Competition for places fires up Rovers

Sep 10 2007 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

HOT competition for places is helping to generate the performances that have put Tranmere among the early-season pacesetters in League One – according to manager Ronnie Moore.

Rovers notched a second away win of the new campaign at Carlisle to move into second place in the table.

Moore was delighted by the contribution of all of his players saying: “I could not fault anyone.

“It was a tremendous effort from all of them.

“Trying to pick out a man of the match is hard.

“Every one of them ran their socks off in very warm conditions.

“We are looking more solid as a team than we did last season, particularly at the back.

“There’s a bit more pressure on players than there was last season and that can have an influence on them.

He added: “They are worried they might lose their place if they don’t perform – and we did not have that situation last season.”

Tranmere’s victory was secured by the first goal of a new campaign from Craig Curran.

The teenager, who burst onto the first-team scene at the end of last season, notched the game’s only goal on 42 minutes after coming on as an early substitute for striker Calvin Zola.

“It was a great goal with a move from one end of the field to the other.

“Craig’s pace got him in at the back post to score,” Moore said.

The manager admitted he had “taken a chance” by playing Zola, who has been attempting to shake off a hamstring strain for more than a fortnight.

Moore said: “The gamble did not pay off although Calvin’s presence in those early stages was there for all to see.

“We were prepared for Calvin to go at three-quarter pace.

“The ball you don’t want is the one where he has to stretch out to run at pace onto it.

“He went down like a had sniper shot him.

“Hopefully it isn’t going to be too bad.”

Moore said his only criticism of the team’s efforts was in “inviting” the pressure that caused Tranmere some anxious moments in the final 20 minutes.

“We invited them onto was a little bit in the second-half and Danny Coyne was called upon to make a couple of saves,” Moore said.

“We should have kept the ball better in the last 10 minutes because we gave it away too cheaply.

“There are still things for us to work on.”

Tranmere’s fantastic travelling supporters also drew words of appreciation from the Rovers manager, Moore. He said: “Our fans were terrific.

“They made a lot of noise and encouraged us throughout.

“It makes a lot of difference to the players when they get that kind of backing from their supporters.”