THEY say fortune favours the brave but that wasn’t the case at Prenton Park last night. Caretaker manager Les Parry went for broke as he rung the changes and put the emphasis firmly on attack in a bold bid to kick-start Tranmere’s dire League One campaign.
But the Rovers cult hero was left cursing his luck as a string of first half chances went begging before his side lost their way after the break.
It took the dismissal of keeper Luke Daniels midway through the second half and Carl Baker’s subsequent penalty to spark Rovers into life.
And as a late flurry from the hosts went unrewarded it was the same old sorry story.
Tranmere are the league’s lowest scorers with just nine in 12 games and that lack of firepower cost them dear once again against Gary Ablett’s fellow strugglers.
Parry, relishing the chance to step up from his role as physio following the sacking of John Barnes, couldn’t argue with the commitment, but quality is desperately thin on the ground.
Chairman Peter Johnson hailed this game in front of the Sky cameras as “a welcome opportunity to showcase the club” but he’s unlikely to find a queue of candidates outside his office today.
Parry had urged supporters to turn out in force and he received a great reception from the 5,645-strong crowd – the club’s second highest home gate of the season.
Rovers welcomed back defender Marlon Broomes after suspension and Parry handed starts to Gareth Edds, Alan Mahon, Terry Gornell and Craig Curran in a positive 4-3-3 formation.
There was also a debut for left-back Zoumana Bakayogo, who has signed a short-term deal with the club until January.
The Ivory Coast Under-23 international was released by Millwall last season and on last night’s evidence he looks a decent acquisition.
Rovers started brightly with Stockport hassled and harried into making mistakes.
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