Ged Brannan believed Morecambe could beat Tranmere despite two-goal deficit

By Sports Desk February 13, 2024

Morecambe boss Ged Brannan believed his side could still win the game despite falling two goals behind early in their 3-2 victory at Tranmere.

A stunning free-kick from substitute Jacob Davenport deep in added time saw his side come from two goals down to take all three points with a dramatic comeback victory at Prenton Park.

Rovers raced into a two-goal lead when Rob Apter scored after just four minutes and Connor Jennings doubled the lead from the penalty spot six minutes later.

But the Shrimps halved the arrears after 14 minutes when Charlie Brown fired home from 10 yards, with the Tranmere defence appealing for offside.

Apter had a glorious opportunity to extend Tranmere’s lead with 20 minutes left, only to be denied by Archie Mair in the Morecambe goal.

And Rovers were made to pay when substitute Jordan Slew levelled with eight minutes remaining before Davenport won the game with a glorious free-kick from 25 yards out with almost the last kick to make it three wins on the bounce for the Shrimps.

Morecambe manager Brannan said: “We started the game off quite well and gave two silly goals away but we played really well.

“To be honest, when we scored our first goal I knew we’d win the game and if we kept going we’d score again in the second half and we did. It was a fantastic performance, I’m absolutely delighted.

“You can’t write a finish like that and it kills you when you get beat with a goal like that late on. I saw him lining it up and I was thinking ‘Don’t shoot, don’t shoot’, and then he puts it right in the top corner.

“A few times we’ve gone behind lately and we’ve shown great character to come back and win and, as I say, the way we played today it was never in doubt, to be honest.

“The game is 95 minutes now and we know we’ve just got to keep going until the final whistle and that’s exactly what we did.”

Tranmere boss Nigel Adkins said: “It was a tough one to take and we started the game ever so well to go 2-0 up.

“It was a great first goal from Rob Apter and then Connor Jennings making it two from the spot, it was well deserved.

“But they got themselves back into the game and all of a sudden it makes it a bit more challenging against a team who have won their last three games.

“Even at 2-2 I’m thinking we can still go on and win the game and once again the officials have played over time and they’ve scored to leave them elated and leave us in a difficult position.

“Consistency is what I’m after and I’m going to have to reflect on that at the end of the game.

“The result has gone against us but what I’ve got is an honest and hard-working bunch of players.

“There are some things we’ve got to improve on and there are some things we’ve done very well.”

Related items

  • Milan derby defeat played part in nervy Udinese win, says Inter boss Inzaghi Milan derby defeat played part in nervy Udinese win, says Inter boss Inzaghi

    Simone Inzaghi believes a hangover from Inter's derby defeat to Milan ultimately impacted his team's display against Udinese.

    Lautaro Martinez scored twice as Inter held on for a nervy 3-2 win over Udinese on Saturday.

    Davide Frattesi put Inter in front after 43 seconds but Christian Kabasele levelled in the 35th minute before Martinez scored either side of half-time, with Lorenzo Lucca setting up a grandstand finish.

    The victory came six days on from reigning Serie A champions Inter losing 2-1 to their city rivals in dramatic fashion at San Serie.

    "We came across a healthy team, who got 10 points and were undefeated at home," Inzaghi said.

    "However, we always kept control of the match, it's a shame about the ending where you know there can always be a negative episode."

    "The two goals are two goals that we should have avoided.

    "Our opponents are very dangerous when they show up in the area. We should have done better as a team in both goals, Lucca flew towards our goal with a two-goal advantage, we will have to work better when not in possession.

    "[But] it had been almost two years since we lost a derby and it had been two years since we prepared for a match with such difficulties because losing a derby is not like losing a normal match."

    Inter did at least snap a run of three games without a win in all competitions, with Martinez grabbing his first Serie A goals since May in the process.

    "In the derby he had a good game where he got used to exploiting the chances he had," Inzaghi said.

