SKIPPER John Welsh believes Tranmere Rovers can turn around a run of poor results by returning to the on-the-field virtues that brought them success in the early months of the season.

The problem, Welsh admits, is locating that formula after suffering six straight defeats – four in League One and two in cup competitions.

“We are trying to look at what is going wrong so we can put things right in the future,” Welsh said.

The experienced midfielder insists the mood in the camp remains positive as Rovers look forward to Christmas holiday games against Rochdale on Boxing Day and Bury on Friday, December 30 – both at Prenton Park.

Welsh said: “We’ve got to stay as positive as we can.

“We are trying to look at the games we did not do so well in and learn from them; see where we can improve.

“In a lot of games recently we seem to do well in the first half and are probably getting the better of most opponents.

“But in the second half we almost seem to be a different team at times. No one can put a finger on it.”

The pattern was repeated in Tranmere’s last outing, a 2-1 defeat at Stevenage in which they were marginally the better side until conceding the opening goal seven minutes before half-time.

Welsh is confident that fitness isn’t an issue under the regime of manager Les Parry, formerly the club’s long serving physiotherapist.

“I don’t think it can be that,” he said.