Tranmere Rovers.............0

Oxford United ..................3

By Richard Garnett

THERE were angry scenes at Prenton Park as Tranmere Rovers stared relegation from the Football League squarely in the face after two goals from Kemar Roofe either side of a Danny Rose strike gave Oxford United a deserved victory.

A fan was escorted from the ground after confronting the Rovers dug-out and chants of "You don't deserve to wear the shirt" echoed around the stands, which rapidly emptied following Oxford's third goal.

It was a dismal day for the home side. The visitors took the lead on 51 minutes when a cross from Sam Long found Roofe who executed his header in clinical fashion.

A minute later it was 2-0 as Oxford sliced their way through the Rovers defence with crisp passing before Alexander McDonald found Danny Rose who applied the finish.

Myrie-Wiliams had a chance to pull one back for Rovers put pondered too long and allowed Ashdown to smother.

 

Wirral Globe:

Rovers fans at the gates of Prenton Park continue to make their discontent known to club officials after this afternoon's defeat by Oxford

That was to be the former Port Vale winger’s last involvement along with George Green as Micky Adams introduced Jason Koumas and Marc Laird.

As Rovers fought their way back into the match Ashdown saved well from Odejayi but the visitors wrapped up the points on 68 minutes when Danny Hylton found Roofe who smashed the ball home prompting the angry exit of a large number of home supporters.

Marc Laird went close with a header and Jason Koumas flashed a shot just over the bar but once again Rovers’ profligacy in front of goal proved costly.

The full time whistle was met by a crescendo of boos from the home supporters as Tranmere hang onto their Football League status by the finest of threads.

The result keeps Rovers, who have now lost their last four consecutive fixtures and are without a win in seven, rooted to the bottom of League Two with only two matches left to play.

Fortunately for Tranmere fellow relegation battlers Hartlepool and Cheltenham had equally bad days losing 3-0 and 2-0 respectively.

That means the Wirral club still has a chance of survival.

But it will take a massive effort from the players, as Rovers assistant manager Alan Rogers acknowledged.

He said: "We are dumbfounded by [today's result] to be honest.

"We knew it was a big occasion.

"We huffed and puffed in the first half but never really looked like scoring again.

"Second half, we couldn’t have had a worse start.

"We concede a goal, but then you’ve got to have a bit of mental strength about you and make sure you’re tight for the next ten minutes and then try to get back in the game.

"But to concede a second after a minute, it’s not acceptable - and it’s not good enough.

"We just don’t look like scoring a goal and it’s a problem.

"The last couple of games before this we’ve dominated but today, it’s a bitter pill to take.

"It’s disappointing and when you’re not scoring goals you’re continually putting pressure on your back four as well to keep clean sheets, which we haven’t been doing

"The first goal is poor. Just lock on to your man, mark your man.

"We work all week. The players have got to start taking some responsibility.

"It’s okay everyone pointing fingers at the manager, but I was a player. Stand up and be counted. Defend set pieces, defend crosses.

"It’s an easy option pointing the finger at the manager. These players have got to look at themselves."

Rovers are away to Plymouth next Saturday with the final game of the season against Bury played at Prenton Park a week later, May 2.

Match Stats:

Referee: Andrew Madley 8/10

Attendance: 5,777

Match rating 3/5

Star man: Kemar Roofe, Oxford United centre forward

Tranmere: (4-4-2): Fon Williams - player rating 6, Holmes 6, Ihiekwe 6, Donacien 6, Taylor 5 (Hill 71, 6), Myrie-Williams 4 (Koumas 60, 6), Jennings 6, Power 6, Green 5 (Larid 60, 6), Odejayi 6, Hume 7.

Subs not used: Brezovan, Stockton, Dugdale, Donnelly.

Oxford: (4-4-2): Ashdown - player rating 7, Long 7, Wright 6, Dunkley 6, Skarz 7, MacDonald 7 (Hawtin 88, N/A), Ruffels 6, Collins 6, Rose 7, Hylton 7 (Roberts 80, 6), Roofe 9 (Hoban 75, 6).

Subs not used: Clarke, Mullins, O’Dowda, Whing.