rovers good draw at tranmere.

Tranmere Rovers (0) 1 - Blackburn Rovers (0) 1
Saturday, December 02, 2000

Tranmere Rovers

BLACKBURN ROVERS
Thomas Myhre Brad Friedel
Richard Hinds John Curtis
Clint Hill Jeff Kenna
Reuben Hazell Garry Flitcroft
Sean Flynn Craig Short
Gareth Roberts Henning Berg
Wayne Allison Craig Hignett
Paul Rideout David Dunn
Andy Parkinson Marcus Bent
Scott Taylor Mark Hughes
Jason Koumas Damien Duff
SUBS

SUBS
Joe Murphy John Filan
Nick Henry Christian Dailly
Steve Yates Jason McAteer
Iain Hume Egil Ostenstad
Wayne Gill Matt Jansen



AFTER a delay of fifteen minutes at Prenton Park due to power failure Rovers failed to really get going until the second half when David Dunn powered them ahead with a 20 yard shot off the bottom of the post.

Rovers' day of frustration though was completed when Andy Parkinson notched an equaliser after a great run past two defenders.

The opening period began quite brightly for Rovers but new-boy Marcus Bent missed a golden opportunity after just 80 seconds, heading over from six yards with the goal gaping. The strikeforce of Bent and Mark Hughes took time to gel and the Tranmere defenders were happy to let them run offside time and time again.

After a scrappy start the game came alive inside two minutes of the restart when Dunn opened the scoring with a magnificent left footed shot past Norwegian keeper Thomas Myhre, the ball ricocheting off both posts before finally bouncing into the net.

The home team should have been level within a minute. With goalkeeper Brad Friedel stranded at the near post a low cross rolled over Paul Rideout's foot when any contact would surely have brought an equaliser.

Hesitant defending did contribute to the leveller when it finally came. Jeff Kenna and Craig Short let Parkinson run and he smashed into the net past a helpless Friedel.

The introduction of Matt Jansen brought extra spark to the attack and when Bent beat the offside trap for the first time in the match it seemed like a certain goal. The former Sheffield United striker though could only shoot nervously straight at Myhre.

The two strikers then somehow fluffed a great chance to take the lead when Jansen was picked out brilliantly in space but couldn't find Bent who would have only needed a simple finish. After loud appeals for a penalty were turned away, Jansen won a header from a corner that Myhre did well to save.

The match nearly ended with a nasty piece of irony when, after constant Rovers pressure, Friedel was forced to produce a marvellous save in the dying seconds and keep his team from an unthinkable defeat.