Eddies Rovers Return serves perfect cocktail

King Eddie returned to Dean Court today with a scripted fairy tale ending. The evil opponents could not have been any tougher than unbeaten top of the table Tranmere.... but one waft of Eddie's wand.... a sprinkle of Jason's pixie dust and 'pmmph' they were gone back up the motorway pointless for the first time this season.

The first real statement of Eddies intent - the Dutch passengers despatched back to the gym to get match fit and hungry players brought in to replace them. Harry Arter, Josh Mcquoid, Mcdermott and Fletch back in the squad and boy did that show.

The second statement of intent - width. You wonder if Paul Groves was present and what he thought as he watched the same players lost in his soulless narrow diamond transformed into world beaters. Both full backs attacked at will dovetailing all game with their wingers. It's a simple game when played properly and people have team mates in obvious places to pass too!

The game started with a cracking atmosphere reminiscent of Eddies last spell. Everytime Bournemouth attacked the roar was huge and the players responded by snapping into every tackle when they lost it. Six bookings was testament to the desire to win. The early pressure just brought a series of corners but these were dealt with by the impressive aerial presence of Taylor and Gibson in the table topping defence. Arter and Mcdonald were pulling all the strings in the centre of midfield and Barnard and Mcquoid were willing runners up front to keep the play flowing.

Tranmere attacked sporadically in the opening stages and their main threat was the wonderfully named Bel-Baggie who was giving Daniels some head-aches and attracted a couple of home players into the book. He also squandered his teams best chance of the game firing straight at James from six yards to the ex-England stopper's relief. The winger next set up Mcgurk who fired a 30 yarder just wide of the post and signalled intent a goal was around the corner.

When the league leaders took the lead it owed little to their own creation and much to a couple of disastrous moments from skipper Addison. First he needlessly played the ball out for a throw in when trying a 10 yard pass and then he lunged at the throw and missed it completely allowing Cassidy to centre for JERVIS to expertly turn past James.

Bournemouth and Addison were stunned and finished the first half with good possession but too often recieving the ball running back to get it so it was easily blunted.

HT Bournemouth 0 Tranmere 1

The second half was a blitz of football. Tranmere were rocked on their heels and didn't really get out of their own half until injury time. It was as intense a spell of football as you could wish for helped by a resurgent home crowd's non stop barmy army bombardment. Eddie made one change - but it was a key one - he put Mcquoid on the wing so he got the ball moving forwards and Grabban into the centre forward spot.

The equaliser came in bizarre fashion identical to last week's opener against Orient. Pugh swung a free-kick from out wide and it skimmed through a packed area, took a touch from Rovers' Gibson and flew in the bottom corner.

The ground erupted but the best was yet to come.. The waves of attacks continued, Barnard winning a no-hope ball by the corner flag and setting up Pugh whose 25 yarder was beaten out by Fon-Williams. Bournemouth were really on fire and the second owed a lot to the tenacity of Mcquoid. The recalled winger beat two people in a race to the by-line and pulled the ball back to ARTER on the edge of the area. Lining himself up for a man of the match performance the sometimes maligned play-maker took a touch and then smashed it from 20 yards into the top right corner.

Tranmere were shell shocked and for awhile just couldn't live with the pressure. Tubbs arrived for Grabban and he soon was involved in the sublime third. A great free-kick routine saw the diminutive hit man toe poke the ball sideways for FRANCIS to arrive from deep and smash an imperious 30 yard drive that flashed past Fon-Williams outstretched arm.

The game ran itself down into injury time but there was still time for James to pull off a wonder save from Cassidy's near post drive.

FT Bournemouth 3 Tranmere 1

James 7 - Good handling, distribution and one wonder save.

Francis 8 - Great defensively and attacking - goal to remember!
Addison 6 - Shaky first half (5) Recovered composure in second (7)
Elphick 7 - Some great interceptions and generally solid.
Daniels 8 - Looked player we signed - attacking at will.

Mcquoid 8 - Attacking with purpose and clever linking.
Arter 9 - Controlled the whole game with movement and passing.
Macdonald 8 - Held well and moved ball with ease.
Pugh 8 - Trickery and purpose - another resurgent performance.

Barnard 7 - Battled hard and worked the channels - needs a chance
Grabban 6 - Better than of late but still looks to pull out too much.

Arter. The game we know he had in him but have only seen before in cameos. Movement was great and he can take out a couple of players with a shimmy making his passes more simpler than if he has to play it first time. Great goal too and arguably best I have seen him play. Wow. Wasn't it nice to be singing, roaring and clapping and feel proud again? The cobwebs of the turgid crap we have had to stomach for a year were blown away in a hurricane of beautiful attacking football full of width and purpose. We knew it would come back but only the blindly optimistic would have thought it would be this quick and against that standard of opposition. Three week's ago Tranmere would have cantered to a victory here. One man's ability to get a team in the correct formation and playing with passion was the difference.

Without peeing on the fireworks I think Eddie will still be pondering his centre halfs, Addison had a dodgy first half and he may be wondering if those two strikers are the answer too. Thomas scored again today and don't be surprised if he is spearheading the attack with Pitman after Christmas.

Report by Neil Dawson

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