Tranmere Rovers are delicately poised above the drop zone with just one point the difference between them and the bottom three at the moment.
When you’re in a rut the last thing you need is to play a resurgent team with millions of pounds worth of talent, but Mickey Mellon’s side were forced to head to Sunderland last night, a wounded animal from back to back defeats against Lincoln and Wycombe.
New manager Phil Parkinson wanted Sunderland to be more attacking and Tranmere were the unwitting victims. They were 3-0 down before half time and finished the game with a five-goal deficit. In truth, Sunderland were good but the scoreline perhaps flattered them a little.
Tranmere have won two of their last eleven in the league, losing 4-1 against Ipswich, 3-0 against Oxford and now 5-0 against Sunderland. They struggled to kill off Southend and earned a draw, but the Shrimpers are woeful at present. One of their wins, 1-0 against Coventry City, saw them have just one shot on target the whole game.
It might not be panic stations right now for Tranmere, but with Doncaster, Wycombe and Fleetwood coming up there’s plenty for them to be concerned about over the coming weeks.
These fans weren ‘t too despondent about last night’s defeat, rather the manner in which they crumbled.
Terrible performance. A lot of work to do. Injuries or not – a first choice back 4 played tonight and not acceptable to defend like that. Doncaster scored 7 past Southend tonight against whom we struggled badly. Time to stand up and fight for the shirt and stop the rot.
— Southern SWA (@SouthernSWA1) October 22, 2019
Glad that’s over now Free Sid Nelson!
— Mark D (@thebernieb) October 22, 2019
Don’t want to hear anything about a test we had 2 face, time for new team 2 gel together bla bla All players brought in to play 1st team football…clearly not good enough for this division. Scraped a draw on fri…s’end just shipped SEVEN at home, embarrassing at the min
— Martyn Olver (@M_Olver) October 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/Joelmc57/status/1186752449966686208
https://twitter.com/Shaun_A_Fitz/status/1186754996479680512
https://twitter.com/blacknigel/status/1186743999501160448
Some players at this football club need to start pulling their socks up and stepping up to the plate. Too many not good enough. Defence a shambles once again. Fully expected a fight in the bottom 6/7 bt performances at the moment are dire. Sort it out
— Simon Hodson (@shodson28trfc) October 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/Greasbyrover/status/1186749894968725504
https://twitter.com/pjsTRFC/status/1186759036752060422
