BEN GIBSON is confident Tranmere have enough strength and spirit in the dressing room to secure a play-off spot.
Centre back Gibson began his second loan spell from Middlesbrough in the 3-0 defeat at MK Dons last Saturday. The 20-year-old is delighted to be back after missing 3 1/2 months of action with a groin injury.
And while Rovers have drifted to the edge of the play-off zone after suffering seven defeats in the last 10 games, Gibson does not believe they are on a trajectory that can’t be reversed.
Gibson said: “The best teams bounce back after a couple of defeats and that’s what we will do.
“The cohesion and spirit between the lads in this club is brilliant and can only help us through the games we have left.”
Tranmere, the leaders through most of Gibson’s early-season loan spell at Prenton Park, dropped to seventh place after the MK Dons defeat, then moved back up to sixth spot on goal difference following Yeovil Town’s midweek defeat to Swindon.
Ronnie Moore’s team return to action when they play host to Stevenage on Sunday (kick-off 4pm) – by which time they may have dropped out of the play-off zone once more.
Gibson said: “We are working on the training ground and we want to put things right on the pitch. It does not matter what other teams do around us, we just have to concentrate on ourselves.
“If we can win our four remaining home games, that should be enough to get us where we want to be.”
Gibson’s return eased the strain on the squad’s defensive resources caused by a groin injury to Ian Goodison, who is facing another couple of weeks on the sidelines.
This week West Bromwich Albion recalled teenage centre back Donervorn Daniels from a loan spell with Tranmere that covered 14 games.
There is little prospect of midfielders Andy Robinson (groin) and Adam McGurk (collapsed lung) being available for the Stevenage game.
Stevenage, who trounced promotion chasing Sheffield United last weekend, were beaten 2-0 at Bury on Tuesday night and sacked manager Gary Smith the following day.
Meanwhile, Bolton Wanderers forward Jack Sampson played as a trialist for Tranmere Reserves in a Central League game at Walsall this week.
