Parry sparks lift in Rovers return

DEANE SMALLEY will be hoping to get on the scoresheet for the second game in a row at Boundary Park tonight.

Tranmere thriving as new boss makes his mark

THE omens are positive for Athletic ahead of their Tranmere Rovers test tonight (7.45).

The side from the Wirral have been put to the sword four times in the last five meetings of the clubs.

And the only defeat in that sequence arrived in March of last year, amid the carnival celebrations surrounding the return of Joe Royle as Athletic manager after a 15-year absence from the club.

The influence of Royle, in a caretaker capacity at his spiritual home following the sacking of previous incumbent John Sheridan, could not prevent Rovers seeing off Athletic 2-0 in front of a crowd of 7,489.

What the owners would do for a repeat show of that support tonight, if not the result.

A lack of home games – Athletic have only played once at Boundary Park since the first day of December – has had a severe impact on cash flow at the club, with the estimated losses from the period of inactivity estimated to be as high as £100,000.

Athletic boss Dave Penney would certainly be grateful for increased backing given that his charges are so desperate for points following a sequence of just one win in their last 10 competitive fixtures.

Goals from Deane Smalley and on-loan Paul Heffernan — a forward Penney would like to get back, but who is currently involved on the fringes of a Doncaster team hit by injuries — saw off Exeter City on December 12, the last occasion on which Athletic trotted out on home soil.

Since then, the team have managed to play only twice due to four weather-related postponements, including the Tranmere game, which should have taken place on Boxing Day.

Athletic drew 2-2 at Wycombe Wanderers, a game which saw the team throw away a great chance of three points at Adams Park after dominating until the latter stages.

And up at a seriously-cold Victoria Park in Hartlepool, the late introduction of attacking trio Pawel Abbott, Nick Blackman and Chris Taylor almost forced a draw after the visitors had found themselves 2-0 down at half-time.

Abbott scored what turned out to be a consolation goal with an 88th-minute header, his seventh of the campaign.

The striker's importance to the cause can be measured by the fact that no other Athletic player has more than two goals to his name this season.

Tranmere, meanwhile, have blossomed lately under the guidance of new manager Les Parry.

The former club physio, appointed following the sacking of managerial pair John Barnes and Jason McAteer and assisted by former Athletic centre-back Shaun Garnett, has enjoyed a decent start to his managerial career at Prenton Park, tasting defeat in just two of his last nine matches in all competitions.

In Tranmere's last outing on January 2, only a Matt Jarvis goal 13 minutes from time enabled Premier League side Wolves to pick up a 1-0 away win which saw them reach the FA Cup fourth round.