MANAGER Les Parry hopes the injection of a touch of class from the returning Paul McLaren and Andy Robinson can inspire Tranmere to success in their survival showdown with Wycombe Wanderers tonight.
Experienced midfielder McLaren and the talented Robinson are available after serving out suspensions and both can expect to find a place in the starting line-up at Prenton Park (kick-off 7:45pm).
“I think they can make a massive difference for us,” Parry said.
“Both Paul and Andy have a little touch of class, that little bit of guile that can create something for us. Both of them can have a big impact.”
Local boy Robinson, signed on a loan deal from Leeds United with money raised by supporters, is taking his Prenton Park bow rather later than planned after being sent off on his debut at Brighton last month.
Parry said: “Andy has been frustrated about missing the last three games. He was a bit disappointed about getting sent off and he will see it as letting the lads down. He came back here to play football and he is chomping at the bit.
“He can make things happen. He sees a pass, he sees a run and he can create goalscoring opportunities. He makes it all look easy.”
Rovers urgently require a positive result after defeats at Swansea and Walsall last week saw them drop back into the relegation zone. With six games left to secure their League One status, they remain nine-points short of the 50-points benchmark that is usually enough to beat the drop.
Wycombe, six points behind Tranmere and with only five games to play, are in the last chance saloon. Manager Gary Waddock has challenged his team to win all of the remaining games to stay up.
They were impressive in defeating Hartlepool 2-0 at Adams Park last Saturday but like Rovers, their away form is thin, with only two victories in 20 games on the road.
Parry said: “Our chief scout David Philpotts watched Wycombe’s game on Saturday and said they could have won by six goals. They completely dominated Hartlepool.
“They are a good footballing side and if you let them play, they can football you to death. They are probably a better side than their position suggests and I think they perform better at home than away.
“As we have found this season, the difference between all of the teams in this division is marginal. One decision or one bad mistake in a game makes all the difference.
“At Walsall we made two individual mistakes and conceded two goals. Take those mistakes out and we should have gone on to win the game.”
Parry does not believe Rovers’ fate hangs on tonight’s game or Saturday’s visit from fellow strugglers Exeter City.
He said: “Every game between now and May 8 is going to be the most important game of the season. But I’m not getting carried away about the next two games.
“We need the points. Where they come from does not really matter. So I’m not putting pressure on us by saying it is important we get six points out of the next two games.
“We have Brentford and Colchester away after that, then a home match with Millwall before the final game at Stockport.
“In the event we do not take three points of Wycombe, we just have to get on with it and try to take the points somewhere else.”
Rovers could be forced to leave Craig Curran out of the action tonight. The front man aggravated a groin injury at Walsall and may not be able to play a second game in four days.
However, Ash Taylor, who suffered a head wound at the Bescot Stadium, should be able to play.
