JOHN WELSH and Ash Taylor have delivered a “get behind us” message to the Prenton Park Tranmere Rovers faithful ahead of this afternoon’s Boxing Day encounter with Rochdale.
Skipper Welsh and defender Taylor say the home crowd support can be a big plus as Rovers attempt to halt a run of four League One defeats in the first of the festive fixtures.
Both men warned that a repeat of the booing during the last home game, a 2-0 defeat to promotion chasers MK Dons, is liable to be counter-productive at the start of an important spell for Les Parry’s team.
Welsh said: “We are just asking everyone to get behind the lads. The fans have been brilliant home and away for most of the season. Obviously they were disappointed with the outcome against MK Dons but I’m sure they will be brilliant for us again”
Taylor said: “The fans can be 12th man for us in most games. If everyone gets behind us it helps us push forward, it gives us a good feeling.”
Welsh, in his third season at Prenton Park following spells with Liverpool and Hull City, says he understands the frustration of fans as Tranmere’s bright start to the campaign lost momentum over the last two months. They last won at Hartlepool on October 25.
“I just hope they can be patient with us,” Welsh said. “We know results have been poor of late and we are just as disappointed as the fans when things are not going well.
“No matter what people say, we don’t purposely go out not to play well. We are trying as hard as we can and I would just ask fans to get behind us as much as they can.”
Welsh added: “We know it is a two-way street. We have got to cheer the supporters up, give them something to shout about. But we also need to stay positive.
“A couple of wins over Christmas and we can be back up in the top half of the table.”
Taylor concedes booing and jeering from supporters can have a negative impact on some players’ performances.
“Some get affected if the crowd get on their backs but as players we all stick together on the pitch,” Taylor said. “Is down to us in the end.
“If we can pick up a couple of wins over Christmas, the New Year might look a lot different.”
