Manager John Barnes blasts players over performance in home defeat to MK Dons

Aug 19 2009 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

MANAGER John Barnes gave his Tranmere players a rocket after they were beaten by MK Dons at Prenton Park.

Barnes admitted Rovers passing game was off the boil as they gave the ball away too cheaply and too often.

“We did not play well at all,” Barnes said after Tranmere were punished by an 81st-minute winner from Dons substitute Jabo Ibhere.

Barnes added: “I keep stressing to the players about not giving the ball away but our passing was slack throughout the second half.

“For the goal we were on the attack, gave the ball away and got caught on the break.

“Our passing was slack throughout the second half. When there was no-one near us passes were going astray.

“We have to improve doing the simple things. We have players who are good at dribbling and doing the hard things but we weren’t able to make simple passes to another white shirt.”

Rovers twice hit the woodwork through striker Ian Thomas-Moore and created a number of chances but Barnes said: “Our problems would have been the same if we had won the game 2-1 or 3-1. If we passed the ball like we did tonight we will lose more often than we win.”

Barnes reported that Thomas-Moore, who was substituted midway through the second half has a groin strain, while centre-back Ian Goodison, who was also replaced, had been feeling a twinge in his hamstring.

Thomas-Moore cold be a doubtful starter for Tranmere’s visit to Leeds on Saturday.