Tranmere Rovers 0-0 Colchester United

Tranmere Rovers secured the final League Two play-off spot after a goalless draw against Colchester United.

Keith Hill's men, who were real contenders for automatic promotion a few weeks ago, went into the game knowing that results elsewhere would not matter if they could pick up a point on the final day.

Aside from an Otis Khan effort and two half chances for Paul Lewis and Corey Blackett-Taylor, the first period was devoid of any real attacking quality.

Tranmere had control of the opening half, however after offering little in the opening 45 minutes it was the U's who should have taken a second-half lead.

Veteran keeper Joe Murphy first denied Michael Folivi from close range before getting down well to keep out a low strike from Noah Chilvers.

Rovers then settled into the half but despite having spells of possession they failed to trouble keeper Shamal George.

The U's went close again late on with a long-range Chilvers effort, but Rovers were able to soak up the pressure and see the game out.

Match report supplied by PA Media.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Tranmere

Formation 3-5-2

13Murphy
2O'Connor
26Clarke
21RaySubstituted forMontheat 74'minutes
17KhanBooked at 55mins
22Lewis
8Spearing
19FeeneySubstituted forCrawfordat 90+4'minutes
3Ridehalgh
11Blackett-TaylorSubstituted forWooleryat 62'minutes
28NugentSubstituted forVaughanat 62'minutes

Substitutes

6Monthe
7Morris
9Vaughan
14Woolery
15Crawford
18MacDonald
30Jones

Colchester

Formation 4-4-2

29George
2Welch-Hayes
18Eastman
5Smith
21Clampin
23PokuSubstituted forBohuiat 79'minutes
4LapslieBooked at 11mins
22Sarpong-Wiredu
14ChilversSubstituted forSayerat 90+4'minutes
39Folivi
45NoubleSubstituted forStaggat 83'minutes

Substitutes

28Coulter
35Cracknell
36Sayer
37Bohui
38Tchamadeu
41Cornish
42Stagg

Referee:: James Bell

Match Stats

Home TeamTranmereAway TeamColchester

Possession: Home54%; Away46%

Shots: Home5; Away6

Shots on Target: Home0; Away3

Corners: Home7; Away5

Fouls: Home14; Away13

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Tranmere Rovers 0, Colchester United 0.
90'+5'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Tranmere Rovers 0, Colchester United 0.

90'+4'
Substitution
Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Alister Crawford replaces Liam Feeney.
90'+4'
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Harvey Sayer replaces Noah Chilvers.
90'+1'
Post update
Attempt missed. Noah Chilvers (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Tom Lapslie.
89'
Post update
Foul by Kaiyne Woolery (Tranmere Rovers).
89'
Post update
Tommy Smith (Colchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
89'
Post update
Foul by James Vaughan (Tranmere Rovers).
89'
Post update
Tom Lapslie (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84'
Post update
Liam Feeney (Tranmere Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84'
Post update
Foul by Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu (Colchester United).
83'
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Thomas Stagg replaces Frank Nouble because of an injury.
79'
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Joshua Bohui replaces Kwame Poku.
76'
Post update
Corner, Tranmere Rovers. Conceded by Miles Welch-Hayes.
74'
Post update
Attempt missed. James Vaughan (Tranmere Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jay Spearing.
74'
Substitution
Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Emmanuel Monthe replaces George Ray.
72'
Post update
James Vaughan (Tranmere Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
72'
Post update
Foul by Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu (Colchester United).
71'
Post update
Attempt saved. Miles Welch-Hayes (Colchester United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kwame Poku with a cross.
69'
Post update
Foul by Paul Lewis (Tranmere Rovers).

As It Stood

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Cheltenham	46	24	10	12	61	39	22	82
2	Cambridge	46	24	8	14	73	49	24	80
3	Bolton	46	23	10	13	59	50	9	79

4	Morecambe	46	23	9	14	69	58	11	78
5	Newport	46	20	13	13	57	42	15	73
6	Forest Green	46	20	13	13	59	51	8	73
7	Tranmere	46	20	13	13	55	50	5	73

8	Salford	46	19	14	13	54	34	20	71
9	Exeter	46	18	16	12	71	50	21	70
10	Carlisle	46	18	12	16	60	51	9	66
11	Leyton Orient	46	17	10	19	53	55	-2	61
12	Crawley	46	16	13	17	56	62	-6	61
13	Port Vale	46	17	9	20	57	57	0	60
14	Stevenage	46	14	18	14	41	41	0	60
15	Bradford	46	16	11	19	48	53	-5	59
16	Mansfield	46	13	19	14	57	55	2	58
17	Harrogate	46	16	9	21	52	61	-9	57
18	Oldham	46	15	9	22	72	81	-9	54
19	Walsall	46	11	20	15	45	53	-8	53
20	Colchester	46	11	18	17	44	61	-17	51
21	Barrow	46	13	11	22	53	59	-6	50
22	Scunthorpe	46	13	9	24	41	64	-23	48

