City progressed in the League Cup on a first visit to Tranmere
for 14 years since a Craig Fagan inspired win in League One en route to back to
back promotions under Peter Taylor.
Prenton Park is a terrific little ground. It evokes
memories for me of the sides of Johnny King and, later, John Aldridge that
pushed for promotions to the top flight in the early 90s. We arrived about 17 hours before kick-off so we
wandered off to find a pub in nearby Bebington and were greeted with incredible
"Scouse" hospitality. Funny, friendly people. Didn’t serve food
though as the “chef” had just decided to go home. Less jokes, more grub!
Grant McCann made 11 changes from the starting line-up
against Reading on Saturday and gave full debuts to 7 new signings. It worked a
treat in a thoroughly entertain first half in which The Tigers’ youngsters and
debutants ripped into the hosts and left them reeling before dropping off it
completely after the break. Where have we seen that before?
City: Ingram, McKenzie, Fleming, Tafazolli, Pennington,
Lopes, Honeyman, Toral, Bowler, Milinkovic, Magennis.
City led within seconds of the kick-off as a poor kick
from their keeper Davies was seized upon, Milinkovic slid it wide to Fleming
and he delivered a wicked cross that Toral powered home with a textbook header.
I was caught out by such a classic centre-forward’s header from the Spaniard.
It was 2-0 almost immediately as City swamped them in their half, won
possession high up the field and after Magennis’s shot was saved, Milinkovic
scored via a rebound off the keeper and then himself.
It was a tremendous start and but for some sloppiness in
possession at the wrong times, it could have been 5 or 6. The pressing game
when we don’t have the ball was impressive and improved by the very busy
Honeyman and Lopes. When we had the ball, there were players flooding forward
to provide options including the two young full backs. Davies denied Toral at
the near post after a bewildering piece of skill from Bowler on the right and
then stuck out a boot to save an own goal after Magennis harassed a poor back
pass out of Monthe. Toral and Magennis had shots just off target after City
picked up the ball in their half through Magennis and then Honeyman nicking the
ball in dangerous areas.
At the other end, it was pretty serene apart from times
when Corey Blackett-Taylor got on the ball and ran at McKenzie with frightening
pace. Blackett-Taylor was released by Aston Villa and looks a great prospect
for Tranmere if they can sort his inconsistent end product. He forced a good
save from Ingram - his only one of the half. Just before the break, Tafazolli
made it 3-0 with a towering header from a Milinkovic corner. That had been
coming.
Like Saturday (and the Saturday before) City didn’t
really come out for the second half. Possession was handed over to Tranmere
time and again through hurried clearances or poor passes and it kept coming
back. Aside from Lopes and Tafazolli, none of the outfield players, so
impressive in the first half, produced anything. Like in the second. When we
did have the ball in their half, Bowler and Milinkovic often lost It trying
ridiculous things. Fortunately, they never found a breakthrough to start making
things interesting but they came close several times with Ferrier hitting the
bar, Ingram producing a terrific full-length diving save with his right hand
and Tafazolli blocking a goal-bound shot in the six yard box.
Eaves and Dicko replaced Milinkovic and Magennis before Batty
came on for Toral. Batty helped get City further up the pitch and assisted
Lopes in breaking up play while Eaves got hold of the ball in their half more
than Magennis had managed in the second half. Dicko was Dicko.
So, we ran out pretty comfortable winners in the end and
progress to a glamour tie … away at Preston. Ho hum. A Tranmere fan approached
us after the game and said “Ah, we let you win there”. He then wandered back
over and added “…by being shite at defending”.
Everyone will be interested in how the new boys got on.
Ingram was pretty comfortable. He made two decent saves and kicked well but
wasn’t overly busy for all their possession. Pennington has a real look of
James Chester with his style of play and haircut but doesn’t quite have that
quality. He was keen to take the ball forward though and battled the powerful
Ferrier throughout. Tafazolli was untroubled for the most part, dominated in
the air and threatened at set pieces. I like him.
Lopes and Honeyman added lots to the midfield. Honeyman
was all over the pitch in the first half, with and without the ball, harrying
them into mistakes and reading where they were going to play. He used it simply
and effectively. Lopes covers the ground well too, looks energetic and has a
real maturity about him for such a young player. His passing can be sloppy but
there’s a really good player in there. Bowler is quick and has tons of ability
but, like Milinkovic, makes poor decisions at times and is too often trying the
hardest trick or pass unnecessarily. Magennis was very good in the first half
leading the line, nicking the ball from defenders and holding it up nicely but disappeared
after the break in part due to the awful service but also what looked a lack of
match fitness.
Fleming had a really solid game. He’s got a lovely left
foot and demonstrated that early but defended very well. He needs a loan in
League One because he’s more than capable of playing that level and the games
will do him so much good. McKenzie had the misfortune of marking Blackett-Taylor
and got roasted for pace at times. He also had some good moments though and was
very good on the ball. I just fear for him that he’s constantly moving position
– as he did in the Under 21/23s before – and not being allowed to settle
anywhere. He could do with a consistent run of games too.
Man of the match: Leonardo da Silva Lopes
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