The mini revival Tranmere mounted during the last week of September turned out to be made of more fragile material than anyone had expected as their resistance crumbled at the New Den. Whatever confidence Rovers had gained from halting a run of six straight League One defeats with a couple of solid results against Colchester and Wycombe Wanderers was blown away in a nightmare opening half-hour. Millwall scored four goals in 27 minutes, largely because Tranmere allowed them to. Slack marking, poor defensive organisation and lack of resolve made it easy for the Lions to chew up the opposition. All of the spirit and discipline that marked Tranmere’s win at Wycombe four days earlier evaporated into the South London air. The visitors managed to mount a more solid resistance in the second-half, conceding just one more goal. But there were further blows and indignities with centre back Marlon Broomes sent off for two bookable offences while Barnes’ assistant Jason McAteer was banished from the touchline by referee Graham Scott over something he said. Meanwhile the New Den echoed to the familiar refrains of 200 or so Tranmere diehards chanting “we are going down” and “we want Barnes out” while home supporters gleefully chorused “you’re getting sacked in the morning” to the former Liverpool and England midfielder. Barnes insists he isn’t fazed by this kind of the criticism from the paying customers and says he understands the feelings of the Tranmere supporters. The opinion of his performance as manager that really matters is that of chairman Peter Johnson, who watched Tranmere’s heaviest defeat since 2004 from the directors box with a grim expression on his face. Barnes keeps his focus on the football issues he can influence – and he had plenty to worry about on the long journey home on Saturday evening. Tranmere have suffered heavy defeats before this season at the hands of Leeds United and Charlton, when the division’s leading teams were in searing form. Millwall were not such a potent threat. Kenny Jackett’s team had scored fewer goals than any team in League One before kick-off - just seven in 10 games. They could have doubled that tally in 90 minutes. By the end of the afternoon Tranmere had the worst goals conceded record and the worst goals difference in the division by a country mile. Barnes has pointed out that Tranmere are not yet adrift near the foot of the table: a couple of wins can still carry them out of the bottom four and towards the pack in the middle of the table. But the danger is creeping up. Rovers are about to complete the first-quarter off the League One campaign and have just seven points on the board. | 
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