Moore emphasis on Rovers on the road

Jan 13 2009 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

TRANMERE started work on a new agenda for 2009 when they returned to their thawed-out out training ground at Raby Vale this week.

Manager Ronnie Moore kicked off with a double session yesterday as he put the focus on improving Rovers’ away form in the second half of the League One campaign.

“It’s great to be back on the grass,” Moore declared after spending the last fortnight training his players on all-weather surfaces and indoor sports facilities.

He went on: “Now there is work to be done. We have some ideas on how we are going to progress with the remainder of the season.

“We are going to look at one or two things that might benefit us in turning defeats into draws and draws into wins.”

Rovers are handily placed in eighth spot after reaching the midway point of the season with 37 points from 23 games.

However, they managed to post just three of their 11 wins so far away from Prenton Park and Moore admits form on the road has to take a turn for the better if Rovers are to sustain a challenge for a top-six finish.

The long spell of cold weather also cost Tranmere two postponements – the fixtures at Colchester United on January 3 and at home to Peterborough last Saturday.

Moore said: “To be fair we are not playing catch-up on too many clubs because a lot of games were being called off around the country over the last fortnight.

“Now we want to see how the players react to the break. Are they a bit stale or will they be refreshed? We will find out when we go to Millwall on Saturday. It’s a massive game for us to focus our minds on.

“We’ve had two weeks without a game so it could affect our match sharpness but I would like to think only a bit.”

Rovers rearranged the visit to Colchester for Tuesday February 10 but it may be March before they can settle on a new date for Peterborough’s visit.

Tranmere prepare for the weekend date at the New Den with only one player – Chris Greenacre – on the casualty list. The experienced striker is facing up to two months on the sidelines with damaged ligaments in his foot.

Defender Ian Goodison and gave Rovers a fright over the weekend when he was rushed to hospital complaining of stomach pains. Moore said: “We don’t know what caused it but Ian seems to be all right now and is back in training.”

Rovers’ hopes of signing Ryan Shotton for a second spell on loan remains stalled while young defender resolves contract issues with his club Stoke City.

Shotton spent three months of Prenton Park on a short-term loan during the autumn and made a positive impression. Rovers want to sign him on an extended loan that runs until the end of the season but must wait on developments at the Britannia Stadium.

If Rovers are to do any further business in the January transfer window, it is likely to involve players moving out of Prenton Park in order for new faces to come in.

Moore said: “Gates are down so I will not be spending a lot of money on recruiting new players. Anyone coming in has got to be a loan player so the wheeling and dealing will be about moving players out to enable new ones to come in.

“We are always looking at opportunities to freshen the squad but it is not as if we are short of players. We have a healthy group who are all looking for games.”

Meanwhile Moore had words of encouragement last night for the youngsters who face Cardiff City in a FA Youth Cup fourth-round tie at Ninian Park tonight (kick-off pm).

The winners will be rewarded with a home tie against Birmingham City in round five, to be played before the end of the month.