MANAGER Ronnie Moore admits Tranmere’s difficulties in coping with the loss of defensive strongman Ian Goodison is driving him “crackers”.
Rovers lost the Jamaican international to an ankle injury for the final 20 minutes of their League One encounter at Crew Alex – and saw a 1-0 advantage turn into a 2-1 defeat.
Moore lamented: “When something happens to Goodison we seem to become a completely different side for some reason.
“We became naive in our defending. We were panicking, kicking balls anywhere, heading them up in the air. Defenders stopped doing what they were doing when Goodison was on the field.
“The Goodison factor is ridiculous. I think if he had stayed on the field we would have won the game. It drives you crackers.”
Tranmere fear Goodison could face a lengthy lay-off after sustaining the injury in a tackle. Moore said: “It will be difficult to assess the injury until the swelling goes down. If Ian has sustained ligament damage he could be out for five to six weeks.”
Rovers led through Antony Kay’s 26th-minute snapshot until goals by Mark Carrington and Joel Grant on 83 and 88 minutes turned the game and lifted Crewe of the foot of the League One table.
The seventh away defeat of the season left Tranmere six points adrift of the play-off zone, although they have a game in hand on most of the teams above them.
Moore admitted his side did not play as well as in the wins over Carlisle and Stockport over the previous week but should still have been able to post a first away win since October.
“Without playing particularly well we were comfortable,” Moore said. “I wasn’t standing there with my heart in my mouth. There were not many chances in the game and if Ed Sonko had put away his opportunity just after half-time I think it would have been game set and match for us.
“When you are 1-0 up against the bottom of the league you keep the ball – but we were not able to do that.
“It was the same players – apart from one change – who passed it around so well against Stockport and Carlisle. Today, when we needed it, we could not produce it.”
Tranmere are due to take their quest for an elusive away win to Cheltenham Town tomorrow night.
The Robins replaced Crewe at the bottom of the table after suffering a 5-3 home defeat to MK Dons on Saturday.
Goodison was due to miss the game to suspension in any case – after collecting five bookings this season. Moore has to decide whether to move skipper Kay into the heart of the defence in the Jamaican’s absence or used right-back Ryan Shotton as a stop-gap centre-back.
Rovers are sure to face a physical challenge from Cheltenham’s long ball game. Moore said: “We know what to expect on Tuesday.
“They will launch everything and our back four will have to cope with their physical players. We have to be hungry for the fight.”
