PERSISTENCE PARAMOUNT FOR ROVERS
TRANMERE assistant Mike Jackson praised the persistence of his players after Rovers overcame initial resistance to thrash Guiseley and notch a fifth successive league win at Prenton Park.
Andy Cook had a goal ruled offside in the first half but after the break goals from James Norwood and Cook either side of a Connor Jennings brace secured another three points for in-form Rovers who now look like serious title contenders.
The upturn in form has been reflected by performances on the pitch but Rovers’ assistance boss Jackson recognised that it hadn’t been plain sailing against the Lions.
He said: “They’re fighting for their lives. But I thought the way the group went about it – they just kept playing.
“Cookie’s one – it’s not offside. You can get frustrated with things like that but the focus, determination and the attitude to go and get the goal when we needed it settled everyone down.
“After that first goal it broke their hearts a little bit.”
Cook diverted Norwood’s fourth minute cross into the net, but was flagged offside. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 65th minute as Norwood collected the ball on the edge of the box and cut inside before drilling an 18-yard drive into the corner. Five minutes later it was two, when Jennings beat the offside trap to collect a ball over the top and the in-form midfielder cut inside and calmly stroked the ball past Jonny Maxted. With the visitors tiring, Rovers pushed on for more and with 12 minutes remaining Norwood’s low cross was only half cleared, allowing Jennings to sneak in and slam home his second before Cook notched a late fourth with a clinical finish. Guiseley boss Paul Cox said: “Coming into it we made a number of changes. Two games in three days – I don’t know what the league’s thinking about. “But our cup final is on New Year’s Day so we made some, what you might call brave decisions coming here. They’re the best team that we’ve come up against this year – a team that I think will probably go on and get promoted.”