Zola: We’ve been our own worst enemy this season

Jan 19 2008 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

CALVIN ZOLA shakes his head in frustration as he talks about the points he believes Tranmere have thrown away this season.

The striker from the Democratic Republic of Congo remains convinced Rovers have more than sufficient quality in the squad to earn a play-off berth.

And he is confident they can make up lost ground on the top six over the final 20 games of the League One programme, starting with today’s visit to Millwall.

But Zola acknowledges Tranmere are making the promotion challenge more difficult for themselves than it needs to be.

“We are our own worst enemy because we are throwing too many points away by making silly mistakes,” Zola said. “We all feel gutted in the dressing-room because we know we have been dropping points we should not have dropped.”

Zola argues that until Bristol Rovers posted an emphatic 2-0 victory at Prenton Park last weekend, non of Tranmere’s 10 league defeats this season had been a comprehensive beating.

He said: “No-one has given us a real hammering. I think we’ve shown we can be a match for any team. Losing games we should not have lost is the story of our season so far. It has happened too many times.

“We’ve had some great opportunities to strengthen our position and keep up with the teams near the top – and all too often we’ve not taken them. That gets you down.”

Zola was at the heart of another frustrating night for Rovers in midweek. They turned in the best performance since the start of the New Year to out-play FA Cup opponents Hereford but lost the third round replay at Edgar Street by a single goal after missing a succession of chances. Zola could have claimed a hat-trick and was denied by the woodwork from one of his opportunities.

“Calvin caused them lots of problems but he could not finish on the night,” manager Ronnie Moore lamented.

In spite of the disappointment, Zola remains optimistic. He said: “I believe we have a really good squad here, a nice blend of youth and experience. And in spite of the injuries we’ve had – and there have been some bad ones this season – I still think we have enough strength to go and win any game. We know we should be up there in the top six, not halfway down the table. Look at the way we played in the two games against Carlisle, one of the top sides. Those performances showed what we can do.”

The division is so tight and competitive that no-one at Prenton Park considers the six points between Tranmere and the play-off places to be a gap that can’t be bridged over the 20 games still to be played.

Zola admits three successive league defeats since the turn of the year to Crewe, Leyton Orient and Bristol Rovers have done team confidence no favours, but said: “Of course we can come back. I strongly believe we can and will close the gap and get into a play-off spot in May.”

Having spent a large chunk of his three and half years with Tranmere on the treatment table, Zola is tuned into the feelings of long-term casualties Steve Davies and Chris Shuker, both victims of cruciate ligament injuries.

“Every morning, when I come in, I like to look in on (physio) Les Parry’s treatment room to see who is there,” Zola said. “I always hope by some miracle, the injuries have cleared up.

“We’ve been unlucky with injuries this season and I know how the lads feel. It’s not easy for the gaffer to handle all of the disruptions those injuries create.”

While Tranmere’s results in League One have been a model of inconsistency over the last three months, Zola’s personal fortunes are taking a turn for the better.

The 23-year-old started eight of Tranmere’s last 11 games and is finally breaking the cycle of injuries that prevented him from putting together a run of more than half a dozen first-team games during his time at Prenton Park.

Zola said: “This run of games is really important for me. It is helping to improve my sharpness and confidence. It was frustrating to suffer all those setbacks with injuries over the last few years and I hope they are all behind me now.

“I hope I can stay strong and fit and carry on helping the team. I know we are capable of putting together the results we need in the league.”