TRANMERE was the worst performance of Ady Pennock's tenure.

We were out-battled and out-skilled all over the field. Where were the guts of Grimsby or the ability of Aldershot?

Initial looks at the team sheet had people purring. The fantastic back four were re-united, and the energetic Sam Wedgbury was back.

Names however are one thing. Strategy and tactics are another. To accommodate the absence of Parkin and O’Connor, Keanu Marsh Brown moved forward to partner Kurtis Guthrie. Wedgbury wide midfield role on the right - neither more was a success.

Tranmere started strongly. They played in your face football. Rovers were denied time and space and took the wrong way out. Booting the ball forward will never be an answer to a determined well-organised team.

All our forwards were closely marked and with possession lost by our hasty passing Tranmere kept roaring back.

Some of the crowd made a mistake. James Norwood was first booed and then insulted by chants. Nothing was more likely to make him raise his game, which of course it did. He made the first goal and scored the second. He fully deserved the good hand that so many Rovers fans finally gave him.

Had it been a boxing match it would have been stopped after Tranmere’s second goal to avoid both teams and fans taking any further punishments. We were being battered by a team that had done their homework.

All season Elliott Frear has been a danger man. Not on Saturday as he was closely marked and denied space. Kurtis Guthrie was always fighting a lost cause and Marsh-Brown was diffident at best.

The only thing to admire was the wit of our away fans. Two-nil to the meat-eaters rang out loud and long, then came “the referee is a vegan” spontaneously rendered after a decision they disagreed with.

A much stronger physical challenge was needed from Rovers, especially among the forwards. Such a change could have been made at half time and when it eventually came we saw what might have been. Delano Sam-Yorke did make a difference, as did Charlie Clough. He is no stranger to the up front position and he showed at set pieces how valuable he can be.

Charlie replaced skipper David Pipe who picked up an injury.

Our slow starts are costing us – big time. Our early season record-breaking run was achieved with a Sinclair/Wedgbury midfield partnership.

We are still top of the league and got there by hard work, determination and no little skill. Those qualities should still be there and the manager and his staff should remind the players of this. They in turn should realise their responsibilities to the club, whatever position they are picked to play in.

I remain a Pennock fan – he has led us to the top of the table, but there is one word of advice. Keep it simple Ady – get back to basics. They have served us well.