CITY pulled themselves out of their losing rut with a well-earned win against Tranmere.

T&A chief sports writer SIMON PARKER was at a jubilant Valley Parade and provides the match stats and his player ratings.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Calum Kavanagh got stuck into everything after two weeks without a game and deserved his goal. He proved a real handful for the Tranmere defence.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

It was such a sweet strike from Bobby Pointon – what a way to score for the first time in front of his beloved Kop!

MOAN OF THE MATCH

The Valley Parade woodwork did its utmost to frustrate City with Richie Smallwood and Pointon both denied by the goal frame. But otherwise there was little to complain about from a much better performance.

TACTICS

There were four changes from the side that started the heavy loss at Harrogate.

Andy Cook and Kevin McDonald both missed out with knocks from last Saturday, so Calum Kavanagh and Tyler Smith played up front together.

Bobby Pointon was handed a first start since January 13 and played in an advanced midfield role alongside Jamie Walker. Richie Smallwood was in the anchor role behind them.

REFEREE: Richie Watkins (Nuneaton)

BOOKINGS: Platt, Smallwood (City); Pike, Norris, Apter (Tranmere)

OFFICIAL ATTENDANCE: 18,009 (with 1,124 from Tranmere)

SHOTS ON TARGET: City 7 Tranmere 3

SHOTS OFF TARGET: City 14 Tranmere 10

CORNERS: City 5 Tranmere 9

FOULS: City 8 Tranmere 15

PLAYER RATINGS

CITY: S Walker 7, Halliday 7, Oyegoke 7, Platt 7, Kelly 7, Richards 7, Smallwood 7, Pointon 8 (Oduor 79min), J Walker 7 (Tomkinson 79min), Kavanagh 8, Smith 7 (Chapman 90min). Subs (not used): Ridehalgh, Wright, Wadsworth, Doyle.

TRANMERE: McGee 7, O’Connor 6, Davies 6, Yarney 7, Pike 6 (Merrie 76min), Apter 6 (Taylor 65min), Jennings 6, Hendry 6, Morris 6 (Dennis 85min), Norris 7, Saunders 7 (Hawkes 76min). Subs: Lewis, Belehouan, Murphy.