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Thought Davis was caught out for their first, didn’t seem to know whether to try and cut out the through ball or chase back, and in the end did neither, however thought both he and Whitmore handled two strong experienced strikers very well overall.

For their 2nd Pringle was caught in possession but prior to that we must have had 20+ passes,moving in around quickly which had the Birkenheadians chasing shadows! Personally I think we need to encourage that sort of play not booing when it breaks down, which it will on occasions.

The first goal was the result of a very good passing movement down the rhs with Hendrie and Verham and the through ball from the much maligned Welsh for the 5th was exquisite.

Not many there but IF we can start to produce that sort of level of performance on a regular basis the crowds will grow.

Loved it!

Been a while since I have genuinely watched a League game at BP and been thrilled with what I witnessed.That was a great 90 mins of football  and Tranmere looked a decent side that just had one of those nights where it all went wrong their no 6 best CB I have seen in League 2 oozed class whilst all around him fell apart. Town`s midfield with that energy will be very very hard for anyone to beat and Harry Clifton must surely be in Jolley`s mind for next GTFC Captain. I don`t want to go over the top but that was a league 2 level Keane/Gerrard type performance grabbed his team by the scruff of the neck and won us the game.UTM Chesterfield YOU ARE NEXT

That was a fabulous performance and I'm really glad I made the effort to go. We started horribly and I really thought we might have been on the end of a pasting. However, after the first 20 minutes we were dominant. Played some beautiful football at times with a real energy and loads of movement, almost Buckley-esque at times.

As others have mentioned the pressing from the midfield was great, not allowing Tranmere any time to breathe and winning the ball high up. This was precisely what I was hoping we would get from a Jolley team and it's great to see it finally coming to the fore. I thought the defence looked solid and I would like to see Whitmore and Davis continue as I the team looked more comfortable with them than DC. Fox still looks a bit short of match sharpness but we know he's more than capable when up to speed. Great save from Macca too when it was 1-0 to them, probably a game changing save when put in context.

There's still a long way to go in this season and we know we're equally as capable of putting on a stinking performance as we are a decent one and this needs to change. However, the performance last night was miles better than any game last season against an opposition who are no mugs themselves. We will still need a couple of reinforcements in January in key positions but we've got the basis in terms of personnel and game plan of a good team. We shouldn't underestimate the size of the job MJ has on considering who he's working under but we're definitely going in the right direction and should trust him on last night's showing.

Their first goal was mostly the fault of McKeown for me. He came rushing out and didn't get there when the ball was towards the side of the penalty area and continuing to roll forward, making the angle ever-tighter. It would have taken a hell of a left-footed shot from a right footed striker and from a tight angle to beat him if he'd stayed in his line. It was actually a very good bit of play from their bald midfielder and good movement which created the chance, though you would hope that the defence would have covered a bit better.

We saw both the good and the bad from McKeown last night. Error for the first, great save soon after that, almost caught out off his line (though he got back and stopped the lofted shot), followed by some good handling during the rest of the game. Not a problem, however, as he win us more points than he costs us.

I do worry why McKeown comes so far out of his area when the ball is in the oppositions half, particularly when they have the wind behind them. Tranmere could have had pot shots each time they regained possession with him in no mans land.

What an enjoyable game.

First half we started very slowly and didn't play any football. Tranmere knocked it around nicely and scored a very well-taken goal through Norwood.

Key moment was our tactical change (same as at Northampton) to move Embleton central and Vernam out wide to bolster our numbers in midfield. Literally as soon as MJ made this change we upped the intensity of our work rate and pressing too. The strengthening of midfield allowed us to get closer to them quicker, but also allowed us to build possession through midfield, which we were previously struggling to do and having to go longer or into channels.
And after our last few managers it's nice to see one actively seeing things going wrong/not working early and changing it to swing it in our favour.

Scored an excellent equaliser from the ever-improving Clifton but also worth noting we had 3 players in the box for the cross from Vernam.

2nd goal was obviously a blatant handball. Shocking from the officials to not see it, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it because we get some horrendous decisions against us at times. However, watch Thomas' movement whilst Vernam is slipping the fullback stepovers - fantastic little double movement from the striker going in short then pulling away behind the defender.

2nd half we started on the front foot and the early goal from Davis probably knocked a bit of belief out of Tranmere.

As the half went on we were much the better side really and although there were a few spells where it was quite open and looked like there could be a goal at either end, I felt we were the stronger side. We looked a confident side spraying the ball about, working it across midfield.

Hessenthaler excellent for the 2nd game in a row, Clifton a good supporting act too. Embleton very very good after the switch into the middle and Vernam was a threat too - receiving the ball a bit deeper facing forward to run at the opposition rather than up top with his back to goal.

Fox struggled first half but was a different player 2nd half. Hendrie goes about his business quietly and effectively and Pringle showed plenty of quality, composure and consistently good decision-making. Really liking Davis at centre-back too, a real calming, classy influence on the back line.

Tranmere's 2nd was a fantastic strike but it didn't phase us and didn't send us into a nervous panic as I worried it might when the lead was cut to one goal. Davis won our pen, which if you count that as an assist (I am doing) that's 3 assists for Davis in the last 3 games.

Interesting to see M.Rose(P) take a penalty with no massive pressure for a change. Don't get me wrong, it could've had an impact on the momentum of the game had he missed, but he's usually taken them at 0-0, sometimes very late on, to nick us a 1-0 win. Great pen right in the top corner.

And what a goal to finish with. Lovely move involving Welsh, who read the play and intercepted, played a one-two with Cardwell and then slipped a perfect ball into the path of Embleton who'd made a great 3rd man run whilst Welsh & Cardwell combined. Lovely composure to check back inside the defender and finish too.

Good entertainment, good football from Town after the initial half hour, and a good intensity and organisation to everything we did out of possession after that first half hour too.

Encouraging signs:
- we now look like a side that can score goals.
- we now look like a side that doesn't crumble or go to pieces mentally after conceding a goal.
- got a settled side now and not needing to chop and change
- squad is looking stronger and we're able to bring players off the bench that add something (3 goals from substitutes in last 3 games and Cardwell and Welsh also adding something to our performance last night).
- good home form continues.

UTM

Cracking post that Tommy - a thoroughly enjoyable read , , better than most journo-'s that mate

As Tommy mentioned we have a really good bench now, apart from Saturday when he wasnt on it, a very good keeper, players who can shore up the game and players who can come on and score. In many recent seasons the bench has usually consisted of fairly average midfielders, with little chance of changing a game.  

Jolley said at the beginning of the season that he wanted high energy, last night was the first time I have really seen that. Hopefully, the team is finally gelling and playing the way Jolley wants them to.

Hess, Embleton, Pringle, Vernam and Clifton all possess different qualities but last night as a unit, they were almost unplayable at times.

Not sure why McNulty went off at HT but I bet he was pleased he wasn't chasing their shadows in the second half.

I thought Hessenthaler was excellent. Him siiting deeper seems to be freeing up Vernam, Pringle, Clifton and Emnleton to get on the ball and express themselves. When was the last time we had a centre mid bursting into the box to get on the end of a cross?