Nigel Adkins was frustrated when Tranmere Rovers went three games without a goal.
They hosted Salford City at Prenton Park on Friday night, with goalkeeper Luke McGee making the difference in snatching a point for the Wirral team. It was a challenging night in front of goal, with 16 shots, but Jamie Jones made six saves to keep the score level.
The former Portsmouth and Peterborough United goalkeeper made three saves, denying Conor McAleny, Haji Mnoga, and Ossama Ashley from putting City ahead. Saidou Khan could have won if Jones hadn’t made two saves.
It is a result that places Rovers in 15th in League Two, with all the
All teams below them are playing today, with the exception of Accrington Stanley. If outcomes go against them, they could drop as low as 21st at the end of the game.
Nigel Adkins expressed his dissatisfaction with the outcome in a post-game press conference. He said (quote from Wirral Globe): “It’s frustrating and seems like a defeat. I think we started well, and keeping a clean sheet after the last two games is always a good thing.
“Both sides had to compete, and it’s safe to say we did. We had 16 shots and 23 crosses, with possibilities to score. We know we aren’t scoring goals, so we need to solve that.
“It was
It took a different approach than the previous two games, which was obvious to everyone, but it wasn’t the game we wanted, and the quality could have been greater.
“I feel the same as the supporters, I want us to go and score, I want us to go and win and I want us to be exciting on a Friday night at Prenton Park and, even though we’ve got the point and the clean sheet, I’m disappointed.”
Another game without a goal makes it 243 minutes since Tranmere last scored, with Omari Patrick’s second goal against Carlisle United. Patrick is his team’s only League Two goal scorer this season, having also converted in a win over Walsall.
When comparing the two clubs’ records this season, it seemed unavoidable that they would finish in the bottom two in terms of league goals scored. Rovers have only scored three goals, two of which came in the triumph over the Cumbrians, while Salford has added one more.
Adkins will now lead his squad into a Tuesday night home game against Swindon Town, who have not won at Prenton Park since 2019.
Writer’s perspective
Tranmere Rovers had the majority of the game’s chances and may have been unlucky not to score. Jamie Jones demonstrated why Salford took a risk on him and delivered in a game where the goalkeepers were each team’s top player. Nigel Adkins is more concerned about scoring, with neither Harvey Saunders nor Luke Norris finding the net this season.
Salford City would also believe they could have won the game, but it is another plus for Karl Robinson’s team. They created numerous opportunities, which had previously been difficult for them, particularly at home. If they can transfer yesterday night’s performance against Newport County on Tuesday night, they will be It earned me three more points. However, losing Ryan Watson is a setback, but Ben Woodburn, Conor McAleny, and Matty Lund provide adequate coverage until he returns.
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