Tranmere intends to take game to rivals

Jan 8 2008 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

MANAGER Ronnie Moore sees an opportunity for Tranmere to inch ahead of Leyton Orient in a packed field of promotion chasers tonight.

The rescheduled League One fixture at Brisbane Road (kick-off 7.45pm) brings together two teams who lost a little momentum after making fast starts to the season.

Both consider themselves serious contenders for a play-off spot, at the very least, as they move into the second half of the race.

A first away victory in the League since October would lift Tranmere ahead of Orient and put them on the edge of the play-off zone.

Moore said: “Orient were flying at the start of the season and looked like they were going to get away at the top at one stage.

“Then they had a little wobble, a bit like ourselves. That seems to sum up the division as a whole. Every team is up-and-down, from top to bottom.

“I still believe Orient, ourselves and another the dozen teams are in there with a great chance. We are all fighting like mad for points.”

Moore added: “We know Orient have quality when they go forward. We also know where their Achilles heel is. I think we have to be prepared to take the game to them.”

The squad that travelled to London last night included leading marksman Chris Greenacre and winger Jennison Myrie-Williams. The pair missed last Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Hereford in the FA Cup because of groin and calf injuries respectively.

Moore said: “It would have been too big a risk for us to play them against Hereford. But the injuries have had a couple of days of extra rest now and they have a chance.

“If Chris is fit it gives us more options up front and if Jennison is fit it gives is that at a bit of pace to go at teams.”

While Moore may make changes in the attacking positions he is likely to keep faith with a defensive set-up he deployed against Hereford, with Ben Chorley taking on the centre-back and captaincy duties of Ian Goodison.

Goodison’s four-match ban also includes the League One fixture with Bristol Rovers on Friday night and the FA Cup third-round replay against Hereford a week tomorrow.

Rovers are sure to pick from a stronger selection hand than on their last visit to Brisbane Road, when a chronic shortage of fit defenders forced them to utilise striker Gareth Taylor as a centre back and midfielder Danny Harrison as a full-back. They lost that game 3-1.

Moore is encouraged that Tranmere rekindled some creative spark in the two games last week, a 4-3 defeat at Crewe on New Year’s Day and the 2-2 thriller with Hereford. It followed a spell in which Rovers found chances hard to come by and the supply of goals became thin.

The manager said: “All that was missing against Hereford was for us to convert one of those chances in the period when we were on top.

“If we had scored the first goal I think we would have won the game comfortably.”

Instead the replay has added to a demanding January schedule.

Tranmere return from the visit to Orient in the early hours of tomorrow, then must prepare on Thursday for the Friday fixture against Bristol Rovers at Prenton Park. The staging of the Hereford replay on Wednesday of next week, rather than Tuesday, means Moore and his players will complete the journey home in the early hours of Thursday morning and get back on to the team bus the following day for the long trip to Millwall, where they play on Saturday, January 19.

Tranmere have been allocated 1500 tickets for the third-round replay at Hereford’s Edgar Street ground next Wednesday.

Admission for adults will be £15. Seniors (65 and over) will pay £6 and Juniors £3.

Tranmere Rovers are offering free coach travel for the replay. To take advantage of the offer fans must purchase a match ticket at the same time as booking their free coach travel with the club shop/ticket office.