The day started badly as just after we got to Haywards Heath the line was close due to a train derailment just outside Brighton. Luckily there was a train running to Hove so jumped on that, then caught one back into Brighton.
I started the day by getting my cup tickets, then it was on to the usual pubs. I have to say that the Man City v Fulham game on TV was actually quite a good game, some very poor defending by FuLham gifted Man City the 3 points.
So, on to Withdean and a tough test as Tranmere were 5th in the league, not a great away record, but we have a very poor home league record.
The game started badly for us with Tranmere looking much stronger and certainly no mugs. They had a game plan and snuffed out the danger of Cox, Robinson and Revell pretty much from the off.
They gave us no room and dominated the midfield. They should have gone 1 up but they somehow put a shot wide.
Then comedy defending from the Albion. A long ball up and Hinshelwood and Lynch went for the same ball, one player definitely called it, but they somehow managed to not get to the ball properly and it put Greenacre through. Lynch was still turning circles looking for the ball which was behind him, then Whing slid in at about 100 miles an hour and just shot past Greenacre who then easily slotted the ball in the net past Henderson who looked confused as to what was happening.
A dreadful goal to give away.
Tranmere pretty much stayed on top for the rest of the half and should have been at least 3 up at the break.
Second half and instantly a more inspired attacking Albion. In the first half we had been snuffed out as an attacking force, but the second half saw us at times put some fast moving passes together and create some chances.
In the first minute Robinson finally broke free, the defender had most of Robinsons shirt in his hands and as Robinson spun him round he crashed over for a 100% definite penalty IMHO. Instead the Referee books Robinson for diving!
Bowditch replaced Fraser and immediately ran at the Tranmere defence. We huffed and puffed but couldn't get a clear chance on goal.
Tranmere wasted time, the Referee must have warned the keeper at least 3 times for time wasting but failed to produce a card.
With 10 minutes left it was like the charge of the Light Brigade. Attack after attack after attack. Finally we got a sight of goal, but somehow Robinson directed the ball across the face of the goal and wide, moments later and Robinson finds the target but the keeper brilliantly turns it away on the ground for a corner. It just wasn't to be our day.
The players left the pitch to singing and applause which shows we can accept defeat. The only annoying bit of the day was the way El-Abd reacted to being elbowed by a player (in the shin when the Tranmere bloke was on the floor). There was a delayed reaction before he went down like he had been shot. What would have been a red card for the Tranmere player was turned into 2 yellow cards (El-Abd had gone over to try and stand the Tranmere player up after he had feined injury!)
Henderson - 5 looked unsure and stuck to his line
Lynch - 5 poor match, poor distribution, lots of mistakes
Whing - 6 solid
Butters - 6 solid
Hinshelwood - 5 poor game by his recent high standards
Hammond - 6 kept plugging away
El-Abd - 5 never gave up even though he wasn't having his best game
Cox- 6 poor first half but once again never gave up and came to life in the second half
Fraser - 5 didn't create much
Robinson - 6 kept going and should have scored
Revell - 6 battled
Bowditch - 7 showed good composure and determination, deserves a start
Kuipers, Gatting, Mayo and Elphick not used