TRANMERE’S ability to stand up to powerful opponents will be tested for the second time in four days when they play host to Bolton Wanderers in the Carling Cup this evening.
Manager John Barnes, mindful that Rovers failed the examination set by League One promotion favourites Leeds United last weekend, warns they must mount a more robust resistance to their Premier League visitors or face elimination in the second round tie at Prenton Park (kick-off 7.45pm).
Barnes said: “We are playing a Premier League side and regardless of whether we are underdogs or not, we have to believe we can compete with them.
“Performing the way we did at Leeds means we will get a good hiding. We did not defend as a team at a Elland Road. The midfielders were not getting back to help protect the back four. These are things we are going to work on.”
Admitting Tranmere’s performance in the 3-0 defeat was a “disaster,” Barnes added: “As much as we are trying to play in a particular way, we are also trying to defend in a particular way. Maybe we have been thinking too much about what we do when we have the ball, without thinking about what we are going when we have not got the ball.
“Against Bolton, if we don’t concentrate and we are not strong and organised out of possession, then they will make us pay. Bolton are a big, strong, physical side.”
Barnes gave his players the chance to air their views about the pass-and-move style he introduced at Prenton Park this season. The former Liverpool and England winger says he wants the players to speak up more, on and off the field.
He said: “You want the players to be comfortable with the system.
“I listened to an interview with Jose Morinho over the weekend. He said the most important thing in football is to have a clearly defined philosophy about the way you want to play. That isn’t just about him having a clearly defined philosophy, it is about the players understanding it, wanting to do it and being able to do it.
“Do we believe we are going the right thing (at Tranmere)? If not, either we will have to see if we can get players who can or we will have to change.
“I believe the players here can do it and they have shown they can do it. But they really have to buy into it. We have not really had that discussion. I have been the one pushing and saying: this is what we are going to do. So we need it to come from them.”
Barnes says his team are “very quiet” on the field. He went on: “Even my daughter says she can hear me all the time at matches, shouting from the sidelines. If she can hear me and can’t hear the players on the pitch there is something wrong.
“We do need players to be more vociferous, more demanding of each other. We what leaders out there. Against Leeds, we did not have any leaders at all.
The manager may not buy into the significance of Tranmere’s history as cup giantkillers in relation to tonight’s match but he recognises the value of the early opportunity to flush the disappointment of the Leeds performance out of the dressing room.
“Really it is a matter of getting the attitude and commitment right,” Barnes said.
Tranmere will be without on-loan centre back Gavin Gunning, who does not have permission from his club Blackburn to play in the Carling Cup. Barnes revealed that the Irish youth international would have been ruled out in any case because of blisters that forced him to limp out of the action at Elland Road.
Marlon Broomes, the former Blackpool defender who is on non-contract terms with Tranmere until the end of the month, comes into contention, as does Ash Taylor, who played the best part of an hour as a substitute at Leeds. Barnes says he has faith in the 19-year-old prospect.
“Ash did well on Saturday,” Barnes said. “I have a lot of faith and confidence in him. He showed some devilment when he came on against Leeds. He was getting stuck in.”
Striker Michael Ricketts, who made his Tranmere debut as a second-half substitute at Elland Road, is likely to be on the bench again. “Michael is still a long way off match fitness,” Barnes said.
