Tranmere fans are experts when it comes to goalless draws.

Like the poshest wine buff, they have learned to separate the decent from the dodgy.

But then, Tranmere's followers have had plenty of practice after four in a row.

Rovers supporters have not seen a goal since January 2 - at either end.

So what did the Jilly Gooldens of 0-0s make of this latest offering?

Not very much, apparently. According to one away fan outside, this ranked just above the blank at Hartlepool a fortnight ago - what a thriller that must have been.

City's recent meetings with Tranmere have been memorable affairs. Think 5-4, the Lee Crooks' controversial cup goal, the wrong defender being sent off last season.

But Saturday lacked any of that drama. The only light relief was provided by Dino Seremet, the eccentric Slovenian goalkeeper whose unconvincing presence always gave City half a chance.

At least it would have done had they put him under any real pressure.

Unfortunately, after a bright first half when City knocked it round nicely without finding that killer touch, they lost the plot completely after the break.

The second 45 minutes seemed to drag on as long as Celebrity Big Brother - with an excitement level to match.

Not that Tranmere seriously threatened to pinch it. They had come for another 0-0 and were quite content to take it, even when the opportunity arose to have a go themselves.

Their closest threat came from centre half Ian Sharps from a couple of half-cleared corners, which summed up their attacking intent.

"The only danger came from corners," said a frustrated Colin Todd. "Our keeper had nothing to do. Theirs had more to deal with in the first half but not a lot after that. They worked us extremely hard but that's no excuse."

With Marc Bridge-Wilkinson judged fit to carry on after last week's foot injury, Todd decided to give the 3-4-1-2 formation one more airing. Tranmere lined up in similar manner with the sole intention of cancelling it out.

Having stretched their unbeaten run to eight games, Tranmere boss Brian Little will have regarded this as a job well done.

Tranmere were third from bottom on Boxing Day so it is difficult to argue as they inch further away from trouble.

But their approach made for a bum-numbing afternoon for the majority of the crowd.

The signs were not good when rookie referee Darren Deadman booked Tom Penford after less than two minutes for the first foul of the game.

Fortunately it did not seem to dent the youngster's confidence as he helped City take an early grip on proceedings.

Danny Cadamarteri muscled his way inside Ian Goodison to set up Steve Claridge who spun and drove just over as he aimed for the top corner. Then Cadamarteri's shot out of nothing had Seremet scrambling unconvincingly to turn the ball behind.

Dean Windass was on corner duty to ease the strain on Bridge-Wilkinson but the midfielder showed no ill effects as he seized on a half-clearance with a thumping volley that flew wide of Seremet's left post.

The City fans could sense a goal was on the cards and Penford nearly provided it with a cross-cum-shot that drifted inches over.

Tranmere's intentions were clear. They delayed every throw-in and free-kick, so much so that Deadman quickly ran out of patience and booked Seremet for time-wasting.

Tranmere had offered nothing in attack and were under the cosh once again as Bridge-Wilkinson's floating cross was flicked across goal and inches wide by Claridge. If it wasn't for his newly-shorn crew cut maybe it would have sneaked in.

After 44 minutes of inactivity, Chris Greenacre finally lashed a ball into row Z of the Carlsberg Stand. But the half ended with a flowing City move from one end to the other.

Penford began it with a tackle on the Tranmere hitman outside the box. He fed Cadamarteri, who raced upfield on the counter taking on men at will.

The fourth blue shirt proved to be one too many but the loose ball broke for Windass to set up Lewis Emanuel. It was a great chance eight yards from goal but he jabbed at it nervously and clattered the advertising hoardings.

That was to prove City's last real sighting of Seremet's net.

Tranmere resumed with a bit more oomph in their play and the home side immediately lost their grip.

Simon Francis had been looking forward to his return to Valley Parade for ages. And he didn't disappoint with a trademark display of energy and enthusiasm at right wing-back.

Francis had the better of his battle with Emanuel and it was from his cross that Delroy Facey forced a first save of the afternoon from Donovan Ricketts.

Facey's header carried no danger but it seemed to galvanise Tranmere and Darren Holloway produced an inch-perfect tackle to nick the ball off Stephen O'Leary by the penalty spot.

Sharps glanced a header across the face of goal before Damion Stewart, who is really growing into his defensive role, and Wetherall did enough to put off Greenacre in the six-yard box.

The best City could offer was a hit-and-hope effort from Cadamarteri which may have warmed Seremet's hands but hardly stretched him.

Cadamarteri and O'Leary were warned after a spot of "hand bags" before a throw-in but the referee surprisingly let a lot of things go. Sharps, in particular, got away scot-free as he appeared to man-handle Windass, Wetherall and substitute Joe Brown in separate incidents.

But City were getting few favours from the official.

Goodison, a Jamaican team-mate of Stewart, was alert to the danger when Emanuel slipped inside Francis and delivered a great ball into the goal-mouth. Claridge was waiting to pounce but Goodison managed to dig it out from under his feet in the nick of time.

The neat passing of the first half was a distant memory as City were reduced to hitting it long - a tactic which Tranmere's central three gobbled up comfortably.

The visitors had made their point again. But it was hardly the beautiful game.