Moore delighted with perfect performance

Oct 6 2008 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

MANAGER Ronnie Moore hailed Tranmere as “the best team from start to finish” as they posted a 2-1 victory at Carlisle United.

“I’m pleased with the progress we are making away from home,” Moore said. “We are going in the right direction. Only a few weeks ago we were moaning about our away form. Now we’ve won two and drawn one of our last three games on the road.”

Goals by Ian Moore (one minute) and Ryan Shotton (80 minutes) secured the points before substitute Danny Graham notched a consolation for the Cumbrians in the last seconds of injury time.

Moore was delighted by the way his team adapted to a 4-5-1 formation that helped them to control the game. Moore said: “I was always going to play 4-5-1 here, as we did last season.

“People say it is a defensive set-up but if it is used right and you play the ball quickly, it can be a positive formation and a massive weapon for us.

“We have the attacking-minded players to operate that system in a positive way. We are always going to be a threat and we created a lot of chances. We could have won the game by four or five goals and we must be due to give someone a good hiding.”

Ian Moore, the manager’s son, won widespread plaudits for his contribution on the right side of the midfield five.

Moore senior said: “When (striker) Bas Savage drifts out wide, it enables Ian to come inside and play as a striker, which of course suits him.

“He got in early with a nice touch, turn and finish for the first goal. With the pace of Ian and Ed Sonko and the passing ability of Antony Kay, we were always a threat on the counter-attack.”

The only blemish on Tranmere’s day was the goal Graham fired home from a 93rd-minute corner.

“It was disappointing to concede a goal from a set play with the last kick of the game, particularly as we had defended so well,” Moore said. “The back four wanted a clean sheet and so did I. We’ve not had many this season and we had been talking about how many we could achieve before Christmas.”

Now Tranmere turn their attention to a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy encounter with Crewe at Prenton Park tonight (kick-off 7pm).

Rovers chose a Monday kick-off for the second round tie to enable them to field internationals Ian Goodison and Sonko before the pair depart to join their international squads for World Cup qualifiers this weekend, with Jamaica and Gambia respectively.

However, Goodison looks likely to miss tonight’s game after straining a back muscle at Carlisle.

Moore explained: “Ian wanted to come off with 20 minutes to go. He kept on waving his hand at us and we kept on signalling for him to keep going for another five minutes. That’s how he got through it.

“It is ironic. We set the game for Monday so we could play Ian Goodison and now it looks like he probably won’t play.”

Even so, Moore says he will put out a side against the Railwaymen that will be close to Saturday’s starting XI.

He said: “This competition gives League One clubs the chance of Wembley. ”

Rovers are again reducing admission prices tonight. Adults will be admitted for just £9, with Seniors (60+) and Young Persons (17-22) £5 and Juniors only £3.

In addition, full paying adults purchasing match tickets from the ticket office or club shop will be entitled to one free junior ticket. This offer applies to stand tickets, not executive suites.

Adults will be admitted to the game for just £9, with Seniors (60+) and Young Persons (17-22) £5 and Juniors only £3.