Don’t underestimate the manager-less Pirates, warns Tranmere manager Les Parry

Mar 8 2011 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

TRANMERE aim to walk the Pirates a little further down the plank that leads to a drop in to League Two at Prenton Park tonight.

But manager Les Parry warned they must be careful to avoid getting their own feet wet with another slip-up against a relegation-threatened side.

With Bristol Rovers having sacked manager Dave Penney yesterday, Parry expects them to adopt similar tactics to Yeovil, whose cagey, defensive approach was rewarded with a 1-0 win in front of the Wirral regulars 11 days ago.

“I think Bristol will sit back and hope to do what Yeovil did to us,” Parry said.

“They will try to absorb everything we can throw at them and hit us on the counter attack. So we have to be patient, look at the way they are set up and adjust our game to suit.”

Rovers have picked up valuable 1-1 draws at Exeter City and Charlton since then, but a victory tonight would be of greater significance, as it will open up a 12-point gap on the Bristol club, who currently stand next to bottom of the table.

Parry said: “This is a bigger game for us than Charlton. I know it was a nice point is to get but Charlton are going for a play-off place and we can’t affect the gap between them and us. But if we win this one, it will make it a lot more difficult for Bristol to catch us.”

Parry takes encouragement from the positive nature of Tranmere’s last two performances.

“We created more chances than the home side in each game,” he said. “We are creating opportunities. We just need to take a few more of them.”

Rovers hope the knocks and strains picked up by goalkeeper Tony Warner and midfielder Andy Robinson at Charlton do not prevent either player from lining up tonight.

Ash Taylor suffered a cut on the top of his head as Valley but was able to carry on playing and should be available.

“Ash was elbowed in the head and the referee decided to do nothing about it, which was a little bit disappointing,” Parry said.

The manager added that he may wait until the weekend visit to Brighton before considering Dale Jennings for first team action. The teenage winger has been sidelined for a month with a groin injury.

Parry said: “Dale joined in training on Friday and there was a chance he was going to travel to Charlton.

“Then he pulled up and felt a tweak in his groin again. We could have pushed it but it is important Dale is right when he comes back. Dale is the type who needs to feel that he is right when he goes onto the field. We are going to rest him for a few days and let it settle down.”

Bristol may leave 15-goal leading scorer Will Hoskins out of the side tonight in an effort to clear a nagging hamstring injury.

“It’s been a long season and it has taken a toll,” said Hoskins, who rates his fitness at 60%.

“It has been playing on my mind and I want to get out there, but is it good for us?

“It’s frustrating because I want to give my all and for the last two games I’ve been trying but it’s been hard and the body is finding it difficult.

“Maybe if I miss one game it might help me be fit for the rest of the season rather than just trying to push through it.”

Defender Jerel Ifil is suspended after being dismissed in the 2-0 home defeat to Dagenham and Redbridge last weekend.

The Pirates have lost eight of their last nine, and despite the experienced Penney replacing Paul Trollope as manager in January, he has too has now left the club.

Tranmere will be looking to extend the loan of Lateef Elford-Alliyu from West Bromwich Albion this week. The teenage front man’s current spell at Prenton Park runs out after the Bristol game and Rovers are talking to Albion officials about extending the arrangement again.

Parry explained: “Lateef is on a youth loan which is more flexible than an emergency loan and it means we can extend it month by month until the end of the season.”

Meanwhile George Cain is to continue as Tranmere’s physiotherapist for the remainder of the season. Cain, a former Football League referee from Bootle, stepped into the role last week after Steve Walker left the club to pursue a career in teaching.

Cain is recently qualified as a physiotherapist and has been assisting in the Tranmere treatment room throughout this season.

Parry said: “George will stay with us until the end of the season, which is good. He is great with the lads who really like him. I’m delighted and George is happy as well.”