Ronnie Moore eager for Tranmere Rovers FC to stay positive ahead of Leyton Orient clash at Prenton Park

Mar 9 2012 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Echo

NEW manager Ronnie Moore and senior players John Welsh and Andy Robinson have called for another positive response from home supporters when Tranmere continue the fight for League One survival against Leyton Orient tomorrow afternoon.

Rovers hope a £5 for all admission price to mark the 100th anniversary celebrations at Prenton Park and chairman Peter Johnson’s 25 years of ownership of the club will attract a bumper crowd to the second of three home games in eight days.

Moore, who succeeded Les Parry this week, described the atmosphere during Tuesday’s game with Notts County as “fantastic” – even though there were fewer than 4,700 people in the ground.

“When we scored our equaliser it was like we had won the Cup final,” Moore said.

“It could not have been any better. I hope we can get that atmosphere again. The crowd tried and tried to get behind the boys and it helps.”

Birkenhead-born Robinson said: “The fans were magnificent on Tuesday and that’s what we need now until the end of the season.

“We as players know the fans will only be like that if we give them the performances and wear the shirt with pride.”

Skipper Welsh, who headed Tranmere’s late equaliser against County said: “You could sense a buzz about the crowd on Tuesday and they were right behind us 100%. After we went 1-0 down early on, they could have got on our backs but they stayed with us. It was just a good feeling to know the crowd were giving us everything. It made us react. It is only £5 to get in on Saturday so hopefully that will bring in even more fans.”

Moore says he and his staff are working to strengthen the squad’s attacking options with loan signings in time for the Orient game. Rovers lost wide men Martin Devaney (hamstring) and Adam McGurk (cheekbone) to long-term injuries as soon as the new manager arrived and recruiting a central striker is another priority.

Moore said: “We have been working like mad since Tuesday to get someone in. We have knocked on a lot of doors and they’ve stayed shut. I think we are three players short in the areas where we need to be better – attacking areas.

“We don’t have any out and out wingers. I love the role Andy Robinson plays, out on the left and coming inside onto his right foot.

“He has done that all his career and he is quality at it. But we don’t have natural wingers or a natural goalscorer. When you don’t have them you have to work hard.”

Tranmere go into the Orient game with meagre return of 32 goals from 34 games.

Moore said: “We are short of goals in the squad and that is probably why Les played the system he played, because you look around and ask where are you going to get three goals in a game.

“Enoch Showunmi is not a natural goalscorer but he is a handful; we have Lucas Akins and Ryan Brunt, who is learning his game. What we do have his work-rate and effort from all of them. They have not been used to the wide men getting crosses into the box for them.

“Maybe that will change.”