TRANMERE manager Ronnie Moore was prepared to make “a little excuse” for his players after a weakened line-up slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Yeovil Town.
Moore said he could not ignore the effects of a flu bug on several members of a side that was short of three suspended players as well as defensive strongman Ian Goodison.
“The performance wasn’t good,” Moore conceded. “But we had four missing and I had to make more changes at half-time because of the flu. We had players out there who were basically below par because of the epidemic in the club. So we’ll give them a little excuse for that.
“But we should still come to places like Yeovil and keep the ball better and move the ball better than we did. We did not create enough chances and that was a big disappointment. We’ve got to be realistic, though. It’s difficult when you have four of your better players missing.”
Moore revealed he became so concerned about the spread of the virus through his squad at one point on Friday that he considered seeking a postponement of the game.
He said: “Gareth Edds and Ian Moore wanted to play even though they still had the flu symptoms. They went out and had a go. Three of the lads on the bench, including Ed Sonko, who came on in the second half, were also struggling.
“At one point we were close to asking about having the game called off.”
Rovers can look forward to having right-back Ryan Shotton and the versatile Antony Kay back after completing one-match suspensions when they take on high-riding Scunthorpe at Prenton Park tomorrow night. Midfielder Steve Jennings will still be missing as he completes a two-match suspension while Tranmere cannot count on the early return of Goodison, who is in Jamaica, where his girlfriend is due to give birth to their baby.
Moore said he was disappointed with the defending that enabled Yeovil centre-back Terry Skiverton to score the 23rd minute winner after a free-kick was rolled square into his path on the edge of the box.
Moore added: “We did not keep our shape when we played 4-5-1 in the first half or 4-4-2 in the second because we had no legs. It does not matter how tired you are, you need to keep your shape.”
Rovers gave 19-year-old Danny Holmes, a local product of the youth development system, a first taste of senior football at right-back while Mark Wilson, the 29-year-old signed on loan from Doncaster last Thursday, played the deep-lying midfield role.
Moore said: “It was difficult for Danny to make his debut in a side playing the way we did, especially with the changes we had to make at the back. But he worked hard and did okay.
“You can see Mark Wilson is going to pass the ball well. He got a little bit sloppy at times but I don’t think there is going to be a problem for him. He knows the game inside out.”
Moore added: “We have to learn to pinch results, learn how to take something from the game when we are playing below our best. I can’t remember us pinching a game this season. When we are not at it, we lose.”
