Play-offs are still within our reach, insists Tranmere Rovers midfielder Joss Labadie

Jan 11 2012 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

JOSS LABADIE insists the Šthe play-offs are not beyond Tranmere’s reach this season, even as manager Les Parry predicts that the first five places in the League One table will prove to be beyond the reach of the chasing pack.

Combative midfielder Labadie says no-one in the Prenton Park dressing room is giving up on the chase with Rovers needingŠŠto make up 11 points of ground to claim a top-six finish by the end of the campaign.

“I think we are two or three wins away from being right back in the mix,” Labadie said. “It is still do-able. We feel as though we are good enough to get back up near the play-off places again.

“We were not on a good run before Christmas but we stopped the rot with a win against Bury and now we need to get back on track. We’re going into every game thinking we can win it.”

Labadie’s sharp finish from a well rehearsed free-kick routine helped Tranmere to the 2-0 success over the Shakers on December 30 and they followed a 2-1 defeat at second placed Sheffield Wednesday with a 2-2 draw at home to Brentford last weekend.

However, Parry believes that the current top five – Charlton Athletic, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield, Sheffield United and MK Dons – are too strong to be dislodged and that the sixth position, currently occupied by Carlisle United, is the only realistic target over the next four months.

Parry said: “We are still looking at the table and looking to get to the edge of the top six.

“Looking at the table I think there’s one play-off place left because the top five, who have pulled away, are the class five teams in the division. I don’t see any of them losing three of four games on the bounce. That leaves one place for the rest of us to play for.”

Parry acknowledges it is no coincidence that the top five boast the largest crowds and the biggest budgets for players in the division.

“If you look at every division you will see a massive correlation between budget and success,” said Parry, who operates with one of the smallest player budgets in League One.

He added: “I don’t think any of the big five are going to go through a run like the one we had before Christmas. This is a strong division. I think any of the top five would strengthen the Championship if they go up.”

Parry is looking to add to his squad with loan signing or two before the January transfer window and explained this week he must raise the funds for any new arrivals by releasing some of his own players to other clubs.

Tranmere currently have one loan player on the books in Leeds goalkeeper Paul Rachubka, who will be at Prenton Park until the end of the month as cover for broken hand victim Owain Fon Williams.

José Baxter completed a three-month loan from Everton last weekend and the Goodison giants may look for a Championship club when they next seek some work experience for the 19-year-old attacker.

Labadie admits Tranmere will miss Baxter’s creative skills. “José is a good lad and a very good player as well,” Labadie said.

“He did really well when he was here and I think he enjoyed himself.”