RONNIE MOORE says Tranmere must be ready to match the work ethic of Cheltenham Town when the team managed by football’s Mr Motivator, Martin Allen, visit Prenton Park tonight.
Rovers head into the first of two home games this week eager to show they can perform as effectively in front of their own supporters as they do on the road.
But Moore warns that Cheltenham are likely to provide fierce resistance as Allen, the former Brentford manager, battles to lead them away from the League One danger zone.
Moore said: “All of our reports suggest Martin has got them fired up – and that’s his personality at work.
“I get on well with Martin. He does one or two things that no other manager would do, like taking the team swimming in the river. He even stopped the Cheltenham team bus on the way home from Brighton the other week and bought ice creams for everyone because they had done well.
“He is a manager who likes to generate togetherness in his team and we know for sure they will not lack the work ethic. If we don’t match them we’ll lose the game.
“If we do our job right, get into their ribs, pass the ball and get crosses into the box, then I would like to think we could come out on top.”
Allen, who made his reputation as a manager at Brentford between 2004 and 2006, took over at Whaddon Road in mid-September after Cheltenham lost five of their first six games under Keith Downing.
The Robins’ form is improving with Allen’s first six games yielding eight points, although they were beaten at home by high-riding Scunthorpe on Saturday and are yet to win away in the league.
Tranmere’s priority is to halt a run of three successive home defeats in League One and lift the performance level from the last of them, a 3-1 reverse to Millwall 10 days ago.
Moore reckoned a 1-0 win at Leyton Orient last Saturday was an important step in the right direction. He said: “After the performance against Millwall it was vital we got ourselves back on the right track and I think we did that.
“Now we have to show we can do it at home. I can promise our supporters that there certainly won’t be another performance like the one we had against Millwall.
“We’ve got to stay positive and focused. With the right result in the two home games this week, we can put ourselves in a healthy position, close to the top six by Saturday evening.”
Moore won’t be drawn on the kind of tactics he plans to use tonight after hinting last weekend that he may consider a home-based variation on the successful 4-5-1 set-up deployed in recent away games. It has helped Rovers take 10 points from the last four on the road.
He said: “The 4-5-1 can easily become 4-3-3 and we have players who are comfortable playing the system. It’s a question of when we do it.
“We have been playing an attack minded 4-4-2 and conceded seven goals in the last two home games. So it is vital we tighten up, whichever formation we play.
“We need to be the side that set the tempo. I am sure Martin Allen will be telling his players to keep it tight and see if they can’t get the crowd on our backs. For us it’s important that supporters stick with us, no matter what happens.”
Moore starts with a strong selection hand. Only young striker Craig Curran is ruled out with a stomach strain although midfielder George O’Callaghan could be a doubtful starter after falling sick over the weekend.
Moore added: “It would be great to turn in a Real Madrid style performance but I would not mind how we get a win. If we edge a scruffy 1-0 result that will do.”
