Rovers run riot though safety still the concern

By Charles Williams

TRANMERE R 4

Norman 46, Hendry 54, Davison 85, Finley 89

TRANMERE: McGee 7, O’Connor 7 (Davies 88), Turnbull 7, Wood 7, Norman 9, Merrie 7, Finley 8, Hendry 8 (Morris 84, 7), Patrick 7 (Hawkes 76, 7), Dennis 7 (Davison 85), Jennings 7 (Bradshaw 76, 6). Subs not used: Murphy, Taylor.

Att: 6,316 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Tom Reeves 6/10

CHESTERFIELD 0

CHESTERFIELD: Boot 6, Mandeville 6, Palmer 6, Grimes 5, Gordon 5, Metcalfe 6 (Madden 76, 6), Naylor 5 (Fleck 68, 5), Banks 6 (Jacobs 68, 6), Dobra 6, Olakigbe 6 (Duffy 68, 6), Pepple 6 (Grigg 68, 6). Subs not used: McFadzean, Thompson.

INTERIM Tranmere boss Andy Crosby has warned against complacency despite his side edging ever closer to League Two safety.

Rovers made it three home wins on the bounce with a 4-0thrashing of Chesterfield at Prenton Park to further ease their relegation worries.

Goals from Cameron Norman, Regan Hendry, Josh Davison and Sam Finley did the damage as the hosts put some daylight between themselves and the League Two drop zone.

Rovers have now lost just once in eight games, and Crosby said: “In the first half they were by far the dominant team and we were lucky to come in level. We regrouped and changed a few things tactically. We went a bit more direct and the turnaround in the second half was credit to everyone on the pitch as we’ve been a really good team today with lots of good individuals.

“We have to keep going as there are five games left and we haven’t achieved anything yet. We have to keep our foot on the gas and enjoy the wins when they come before preparing for the next game.

“We are picking up points consistently and we’ve picked up a good number of points now. But there are still five games left and there’s no way anyone in our group will be getting carried away.”

The visitors almost broke the deadlock after 15 minutes when Liam Mandeville saw his effort blocked by the feet of Luke McGee.

However, it was the hosts who took the lead just after the break when the Chesterfield defence failed to clear the danger and Norman rifled the ball into an empty net.

Rovers doubled their lead after 54 minutes as Kristian Dennis teed up Hendry to side-foot the ball home. Substitute Davison made it three with his first touch, driving home a shot inside the near post, before Finley who followed up Kieron Morris’ saved shot to slam home the fourth.

Chesterfield boss Paul Cook, who saw his side’s run of six games without defeat come to an end, said: “That’s probably as bad a second-half as I’ve seen since I came back to the club.

“I’m devastated and I feel sick for our supporters as Tranmere ran all over us, had more desire and looked like the game meant a lot more to them than it did to us.

“Deepest apologies to our fans who travelled today as that was an absolutely disgusting performance.”