That’s the way to do it, Latics

Cliff Byrne gets in a header, but the Tranmere defence holds firm

DON’T believe the naysayers who have it that Tranmere are lucky to be five points clear at the helm of npower League One.

Adam McGurk’s volley as Athletic day-dreamed gave Ronnie Moore’s side the lead and a familiar and all-too comfortable period defending the advantage followed.

Rovers are the team Paul Dickov – and deeply frustrated chairman Simon Corney – wishes his side were.

It is not by pure fortune that the Wirral club have already amassed 37 points.

A positive goal difference of 21 and six wins from nine away-days can't be down to the purchase of a bag of lucky heather, or the crossing of a cluster of black cats across the team coach's path.

Moore, who enjoyed this day at his former club, is indisputably doing something very right at Tranmere. He has built a good side.

Goalkeeper Owain fon Williams was under-worked on Saturday as Athletic toiled, creating too few shooting opportunities despite bright approach work leading to the final third.

But when he was needed, he pulled off two excellent stops. First, a diving tip-away of Cristian Montano’s angled drive as the home team broke to good effect in a tight first half; and second, an acrobatic save to prevent substitute Youssouf Mchangama from netting a late equaliser.

Ahead of him, Tranmere were as solid as it gets at this level. Doubling up on Athletic’s wingers to cut off the supply line, every time the ball went into the penalty area it was a Rovers man who was reading the game the better to apply a crucial head or foot.

Even when Matt Smith was sent on for the final half-hour to try to ruffle a few feathers, moments of real panic were few and far between.
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