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Tranmere Rovers FC v Milton Keynes Dons at Stadium MK in EFL League 2 |
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The Rovers are away to MKDonalds on a surprisingly sunny October day in Buckinghamshire. It’s back to back Tranmere games for the first time in a good while. It wasn’t planned that way but Newhaven away at Roffey was rained off in the week so here we are at Stadium MK. Not that we are complaining but we are hoping for a better result and/or performance than at Gillingham. The Rovers have had mixed fortunes since we last saw them but got a draw at home to Swindle in the week with a good goal from Dennis and looking likely to take 3 points until Chris Merrie equalised with an own goal. A point today would be a good result as MK have just scored 5 goals away at Harrogate. The SWA are back in the lower tier so we get a much better view and can spread out in the sunshine 😎. We are joined today by special guest, Robbie of the Rovers. Not seen him since we were away at Forest Gumps. The team is changed a bit with Zak Bradshaw in at left back. It looks like a midfield 3 of Lee O’Connor, Chris Merrie and Saidou Khan. Khan has just been called up for the Gambia squad so will be away with the Scorpions playing Madagascar twice in Morocco in the AFCON qualifiers. Looks like he will be the only player away in the international break as LOC didn’t make the R.O.I. squad this time round. It looks like a front 3 of Patrick and Morris with Dennis in the middle. That’s both out league goal scorers in the front row. We haven’t been in great form but are starting to scrap a bit harder and got that draw against Swindle. No sign of Connor today. Hopefully just resting him. He always gives 110% on the pitch so he will be missed. There are no familiar faces in the hosts who are now barred from Betty’s Tea shop after the battering they gave Harrogate. The crowd looks bigger than last time we were here. Come out for the sunshine, probably not the sparkling football on display. We’ve had a pre-match cheeky Nandos 🌶🍗 so it’s time to settle in the sunshine in the comfy seat and watch the match.
The Rovers are straight on the attack and get a corner in the first minute. It comes to nothing and the energy only lasts a few more minutes. It turns into a typical mid-table game with little quality on display . We are getting some joy down the left with Zak and Omari. We get another corner on 12 and Kieron gets a shot off only to see it saved. Zak gets a shot in on 15 but it goes wide. Lots of turnovers and little fouls. The MK are very unsteady on their feet and seem to fall over very easily. MK get a corner that eventually ends in a goal from close range on 23. Not what we needed with our own difficulties in finding the net. It's LOC’s turn to have a shot but his effort is saved, There is some more scrappy football and some more falling over but the half finishes 1-0 to the hosts.
The Dons are the better side after the restart but there is no sign of the beautiful game here. Kristian Dennis is on the team sheet and apparently on the pitch but not sure why. Not in the game at all. He is thankfully replaced by Harvey Sauders. Things don’t improve as Omari is replaced by Josh Davison. Regan Hendry replaces Kieron Morris, Hopefully he will bring some skills to the energy provided by the other subs. Josh and Harvey are trying to play the same game and keep getting in each other's way. We’re not going to get back into it playing like that. Into 3 minutes of added time. It’s a goal for Tranmere. It’s utter chaos in the away end. Regan Hendry was the scorer, from a Cameron Norman header on 90+1 ⚽. The limbs have barely subsided by the time the whistle goes on 90+3. 1-1 the result but you wouldn’t believe that we hadn’t just won it from the reaction of the crowd and players.
Not a pretty sight but a point on the road will do nicely after the performance. Great limbs at the end though. Celebrated like a win, Love a late equaliser. The Rovers are lacking somewhat in sharpness up-front although Dennis did score last week. There is more energy than quality in some of the options. Zak was getting good space down the left but there were never any options for him. Same for Omari getting frustrated trying to go forwards and having to go backwards. It got so bad, the fans were shouting “wrong way to help out in case they were confused about which way to go. It was almost like there was a force field round the box to stop them straying in there. Still, we got to sit in the comfy seats, listening to some decent tunes, in the sunshine with a belly full of Nando’s. Have had worse days out. That late goal definitely added a rose tint to the whole day. It will be a while before the MK sees limbs like that again. Up the comeback Whites.
POTM: Goes to Chris Merrie 🏅 for being the only player who seemed to want the ball today.
The Scran’O’meter doesn’t usually score external eateries but is always up for a Cheeky Nadno’s. This one scored a yummy 8.5. There was no full fat Coke on sale in the ground. Football catering starting to go WOKE. What next? Alcohol free beer?
The officials officiated without much drama. Needed to do a bit more about the MK players falling over constantly. Maybe a breathalyser. Rolling around at the slightest touch seems to be normal and accepted now. That and kicking the ball away rarely get punished. Omari must have drawn the short straw today.
Bottle tops were left on!
See you soon.
Love Tranmerekat 🐾
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| Inside with Robbie |
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| Outside the MK |
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| Cheeky Nandos |
