MANAGER Ronnie Moore sees the opportunity for Tranmere to make a significant advance on the promotion-chasing pack by the conclusion of the holiday weekend on Sunday evening.

Rovers moved on to the coat-tails of the teams in the League One play-off zone thanks to their last-gasp victory over Brighton last Saturday.

Antony Kay’s injury-time winner at Prenton Park took Tranmere to within four points of the top six and eased some of the pain from two cruel exits from knockout competitions over the past fortnight.

“I would like to think the Brighton result can kick-start our Christmas,” said Moore, who is preparing his squad for a visit to Hereford United on Boxing Day and a home game against Walsall on Sunday, December 28.

Moore went on: “Brighton was a tremendous result when you consider the 10 days we had just been through.

“We suffered losing out to 93rd-minute goals in the two cup competitions – and then a 93rd- minute goal went our way. I has some sympathy for Brighton because I knew how they felt.

“It was important to keep the players’ spirits up last week because everyone was gutted to lose the two cup games in the way we did.

“Give the lads credit for the way they got themselves right and kept going until the end to get the win over Brighton.”

Moore has set a target of seven points from the three games and said: “We have made a good start towards it. We have two of the three matches at home and we have to take advantage of that fact.

“The Brighton win closed the gap to four points on the play-off positions and we are only five points off the team in fourth spot. So we are in with a good shout and have it all to play for.”

Football League fixture planners have trimmed one game off the festive programme this year, with most teams playing three matches between December 20 and the end of the year compared to four in 2007.

However, Rovers are not happy about making a three-hour journey to Hereford on Boxing Day.

Tranmere will be missing centre-back Ben Chorley and wide midfielder Ian Moore at Hereford. The pair must serve one-match suspensions after collecting five bookings this season.

Moore reports that John Johnson, the young right-back on loan from Middlesbrough, is doubtful with a thigh strain, as is striker Chris Greenacre.

The experienced Greenacre continues to be troubled by a back problem, in spite of playing two games last week and is also suffering from a sore foot.

Meanwhile Antony Kay’s celebrations after scoring Tranmere’s last-minute winner against Brighton cost him a booking.

The skipper pulled off his shirt in front of the Kop and by the time he put it back on, referee Scott Mathieson had showed him a seventh yellow card of the season.

Moore says the absence of Chorley in particular gives him issues upon their head of the Hereford game. He said: “I have to decide whether I play Godwin Antwi or Luke Waterfall in the middle of the back four or do I move Antony Kay into the defence?

“If I move Antony Kay out of the midfield does that weaken us there. There are a lot of things going on in my mind.”

Moore acknowledges that scoring goals rather than preventing them is the pressing issue in away games.

Rovers have managed just one goal in the last seven league and cup games on the road – Ian Moore’s strike in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy northern semi-final defeat at Scunthorpe last Tuesday.

He said: “With a couple of exceptions we’re been playing well in the away games. The crucial factor for us is putting away the chances we create.

“Once we get our noses in front we have the potential to really dominate teams.”