RONNIE MOORE saluted centre-back Ian Goodison and the fellow defenders who dug deep to secure Tranmere a 2-1 win over Leeds United at Prenton Park.

Goodison was presented with a North West League One player of the year award before the game, then demonstrated the qualities that persuaded fans across the region to vote him number one for the second year in succession.

Moore said: “Ian Goodison has been magnificent for this club. We saw how many times he got tackles on and blocks today. We needed to defend well and Ian and Ben Chorley were outstanding. You’ve got to give all of our defenders credit. Everything that was thrown at them they dealt with.”

Tranmere moved to within two points of seventh-placed Leeds and five of the League One play-off zone with a comeback victory earned by goals from Antony Kay on 17 minutes and Ian Moore on 49.

“It was a battling performance against a top-quality side,” said Moore. “We were never going to have it all our own way. It was very close and we were on the back foot for a good deal the second half. But they did not have too many chances and (goalkeeper) Danny Coyne did not have too many saves to make.

“It’s great that we can come from behind to win a game against one of the top sides.”

Ian Moore scored against his former club for the second time in less than a year, firing home Tranmere’s winner with a sweet strike from 25 yards.

“You could not have written the script better for Ian,” his father said.

“It was a terrific finish and deserved to win the game. I just wish it had been in the 90th minute rather than the 49th. Leeds pushed people forward in the second half and I would have liked to see us keep the ball better than we did.”

Moore said he was pleased by the contribution of John Johnson, the 20-year-old playing the first game of his loan spell from Middlesbrough.

“John is very accomplished,” Moore said. “He has some big shoes to fill in replacing Ryan Shotton and is capable of doing that. The way he got forward and whipped crosses in to the box showed he has a bit of those Ryan Shotton qualities in him.”

Both Johnson and Tranmere’s other loan player, Mark Wilson, will be unavailable for the FA Cup second round replay against Peterborough at Prenton Park tomorrow (kick-off 7.45pm).

Moore said Wilson, a temporary recruit from Doncaster, may need a few days to recover after turning over an ankle in the second half on Saturday.

Moore said he expects Leeds to recover from a sequence of disappointing results and move back into the forefront of the League One promotion race.

“Leeds are not going to be far away when you look at the quality they have,” Moore said.

“People say Gary McAllister is under pressure which is nonsense. He hasn’t been in the job for 12 months and he has a very good side. What he is lacking at the moment is a bit of luck.”

McAllister said: “I thought we look to better side than Tranmere in possession but nothing is dropping for us at the moment.”