23	Southend	46	10	15	21	29	58	-29	45
24	Grimsby	46	10	13	23	37	69	-32	43

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Comments

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15 comments

Comment posted by footnote, at 17:34 8 May
Nice to see Tranmere finish ahead of $$$alford
Comment posted by turnipbowls_21, at 19:05 8 May
Tranmere lost their way after the pizza cup final. We also have no-one to replace James Vaughan. To give Paul Mullin away was criminal. We will have to improve so much to beat Morecambe (who are so unlucky not to get automatic promotion). Give it your best lads, that's all we can ask for.
Comment posted by frankie, at 17:50 8 May
Rovers need to bring their play off experience to the fore to counteract their current poor form. Should have gone up automatically but feel that the Papa John's Wembley appearance was their downfall as their league form dipped badly after that
Comment posted by beatles63, at 18:29 8 May
Have done well to make the playoffs but a dreadful run of form has denied them automatic promotion. Must improve if they are to make it.
Comment posted by Louise, at 18:24 8 May
I'm a Tranmere supporter and lost our striker James Vaughan to injury and the goals have dried up since.
Comment posted by Boris, at 17:53 8 May
I'm pleased for Tranmere, because my friend Gary supports them. I hope they win the play-offs.
I'm even more pleased for the U's because we were seriously at risk of relegation, and in the end we survived.
Well done Tranmere Rovers.
Comment posted by In My Eyes, at 18:43 8 May
Recent form doesn't bode well but Rovers are kings of the playoffs. Bring on Morecambe !!
Comment posted by dave61, at 19:50 8 May
The clown in charge doesn't help.But he's said it's ''not my fault'' and thrown the players under the bus.
Comment posted by Ross Candyfloss, at 18:02 8 May
Anyone know why Tranmere's form has dipped so dramatically recently? Some excellent teams went up automatically, but it's baffling why Tranmere weren't able to put up a decent challenge to join them.
Reply posted by frankie, at 18:06 8 May
frankie replied:
maybe the Wembley appearance-when they lost but played well against Sunderland- had an effect as their form dipped badly after that final
Comment posted by 61653, at 17:51 8 May
They'll be dancing in the streets of Birkenhead with their Dukla Prague away kits on!
Comment posted by All the world is a stage , at 17:48 8 May
Tranmere need a decent striker or two.
Reply posted by frankie, at 17:53 8 May
frankie replied:
they had one- Paul Mullin- but let him go
Comment posted by Wee Brian, at 21:00 8 May
Good luck in the playoffs.
How has Lee O’Connor done this season on loan from Celtic?

Line-ups

Tranmere

Substitutes

Colchester

Substitutes

Match Stats

Live Text

Comments

Join the conversation

Comment posted by footnote, at 17:34 8 Mayfootnote

Comment posted by turnipbowls_21, at 19:05 8 Mayturnipbowls_21

Comment posted by frankie, at 17:50 8 Mayfrankie

Comment posted by beatles63, at 18:29 8 Maybeatles63

Comment posted by Louise, at 18:24 8 MayLouise

Comment posted by Boris, at 17:53 8 MayBoris

Comment posted by In My Eyes, at 18:43 8 MayIn My Eyes

Comment posted by dave61, at 19:50 8 Maydave61

Comment posted by Ross Candyfloss, at 18:02 8 MayRoss Candyfloss

Reply posted by frankie, at 18:06 8 Mayfrankie

Comment posted by 61653, at 17:51 8 May61653

Comment posted by All the world is a stage , at 17:48 8 MayAll the world is a stage

Reply posted by frankie, at 17:53 8 Mayfrankie

Comment posted by Wee Brian, at 21:00 8 MayWee Brian

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Comment posted by footnote, at 17:34 8 May

Comment posted by turnipbowls_21, at 19:05 8 May

Comment posted by frankie, at 17:50 8 May

Comment posted by beatles63, at 18:29 8 May

Comment posted by Louise, at 18:24 8 May

Comment posted by Boris, at 17:53 8 May

Comment posted by In My Eyes, at 18:43 8 May

Comment posted by dave61, at 19:50 8 May

Comment posted by Ross Candyfloss, at 18:02 8 May

Reply posted by frankie, at 18:06 8 May

Comment posted by 61653, at 17:51 8 May

Comment posted by All the world is a stage , at 17:48 8 May

Reply posted by frankie, at 17:53 8 May

Comment posted by Wee Brian, at 21:00 8 May