‘Brave’ Taylor made difference for Moore

Sep 18 2007 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

TRANMERE manager Ronnie Moore saluted the professionalism and bravery of striker Gareth Taylor last night.

The experienced target man returned to the side last Friday after nursing a broken rib for three weeks and helped Rovers to continue a strong start to the League One campaign with a 2-1 win over Luton at Prenton Park.

Taylor’s performance earned warm appreciation from Moore. But he was withdrawn after 71 minutes – shortly before substitutes Craig Curran and Antony Kay plundered the late goals that turned the game.

Moore was unhappy with some comments from the Prenton Park crowd that greeted Taylor’s departure.

Moore said: “I was very pleased with Gareth’s contribution particularly when you consider he’d broken a rib about three weeks before. I thought he led the line well, won a lot of headers and showed a great touch. He came in for a bit of criticism from one or two people in the crowd around me, which I found astounding.

“The people who watch football and understand football realise what an asset Gareth has been for us – and how well he did in the first 70 minutes of the Luton game.

“He was tiring towards the end and I felt we needed to try something different. It worked for us although it is not often you bring on two substitutes who score in the last seven minutes. That’s what the squad is about.”

Taylor suffered the injury, high on the rib cage near the armpit, during Tranmere’s 2-0 home win over Brighton towards the end of August.

Fractured ribs have to be left to heal in nature’s own time but Taylor, Moore explained, had done his best to ensure the did not lose fitness levels during the recovery period.

Moore said: “Gareth actually trained with his arm up in the air. Then last week (physio) Les Parry said he could join in and see how he coped in a practice game.

“With Calvin Zola aggravating his hamstring at Carlisle, I felt we lacked a bit of strength up front and Gareth was prepared to put his hand up last Thursday and say he would play.

“I think that showed a lot of courage and those people who criticise him really want to get off his back.

“The criticism does not worry Gareth and he will not thank me for mentioning it. But I think it needed saying.”

Meanwhile Moore has told Kay to embrace the idea of taking an alternative route into the first XI at Prenton Park.

The versatile summer signing from Barnsley sees centre-back at his best position and is being kept out of the starting line-up so far this season by the form of Ian Goodison and Ben Chorley.

However Kay has also played right-back and centre midfield and joined the action for the final 15 minutes of the Luton game as a replacement for midfielder Steve Jennings.

Moore said: “Antony knows there is more than one route into the side. One of the reasons he is here is that he can play in a number of positions.”

Kay, a first-team regular in the Championship with Barnsley last season, admits he has been knocking on Moore’s door, asking for a place in the starting line-up.

Moore said: “There is no problem with him. The big thing for me was that when Antony was called on, he came in with the right attitude. He was fully tuned up for what we were doing, as was Craig Curran.

“The thing about Antony is he puts pressure on a lot of people in the team. No-one can rest easy if they fall below the mark that is expected of them.”

Midfielder John Mullin is due to go under the surgeon’s knife today. The operation, to shave some bone off an ankle joint, will keep the experienced Mullin out of action for four to six weeks.

Mullin has suffered a succession of fitness setbacks since the summer and hopes the surgery will clear his problems once and for all.

Moore reported several players were unable to train yesterday because of knocks, including midfielder Paul McLaren (ankle), defender Ian Goodison (thigh) and winger Chris Shuker (thigh).

But he says he is confident all three will be fit and available for Tranmere’s visit to Cheltenham on Saturday.