MELLON’S PRIDE AT EXETER SCALP
TRANMERE Rovers manager Micky Mellon heaped praise on his side after they signaled their intent with a gritty win at promotion rivals Exeter City.
James Norwood notched his 23rd league goal of the season in the 31st minute against his former club as Rovers dominated the first half, but they withstood heavy Exeter pressure after the break to move back into the top seven.
“The boys battled and battled and it is a terrific three points,” said Mellon.
“It was a different game in the first half, we could have been a few goals more up.
“In the second half, their two centre-backs tried to get some control on the game and they pushed their two fullbacks high to try and stretch us. They did it well, but we stuck at it and hung in.
“We could have been better when we won it back if we are going to be critical about ourselves. But, in terms of guts and determination, you couldn’t fault them.
“I am not going to stand here and be unfair. Exeter gave it a right good go, but so did we.”
Tranmere started the better of the two teams and, after a frantic goalmouth scramble, David Perkins dragged a shot well wide and out for a throw in.
Exeter barely created a chance and it was no surprise when Tranmere went in front in the 31st minute.
Norwood had never scored in his two years at Exeter, but he returned to St James Park with a bang.
A long ball over the top caught found Norwood and his shot took a wicked deflection off Pierce Sweeney before creeping past Christy Pym and finding the net.
Exeter had been poor in the first half, but looked far more lively after the break. Ran“We dell Williams fired straight at Scott Davies and substitute Jonathan Forte glanced just over from a Lee Holmes cross.
Forte and then Hiram Boateng were both denied by Davies late on, but Exeter just could not find that elusive equalising goal as Rovers were happy to soak up the pressure and play on the break.
Exeter manager Matt Taylor felt his side paid the price for a poor first half, but was proud of the way they responded after the break. However, scoring goals remains their big issue.
“The first-half performance wasn’t where it needed to be,” he said. “Games aren’t always going to go your way and you are not always going to be on top and we certainly weren’t on top in that first period.
“We had to find something to get us through to half-time and we didn’t quite have that.
“I was disappointed with the goal, we knew their threat, and we couldn’t gain any control at all in that first half.
were half a yard off it and when you are half a yard off it all over the pitch, it makes a hell of a difference.
“It was a poor goal from our point of view and in the second half, we asked them to be braver on the ball and we looked a different team.”
EXETER: Pym 6, K Wilson 5, Sweeney 5, O’Shea 6, Woodman 5, Taylor 5, Collins 4 (Boateng 68. 6), Holmes 5, Jay 5, Williams 6 (Law 76, 6), D Wilson 4 (Forte 26, 6). Subs not used: A Martin, Hamon, Jaden Brown, Hartridge.
TRANMERE ROVERS: S Davies 8, Caprice 7, Ellis 7, Monthe 6, Bakayogo 6, McCullough 7, Perkins 7, J Smith 6 (Gilmour 67, 6), Jennings 7, Pringle 6 (Nelson 90), Norwood 9. Subs not used: Buxton, Mullin, Pilling, Banks, Dagnall.