Team News From The Tranmere Camp

Last updated : 27 December 2007 By Thetashkentterror
Ronnie Moore
Rovers boss Ronnie Moore spoke to the official Tranmere website ahead of the Boxing Day clash against Carlisle at Prenton Park tomorrow, Moore first looking back on his side's 1-0 defeat at Luton last Saturday :


"I think we did everything right and it did not look like we were going to concede a goal. I don't think Luton would have scored if we had played all day - had it not been for that mistake. That is the way with goalkeepers. If they make a mistake it can be so dear for you. But we should not forget Danny (Coyne) kept us in the game at Port Vale the previous week.

"Everything was going to plan and we could not legislate for what happened. We had three players in central midfield to counter the way they play and those three lads (Paul Henry, Steve Jennings and Adnan Ahmed) did everything that was asked of them. They are frustrated and I feel sorry for them because I don't think we deserved to lose the game. We came with a plan and it was working. The boys did not do a great deal wrong.

"Carlisle will be another tough game. They've been flying recently under John Ward and it will be a big test for us. We've got back to back home games and hopefully with the crowd behind us we can pick up two wins and climb up the table. They are both vital games and we really need the supporters to be our 12th man.

"We need to get more quality into the box. There were not enough crosses coming in at Luton and not enough bodies in the box, so we'll be working on the attacking third today (Monday). We keep dropping points but we are still only four points outside the top six. We are lucky that the leaders have not got away from us. It gives us the chance of putting it right.

"But that means we've got to sharpen up in the final third of the field and start putting the ball in the net. Consistency is what we need. At this level you do get inconsistency and we need to get back to basics. We're four points off possible promotion (via the end-of-season play-offs), so we need to work harder and we certainly will be over Christmas - we'll be training every day except Christmas Day."


In team news for the home side midfielder Paul McLaren and defender Antony Kay both return from one-match suspensions, that were served out in the 1-0 defeat at Luton, for hitting the five yellow card mark for the season. Defender Ben Chorley missed the loss at Kenilworth Road after a gash in his leg became infected and is once again a doubt.

Striker Gareth Taylor is also 50-50 for the game with a knee injury while central midfielder John Mullin is definitely out with a hamstring problem. Another Rover certain to be missing tomorrow is influential winger Steve Davies who looks likely to be out for the season after suffering serious cruciate ligament damage in a 2-2 draw at Northampton in early October.


The referee for tomorrow's match is Graham Salisbury from Preston, and he will be assisted down the lines by Gary Hilton from Wigan and Dean Mohareb from Stockport. Meanwhile the fourth official will be David Unsworth (not the Burnley defender) from Bolton.