Moore is happy with his flexible friends

Oct 9 2007 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

RONNIE MOORE is confident the strength and adaptability of the players who have taken Tranmere Rovers to the summit of the League One table can help them cope with the pressures of life at the top.

”We can do nothing more than be where we are after 10 games,” Moore said. “The lads deserve a pat on the back.

“Being top on the league can bring added pressures because some teams put that little bit more effort into games when they are playing the top side. But it can also work the other way. Some teams might be in a fearful about playing us and change to a different system.”

The 2-1 win at Southend that lifted Tranmere into pole position demonstrated the flexibility within Moore’s team. They switched to a new tactical system for the first time this season with positive effect.

Moore said: “The players have adapted to what we want from them. We lost the first game of the season to Leeds – and were unfortunate to do so – and have not lost since. I think the players have been magnificent.”

Moore reckons Tranmere’s performance at Roots Hall demonstrated that a 4-5-1 formation does not have to be negative.

Surprised by post-match comments from Southend manager Steve Tilson that Tranmere had “come for a point” Moore said: “I think that if Steve looks at the video of the game, he will be sorry he said that. We attacked on every opportunity on Saturday and created more chances. Some of our passing was excellent. The sequence that led up to the corner that brought our first goal involved at least 20 passes.”

Moore added: “Midfielders Antony Kay and Steve Jennings had licence to get into the opposition box whenever we attacked – which was what we worked on during the week – and to go back into shape when we lost the ball. I think Antony Kay was in Southend’s box more often than any of their midfielders were in ours.”

Tranmere can expect to come up against a similar system when they play host to Walsall on Friday night.

The Saddlers head for Prenton Park on the back of three wins in a row including a 4-0 home success over Huddersfield last Saturday.

Moore said: “All of Walsall’s results have come from playing 4-5-1 home and away. They play with two wingers who have plenty of pace, so actually they go to 4-3-3 when they attack.

“That’s a bit like we were at Southend. The system can be very positive, although it can be negative in it is played differently.”

Moore saw the marked improvement in the potency of Tranmere set-plays at Southend as an important step forward.

The goals by Ben Chorley and Gareth Taylor, not to mention several near misses, came from the corners and free-kicks of Paul McLaren.

Moore said: “It was good to see the set-plays working. We put a lot of effort into them last week – and we had to. The set-plays in our last home game, against Crewe, were diabolical for a professional team. I’m glad we had a little chat about it and got it sorted. I would like to think we will get a lot of goals from them this season.”

Rovers expect to have goalkeeper Danny Coyne fit and available for a recall against Walsall. The Wales international missed four games with a calf muscle strain while goalkeeping coach John Achterberg pulled on the first-team gloves as a replacement. Moore said: “Danny looks like he is going to be okay for the weekend. He wasn’t a million miles away from being involved at Southend so he should be ready for Walsall.”

However, leading marksman Chris Greenacre could again be missing with the blisters and blood poisoning that kept him out of the action at Roots Hall.

Rovers should be able to add Calvin Zola to their striking options. The front man from the Democratic Republic of Congo made a brief appearance as a substitute at Southend after recovering from a hamstring injury. Moore said: “Calvin is champing at the bit now.”