MANAGER Les Parry fears a tough refereeing decision has left Tranmere facing the prospect of being without both of their first choice centre-backs against League One form team Huddersfield Town this weekend.

Rovers are sure to be missing Ian Goodison through suspension at Prenton Park on Saturday after the Jamaican picked up his 10th booking of the campaign in the goalless draw at Oldham Athletic on Monday.

Parry felt Goodison might have escaped punishment for the yellow card challenge. “I thought it was a bit unfortunate,” Parry said. “The lad put his head near the floor before Ian went in.

“But we knew a suspension was coming for Ian. He had been on nineŠbookings for a long time.”

The timing is unfortunate for Tranmere because Goodison’s centre-back partner Mark McChrystal is doubtful for the Huddersfield game after suffering a hamstring injury on Tuesday.

The Irishman nursed himself through the final 15 minutes of the game at Boundary Park and is now under treatment.

To make matters worse, attacking midfielder Andy Robinson limped off before half-time on Tuesday and is also doubtful.

Huddersfield are sure to cause the Rovers rearguard some problems. The big spending Terriers are unbeaten in 18 league games since suffering a 4-1 defeat at Southampton on December 28.

Not that manager Lee Clark is likely to underestimate Tranmere, having built up a healthy respect for his Prenton Park counterpart Les Parry over the last 18 months.

Clarke noted that Parry was among a host of managers and scouts who watched Huddersfield sweep aside Notts County 3-0 at the Galpharm Stadium on Sunday.

“Les Parry is the man I like and respect,” Clark said. “It is no surprise he was at our game on Sunday because he goes about his work very diligently.

“He also gets his players working very hard for him and with Tranmere fighting to get away from the danger zone, we can’t step off the gas.”

Parry insists Tranmere cannotŠafford to take a faint-hearted approach against the Terriers. He said: “We will be looking to beat Huddersfield. We all know what we play like when we try to hold out for a draw. We are better going after three points than one.”

Parry admitted Tranmere “probably didn’t deserve” to share the spoils at Oldham and was grateful for the point.

He said: “Our goalkeeper coach Dave Timmins was shouting in the dressing room about keeping two clean sheets in a row and that is something we are all preaching about. It was another game when no-one turned us over.”

Chester FC have signed Tranmere midfielder Jack Mackreth on loan until the end of the season. Mackreth, 18, a first-year professional, is yet to make a first-team breakthrough Prenton Park. The youngster will be hoping for some first-team experience with the Evo Stick First Division North leaders, who boast former Tranmere midfielder Gary Jones as assistant manager.