Goodison’s absence cost us dear, admits Moore

Jan 15 2008 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

THE END of Ian Goodison’s four-match suspension can’t come soon enough for Tranmere manager Ronnie Moore, who last night described the influence of the centre-back and captain as “immense.”

Rovers must negotiate just one more game before the Jamaican international is back at the heart of a defence that isn’t holding up well without him.

Moore hopes his team-mates can find a way through tomorrow’s FA Cup third round replay at Hereford before the 35-year-old returns to action in the League One fixture at Millwall on Saturday.

But he acknowledges that Rovers’ defensive record since Goodison’s dismissal at Crewe on New Year’s Day tells its own uncomfortable story.

Goodison was given his marching orders when the scores were locked at 2-2 midway through the second half at Gresty Road. Rovers went on to lose the game 4-3. In Goodison’s enforced absence they then slogged out a 2-2 draw with Hereford in the Cup, lost 3-0 at Leyton Orient on Tuesday and were comprehensively beaten 2-0 by Bristol Rovers at Prenton Park three days later.

Ben Chorley and Antony Kay, effective performers when playing alongside Goodison, have been less convincing as a partnership in their own right.

Moore said: “I think the results speak for themselves in how much we have missed Ian. We have not won a game since he went out of the side. He has been an immense influence for us this season.

“It’s not just the work Ian does himself that makes a difference. His presence makes other players around him perform better.”

Goodison was voted the outstanding League One player of last season in a poll of north west regional football supporters and reclaimed a place in the Jamaican international side last month.

His performances in the current campaign have been just as consistent and impressive as they were in 2006/07. He was an ever-present in the side until a tackle on Crewe midfielder Ryan Lowe earned him a three match ban. The FA added a fourth game to the suspension after rejecting Tranmere’s appeal against the sending-off as “frivolous.”

Goodison’s absence undermined a hitherto solid defensive record at a time when Tranmere were also hit by serious losses on the creative side of the team.

Right-winger Chris Shuker followed left flank partner Steve Davies into long-term rehabilitation from a cruciate ligament injury just before the New Year. Meanwhile attacking midfielder John Mullin had to put his hopes of a long-awaited comeback from ankle surgery on hold after developing a hamstring problem.

The pileup of misfortunes was a factor as Tranmere produced the the season’s worst performance in tamely subsiding to Bristol Rovers last weekend.

Moore, though reluctant to make excuses, says: “If you take your better players out of the side you’re going to struggle – and that’s no disrespect to the others.

“Ask Rafa Benitez about taking Gerrard and Torres out of the Liverpool team, or take Ronaldo and Rooney out of Manchester United.”

Even so, the manager expects a more robust effort from the players at his disposal at Hereford and expects centre-backs Chorley and Kay to put in a stronger showing than they did against the powerful Bristol front pair of Andy Williams and Rickie Lambert.

Moore said: “We were weak down the middle on Friday and that’s where we need to be competitive. But if your centre-halves are not strong and you are in trouble. If the centre-backs are not winning headers the pitch becomes massive, because you are on the back foot.”

Moore added: “Team-wise the work ethic wasn’t there on Friday night and I’m not having that. Players can have an excuse on the day for their passing going astray. But there are no excuses for not working hard. That’s not an extra. That’s what they get paid for.”