray, Richardson, Barnes, Stewart, Allison, Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Hessey, Smith.
Tranmere: Simonsen, Kubicki, Thompson, McGreal, Challinor, Irons, Morrissey (Mellon 60), Hill, Jones (Mahon 73), O'Brien (Parkinson 67), Branch.
Sent Off: Branch (85).
Booked: Challinor, Branch.
Ref: G Laws (Whitley Bay).
Town easily disposed of a feeble Tranmere side to record a second
consecutive win and pull up to the heady heights of 17th place, albeit only
3 points clear of the drop zone. It's quite tricky to think of the right way
to sum up this match - it was far from a classic, and Town didn't play with
any particular brilliance, yet were streets ahead of a wretched visiting
outfit. Without ever really getting out of first gear, Town easily disposed
of Tranmere, just raising their game enough when required to score three
rather soft goals without Tranmere ever seriously threatening to reply.
I have to admit to feeling very nervous about this game as I walked down to
the ground (in warm sunshine, incidentally), with Town missing a van load of
defenders through injury and suspension. Jacko spent much of the week
threatening to come out of retirement rather than see Sam Collins in the
number 5 shirt, and Rob Edwards was again picked out of position at left
back, with Gray partnering Collins in the centre and Phillips at right back.
It certainly looked a shaky line up on paper, and I wouldn't fancy our
chances at (say) Notts Forest with that back four, yet luckily for us,
Tranmere had forgotten to bring any forwards. They instead fielded a
converted centre back (Gary Jones, who has adapted so well to the role
that's he's scored an amazing two goals all season) in partnership with a
psychopath called Graham Branch, who must be receiving some kind of care in
the community at Prenton Park as part of a rehabilitation from being an axe
wielding maniac. On this showing, it isn't working, and after 85 minutes, 35
year-old policeman (Arrgghh! not another bloody copper...) Graham Laws had
enough and dismissed Branch for his eighth bookable offence. This followed
at least four "Launch another flying tackle from behind at chest height and
you're off Sonny" type lectures from the plodding ref, which were invariably
followed by another gruesome Branch foul.
Anyway, getting back to some sort of vague description of the match,
Tranmere kicked off and started quite nicely. From the kick off, both Town
full-backs went AWOL, leading to menacing raids down each flank in quick
succession, that luckily came to nothing. Worse soon threatened, when Sam
Collins attempted to spring an offside trap from a Tranmere throw in, but
the lumbering Jones was unable to make anything of the opening. Collins,
incidentally, was incensed about the failure of the officials to blow for
offside that he chased after the ref for a bit, until Captain for the day
Kevin Gray trotted over for a quick explanation of the rules regarding
offside from throws (i.e. you can't be). Young Sam's face was a picture...
After the initial ropey start, Town began to gently wrest control of the
game from the visitors (it only really needed gentle exertion to take total
control...) with Richardson showing well infront of the back four, Marcus
Browning suddenly looking like a good player and big Wayne Allison doing the
physical stuff upfront. After 10 minutes, Town took the lead with a pretty
soft goal. Richardson floated a corner into the six yard box, where Wayne
applied a simple back header which floated over Simonsen and half a dozen
defenders of six foot and over, and into the net. One of the Tranmere
defenders applied a nice diving header just to make sure it went in. The
rest of the half doesn't really linger in the memory, with Town in total
charge, but not quite managing to add to their lead. Up front, Allison took
a real battering, which invariably won a free kick (outside the area), but
apparently didn't deserve anything when in the box. There was one very clear
penalty (at least) in the first half, but the two best shouts produced a
free-kick to Tranmere (for Allison being rugby tackled) and a stiff talking
to for Wayne from the ref. One very strange feature of the game was
Tranmere's vulnerability to the high ball, when at least half of their team
were clearly bigger than any Town player. This was especially so from Sam
Collins' long throws, which caused problems for the visitors all afternoon.
