Josh Hawkes spoke to the local press after Saturday’s draw at Prenton Park against Sutton United.
Hawkes spoke about the team performance, his goal and getting into those areas, and how the side had to bounce back from the disappointing result last weekend at Crewe.
“I think after getting back on top, we back ourselves to either see the game out or to go on and get another. We’re disappointed but, on another day, I think we go and get another goal and finish that game off."
Hawkes levelled the scoring in the first half with a fantastic strike from a narrow angle which hit the back of the Sutton United net.
“Andy Parkinson works a lot with me on those types of finishes in training, and we work hard in getting into those positions and finishing from those angles, and thankfully it’s paid off. He’s a great guy to learn off, and I do a lot with the analysts to see what areas I’m getting shots off from, and how I can get in those areas more often.”
Jordan Turnbull participated in good battling to win the ball back in the box after Josh Dacres-Cogley’s cross, which eventually resulted in the first Rovers goal.
“I didn’t think he was going to pass to me! But thankfully he did, and I’ve hit it first time, and I’m quite proud of that. It was important to get in at 1-1 at the break and get some momentum because we didn’t start the game well. Once we got the ball down and worked it, we were the better side - but we started the second half much better than we started the first.”
Rovers went 2-1 up inside the second half, as Kane Hemmings produced a magical strike from the edge of the box which steered past Jack Rose and into the bottom corner.
“It was good build-up play, and Kieron played one by the corner and did well to get out of the situation, before playing it to Kane who has turned, and it was a great strike. He’s in good goalscoring form at the moment and long may it continue.”
“The frustrating thing is that we all know that we should really be winning those games. All of the lads are disappointed in there, and we hope to put it right next week."
Just three minutes after the goal to put Tranmere ahead, Alistair Smith’s strike from over 30 yards out went through the gloves of Ross Doohan and into the goal to equal the tally.
“Ross knew, but he’s kept us in games with some great saves this season, and it’s a mistake which anyone can make but unfortunately when you’re a goalkeeper then it results in a goal – we’re not going to criticise him.”
Despite Tranmere dominating the game, playing the more attractive football, Sutton tried their luck with the long balls over the top to try and get in behind the home side’s defence.
“It’s about trying to come away from what they’re trying to do which is to go and play really direct, and that’s not our game – but it’s about trying to counteract what they’re trying to do. That is hard at times, but it’s about digging in and attempting to do that.
“We needed to get onto the second balls in midfield. They were winning it and they were getting narrow and trying to do more, but when we got it out to Josh [Dacres-Cogley] and Ethan [Bristow], it helped.
“We’re all still really disappointed about the Crewe game because we had more than enough chances to win the match, and we have to start putting away those chances at 0-0 to put the game to bed early. Today’s a different one, because we’ve scored two goals at home, but we’ve got to move on.
“We would expect to win the game after scoring two goals, and we rely heavily on the defence to be solid, which they have been this season, but obviously we want to win the game.
“Sometimes it takes us a while to get into games, which shouldn’t be the case. Games like Doncaster, where we were good throughout the whole of the game, we’re trying to get that consistency and hopefully we can start doing that.”
Hawkes’ goal takes his tally to six for the season, with a superb finish into the top corner being his first goal since Swindon in the second week in December.
“I don’t really have an aim at the start of the season, but I back myself to try and get double figures, and hopefully I can get there, score more goals and help the team out. After every game, it’s always looking at what you could have done better, but I think defensively, I have helped out a lot more. It’s about what the game asks you to do and to be good at doing that.”