    "[A scoring drought] happens, we were all waiting for his goals. The fact that he has returned to scoring is important for everyone."

  • Flick shoulders the blame after Barca's capitulation at Osasuna Flick shoulders the blame after Barca's capitulation at Osasuna

    Barcelona coach Hansi Flick took the blame following Saturday's shock 4-2 defeat at the hands of Osasuna.

    Flick made a call to rest some of his key players and duly paid the price as Osasuna claimed their first LaLiga win over Barca since 2020.

    The former Germany and Bayern Munich boss had been aiming to become only the second Barca coach, after Gerardo Martino, to win his first eight LaLiga matches in charge.

    Yet Barca were firmly second best at Estadio El Sadar, with Bryan Zaragoza's double propelling Osasuna to a deserved victory, with the visitors only able to muster 0.68 expected goals (xG).

    "You have to accept these defeats. We didn't play very well. I think it's my responsibility," Flick told Movistar Plus.

    "[With the changes] I tried to protect the players, because they have been playing a lot of minutes. But I didn't expect us to play like this.

    "We made a lot of mistakes and Osasuna did well. Although in the second goal I think there was a foul at the start of the action, I'm not entirely sure because I haven't been able to see it yet, but that's what I've heard.

    "To score four goals against us is too much, but I've told the team that we have to keep going. It's a busy schedule and we are on the right track."

    Flick was referring to a challenge by Osasuna midfielder Lucas Torro, who stood on Pau Victor's foot, in the build-up to Zaragoza scoring their second goal in the 28th minute.

    The goal was given as neither the referee nor the VAR saw an infringement.

    "For me it is a clear foul," a visibly frustrated Pedri told Movistar Plus.

    Pedri also shrugged off the suggestion Flick's changes were the cause of Barca's issues.

    He added: "It's normal to make rotations, there are a lot of matches. It's no excuse. We had to go out with 11 players and the score at half-time penalised us.

    "The first half we were not good. We didn't come out to the game well. In the second half we deserved a bit more, but goals came when we were at our best.

    "We had to go for the game. We had to go for everything and on the counter-attack they hurt us." 

  • Inter Miami 1-1 Charlotte FC: Messi scores but Suarez miss proves costly Inter Miami 1-1 Charlotte FC: Messi scores but Suarez miss proves costly

    Lionel Messi scored but Inter Miami failed to puncture Charlotte FC's resolve as they were held to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

    Messi netted with a brilliant, low strike from the edge of the area to drag Miami level in the 67th minute at Chase Stadium.

    His equaliser came 10 minutes after Karol Swiderski had diverted in Brandt Bronico's effort to give Dean Smith's Charlotte an unlikely lead.

    Miami thought they had a penalty just after Messi's equaliser, but after consulting with the VAR, referee Ramy Touchan amended his decision to award a spot-kick for a foul on Diego Gomez, with that call also sparing Adilson Malanda from receiving a second yellow card.

    Charlotte substitute Patrick Agyemang had a goal disallowed for offside as the frantic pace continued, though the best opportunity for a winner fell to Miami star Luis Suarez, only for the former Barcelona and Liverpool forward to slice over from point-blank range.

    The draw leaves Miami needing to win all three of their remaining regular-season matches to break the single-season MLS points record of 73, which was set by the New England Revolution in 2021. Charlotte, meanwhile, are not sure of their place in the playoffs just yet.

    Data Debrief: Miami's Messi problem?

    Messi scored, had 10 shots, got five on target, had 15 touches in Charlotte's box, and created two chances for his team-mates, yet Miami could still not get over the line.

    The issue for Gerardo Martino is, it is becoming a trend when the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner plays - and he will always play when he is fit, of course.

    It can hardly be considered Messi's fault, but Miami have now won only one of the last six matches he has featured in dating back to late May (D3 L1). In the 13 matches Messi has missed in all competitions in that time, Miami have posted a record of W10 D0 L3, and it is a worrying drop-off heading into the playoffs.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.