At the other end, Tranmere's only attacking ploy was the even longer throw
of Dave Challinor, which was so long it went straight to Harper every time.
It was a real treat for anyone who prefers their football to consist mainly
of giant throw-ins, rather than any of that efette passing nonsense.
The final incident of note in the first half was a quite awful challenge
from behind by Branch on Lee Richardson - a late, flying crunch that
literally kicked El Diablo into touch. Challinor seized the opportunity
presented by the distraction upfield to also flatted Barnes from behind, as
he received Richardson's pass. Two red cards, no question, but the ref
bottled out (as per usual), waved his yellow card about and delivered a
sermon about not doing it again - which Branch totally ignored.
The second half was similarly uninspired, with more exciting giant throw-ins
before Town doubled their lead. Some neat one touch passing around half way
on the right sucked in the Tranmere defence, before a giant crossfield hoof
(from Phillips, I think) came down to Stewart on the edge of the box. The
ultra dodgy visiting keeper adavanced just far enough to give Stewart an
easy finish, and he duly rolled the ball into the net from 20 yards. This
setback did at least produce a response from Tranmere, in the shape of their
first shot on goal of the afternoon, and another gruesome foul by Branch on
Collins. This prompted Town to again slip out of neutral, and produce some
nice passing moves, and a third goal. This was also a bit soft in the end,
as a nice passing move saw the ball arrive at Stewart, and his firm shot hit
a defender (Hill), ballooned up in the air and over Simonsen to plop into
the net. At this point, the visiting fans mainly headed for an early exit,
as did Branch, who finally managed to get his early exit for retaliating
against Gray.
All told, not the most blinding afternoon of football, as Town never had to
stretch themselves to far outclass a dire visiting outfit. Hardworking, with
some nice bits here and there, but never quite a carnival. A case of never
mind the football, enjoy the result...
Player Review
Steve Harper - His birthday today, so Tranmere decided to be nice to him and
not inconveniece him with having to do any goalkeeping on his big day. Sweet
of them.
Dave Phillips - Solid. Played well.
Rob Edwards - Played an absolute stormer - did everything expected quite
immaculately, including the odd bit of defending.
Marcus Browning - What a revelation - he's actually a bloody good player! -
tall, mobile, a good passer, fair in the tackle and a good deal of skill.
Maybe we should forget about that transfer fee and just be happy he's doing
the business.
Sam Collins - An amazing long throw, but looked a tad panicky in defence. At
least looks like Morrison in girth, though not performance. May improve with
experience.
Kevin Gray - Colossus. Has responded very positively to the crisis around
him, and took a good deal more command than normal. Excellent game.
Lee Richardson - Excellent first half, a little quieter in the second.
Suddenly seems in his element playing infront of the defence. It just seems
to suit his game.
Paul Barnes - Agressive and physically combative alongside big Wayne, he
helped to unsettle the visiting defence all afternoon. Can't remember him
getting too close to scoring, though.
Marcus Stewart - Neat, and got through a mountain of running playing in the
hole behind Barnes & Allison. A nicely taken goal (he'll be claiming two, I
suspect), and some neat touches, but mostly unsung hard work this afternoon.
Wayne Allison - Battering ram. Physically occupied the visiting central
defenders all afternoon, generally used the ball well (with the odd crass
touch), and a nightmare to play against. In the end the lynchpin of the Town
attack - it all goes through him...
Grant Johnson - The usual - brilliantmobility, surging runs and good
disruption of the opposing midfield, but sometimes took the wrong option.
Reasonable game, but I suspect his place will be in jeapoardy when Horne
returns to fitness - Richardson & Browning played too well to drop.
Paul Dalton came on for Browning for the final 10 minutes, and his only
contribution was to take the ball into the corner flag - when 3-0 up against
10 men with 2 minutes to go. Quite rightly got a good telling off from Jacko
about it...
MOTM - Rob Edwards