ROVERS MOVE CLEAR OF DANGER BUT CROSBY CALLS FOR HUMILITY

By Matthew Crist

TRANMERE R 2

Dennis 25, Norman 90+3

TRANMERE: McGee 6, O’Connor 7, Turnbull 7, Wood 8, Norman 8, Hendry 6 (Morris 86) Finley 7, Merrie 7, Patrick 7 (Bradshaw 90+2) Dennis 7 (Saunders 90+2) Hawkes 7 (Jennings 73, 6). Subs not used: Egan, Garrett, Taylor.

CHELTENHAM T 0

CHELTENHAM: Day 6, Jude-Boyd 7, Stubbs 7, Bradbury 6, Adedokun 6 (Taylor 81) Kinsella 6 (King 68, 6) Dieng 6, Thomas 6, Archer 7, Williams 6 (Backwell 45, 6) Hay 6 (Miller 68, 6). Subs not used: Diallo, Bakare, Haynes.

Att: 6,650 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Ross Joyce 6/10

INTERIM Tranmere boss Andy Crosby urged his players to stay humble after they extended their unbeaten run to six games with a win over Cheltenham at Prenton Park on Friday.

Kristian Dennis’s first-half header and a late Cameron Norman strike proved crucial as Rovers put some daylight between themselves and the relegation places.

And Crosby said: “It was a good three points and another clean sheet. I thought we made a slow start and we gave the first real good opportunity of the game to the opposition with the header in the box.

“But we grew into the game and got a foothold and started to play through their press and some of the football we played was really pleasing. It’s important that we stay humble, we enjoy tonight’s victory, which you’ve got to do when you win and then we go again on Sunday.”

The home side were almost ahead as early as the third minute when Norman latched onto a deep cross, but was unable to force the ball home from close range.

At the other end, Timothee Dieng had a glorious opportunity to give the visitors the lead, but headed over from six yards with only Luke McGee to beat.

Moments later Rovers broke the deadlock when Kristian Dennis connected with a Josh Hawkes corner to head the ball past Joe Day in the Town goal.

Rovers could have increased their lead after the break through Sam Finley, Omari Patrick and Regan Hendry, who all had good opportunities to make things more comfortable.

But any tension was eased in the final minute of stoppage time as Norman fired home from the edge of the area to make the points safe. Cheltenham manager Michael Flynn – who has seen his side win just once in eight games – said: “We weren’t good enough.

“They out battled us, they used the ball better than us and we conceded from another set play, which is disappointing. But I’m not going to come out here tonight and kick my players when they’re down.

“They are hurting in there and they’ve lost a bit of form.

“So this is when they need me to stick up for them and back them, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

“They’re trying and we’re just falling short in terms of a bit of quality.”