Play-off destiny is in our hands – Moore

Mar 4 2008 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

RONNIE MOORE is convinced Tranmere are heading into the final quarter of the League One campaign as a stronger and wiser team that they were 12 months ago.

Rovers prepare for game number 36 of the 46-match programme at Oldham Athletic on Saturday standing sixth in the table – just as they did at the corresponding point of the 2006/07 season.

Tranmere could not hold onto a place in the top six year ago, subsiding to a ninth place finish after winning only four of the last 11 games.

This time the competition for a top six place is likely to be just as fierce but Moore said: “I think we are better equipped than last year.

“I think the squad of players is stronger than 12 months ago and could be strengthened further with Chris Shuker and Steve Davies coming back from injury.

“We have been there and seen it so we know what it is going to be like over the next couple of months.”

Moore added: “We knew what we had to do last year and we did not do enough of the right things. I think we are playing better as a team this season. I think we also have more strength in depth.”

Tranmere’s position on the edge of the play-off zone is under pressure from rivals with games in hand. The first defeat in nine games, at the hands of second-placed Doncaster last Saturday, left them with ground to make up on the teams above.

Even so, Moore is confident Rovers’ fate remains in their own hands ahead of two testing away games at Oldham Athletic on Saturday and runaway leaders Swansea City the following Tuesday.

Moore said: “We don’t want to be fighting just for one play-off spot. We have to concentrate on closing the gap on the teams above us.

“The last thing we want is to be one of six or seven teams all trying to chomp at the last place in the play-offs. We want to put ourselves in a position where we are challenging for spots three, four, five and six. That would ease the pressure on everyone.”

He added: “People keep telling me other teams have games in hand – but they have to win those games. We have games coming up against teams around us like Oldham, Walsall and Southend and when you win those games, people do not overtake you.

“So we are still in a position of strength. I believe our fate is in our own hands.

“What we must do is try not to lose the tight games. If you can’t win them a point always helps you. That’s not being negative. If we had drawn with Doncaster we would not be seven points behind them.”

Moore says he won’t be setting any points targets for the run down the final stretch – at least in public.

“You are just putting extra pressure on the players and yourself by doing that,” he said.

“The lads were a bit quiet and disappointed in the dressing room after losing to Doncaster last Saturday. Now it is important to stay focused and positive.”

Moore strongly rejected Sean O’Driscoll’s view of the game after the Doncaster manager claimed Tranmere had set out to play long play football.

Meanwhile strikers Chris Greenacre and Calvin Zola missed training yesterday with foot and hamstring injuries. But Moore is confident the pair will be in selection contention for the Oldham game.