We’re on right road says Ron

Aug 27 2008 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

TRANMERE boss Ronnie Moore insisted his side’s performance level on the road took a step in the right direction at Leicester – even though a 3-1 defeat repeated the scoreline of the opening day reverse at Swindon Town.

Moore argued that the difference between Rovers and the Foxes, second favourites for promotion in League One this season, was in set-plays.

Leicester, capitalising on a quickly taken free-kick and a corner, took a decisive 2-0 advantage by the 52nd minute through goals by strikers Steve Howard and Matty Fryatt.

He said: “It was the same result as Swindon but the two performances were a million miles apart.

“We were poor at Swindon but we were all right this time. There were a lot of positives to come out of the game. The players did everything I wanted from them in open play.

“I don’t think that was anything between the sides in open play but the quality of Leicester’s delivery at set plays was top drawer – and we have to learn to defend them better.

“We spoke beforehand about trying to avoid giving too many free-kicks away round the penalty area.

“If we’d had the same people taking our free-kicks and corners we would probably have got some goals from them. As it was we did not do what we were supposed to do at our own set-plays.”

Howard’s 33rd-minute opener resulted from a free-kick by Lloyd Dyer that caught Tranmere unprepared. Moore revealed that his players claimed they heard referee Phil Crossley tell Leicester to “wait for the whistle”.

Moore added: “I asked the referee about that in the tunnel and he denied it happened. Either way it was still naive.

“Someone should stand over the ball to stop them taking it early. We should never have conceded that type of goal.

“To get done by two set plays in the game was not good because we should have enough height at the back to deal with things.

“But I’m not going to have a go at our players because it was a good performance, against one of the strongest teams in the division. I can’t fault the work-rate and we just need to be more clinical in the two penalty areas.”

Rovers now embark on a run of three home games in a row. They play host to Northampton in League One next Saturday, followed by a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy first-round tie with Accrington Stanley on Tuesday September 2 (7pm), then a League One visit from Oldham on Saturday September 6.

Tranmere are offering adult supporters a £3 discount when they purchase tickets for both the Northampton Town and Oldham Athletic matches.