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Tranmere hosted Bradford City this evening for a 7:45pm kick-off in their latest fixture in the 2022/23 League Two season.
The fixture is the first since the news of the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II and both players and staff marked the occasion with multiple marks of respect including black armbands and holding a minute’s silence.
The club said that the minute’s silence and National Anthem were ‘impeccably observed’ by all fans at Prenton Park.
Football at all levels was cancelled last weekend including Stockport County’s scheduled visit to Prenton Park on Friday.
Match Report: Tranmere Rovers v Bradford City
Tranmere’s lacklustre performance earned them defeat at the hands of Bradford City this evening at Prenton Park.
As the lineup was announced, many fans were baffled by the 5-3-2 formation – hardly the goal-getting set-up they wanted and expected.
The fans’ concerns were immediately justified, when just three minutes after the whistle, a corner by Richard Smallwood was headed in from very close range by Andy Cook, leaving Tranmere keeper Doohan flailing and failing to stop the ball. The five-man defence was nowhere to be seen.
It was a full 35 minutes into the game before Rovers had a chance at goal, but Elliott Nevitt failed to keep his shot on target and it missed to the left. This proved to be one of only two Tranmere attempts on goal in the first half.
At 45 minutes, a left-footed shot from Josh Dacres-Cogley was blocked.
Relief came just short of five minutes into the second half, when right-footed shot from the centre of the box from Kane Hemmings found the back of the net, drawing Tranmere level.
Hopes that a reveille was on the cards were raised when three minutes after his goal, Hemmings had another attempt, but this time, his shot went high and wide to the right. And a minute later, another Hemmings shot hit the right hand post.
Elliott Nevitt glanced a header wide from the centre of the box at 65 minutes and at 73 minutes, Reece McAlear’s left-footed shot from outside the box was too high.
Andy Cook scored again for Bradford at 75 minutes with his second headed goal of the game.
Paul Lewis and Jake Burton each had a stab at goal, but their efforts were fruitless. The match ended with a win for Bradford and major disappointment for the home fans.
Tranmere visit Salford City on Saturday 17 September for a 3pm kick off in their next game of the League Two season.
Fans’ Twitter Reaction
No idea what’s really going on off the pitch, but something’s obviously badly wrong and doesn’t look like it’s changing any time soon #TRFC #SWA— Dave Mercer (@davemercer83) September 13, 2022
No idea what’s really going on off the pitch, but something’s obviously badly wrong and doesn’t look like it’s changing any time soon #TRFC #SWA
I can't get over how poor that was #trfc are bang in trouble.— Adam.C.Miller (@Ad606) September 13, 2022
I can't get over how poor that was #trfc are bang in trouble.
You cannot play for 20 minutes and win games. Simply not good enough. #trfc— SWA Midlands (@MidlandsTrfc) September 13, 2022
You cannot play for 20 minutes and win games. Simply not good enough. #trfc
No papering over this one with excuses.. Bradford were there for the taking. Terrible football from both teams. May as well not have played with any midfielders on the pitch. Hooof!!! #trfc— Greg Shillinglaw (@gmshilly) September 13, 2022
No papering over this one with excuses.. Bradford were there for the taking. Terrible football from both teams. May as well not have played with any midfielders on the pitch. Hooof!!! #trfc
Peak Tranmere this… keep the number 9 clear for a striker, get the striker on deadline day, plays 10 mins does his Hamstring. I can hear his contract being torn up by Liverpool as we speak. Feel for the lad but it was a massive red flag signing him in the first place #SWA #TRFC— James Donnelly (@jm_donnelly) September 13, 2022
Peak Tranmere this… keep the number 9 clear for a striker, get the striker on deadline day, plays 10 mins does his Hamstring. I can hear his contract being torn up by Liverpool as we speak. Feel for the lad but it was a massive red flag signing him in the first place #SWA #TRFC
I’d still take Nigel adkins easy. Wirral lad. #SWA— S Davis (@Davisb5ksc) September 13, 2022
I’d still take Nigel adkins easy. Wirral lad. #SWA
Match Highlights
Post Match Interviews
League Table
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Gallery
Line-ups
Tranmere Rovers – Formation 5-3-21 Ross Doohan GK2 Josh Dacres-Cogley DF3 Ethan Bristow DF26 Dynel Simeu DF14 Jordan Turnbull DF19 Neill Byrne DF8 Reece McAlear MF4 Lee O’Connor MF22 Paul Lewis MF10 Kane Hemmings (C) FW20 Elliott Nevitt FW
Substitutes23 Mateusz Hewelt SUB15 Ben Hockenhull SUB11 Josh Hawkes SUB17 Rhys Hughes SUB6 Chris Merrie SUB27 Jake Burton SUB9 Paul Glatzel SUB
ManagerMicky Mellon
Match OfficialsReferee: Adam HerczegAssistants: Andrew Hendley and Mark JonesFourth official: Nik Barnard
Bradford City – Formation 4-2-3-11 Harry Lewis GK2 Brad Halliday DF14 Matthew Foulds DF5 Matthew Platt DF24 Romoney Crichlow-Noble DF11 Alex Gilliead MF20 Harry Chapman MF6 Richard Smallwood (C) MF21 Jake Young MF26 Dion Pereira MF9 Andy Cook FW
Substitutes13 Colin Doyle SUB15 Timi Odusina SUB4 Yann Songo’o SUB18 Levi Sutton SUB23 Kian Harratt SUB19 Vadaine Oliver SUB32 Tyreik Wright SUB
ManagerMark Hughes
Attendance: 5864
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