TRANMERE Rovers’ manager Ronnie Moore said he was “astounded” to hear sections of the crowd booing as his team drew a blank with Walsall last night.

The League One game at Prenton Park ended in a goaless draw, but the manager said his players had “given everything.”

Moore – whose side are still top of the league - conceded the team lacked “spark” but added the overall performance still showed they had come a long way.

He said: “You’re never satisfied to get a point when you’re at home, it’s a game we should be winning. We didn’t have that spark today, it was like we were waiting for things to happen.

“I can’t ask any more from the lads, we’ve just about got seven subs. Palmer is struggling, Max’s girlfriend has just had a baby and we’ve got three lads out who are full of pace.

"And then they get booed.

“You pay your money and you have your shout, but we’ve come a long, long way in such a short space of time.

“I think one or two lads were very surprised in the reaction and it was similar when I took Cole off.

"You have to try to do something to change it. Cole and Cass were very similar and nothing was happening so we tried to put Robbo in the pocket and from then on it was one-way traffic. So I do know what I’m doing.

“The players have been fantastic; I’ve got nothing but praise for them. They’re on their last legs. We all want Wallace to play, we all want Akpa Akpro to play and we all want Bell-Baggie to play, but to boo them, it astounds me.

“You pay your money and you’re entitled to say what you think. The fans have been fantastic all season and they got frustrated.

“Probably if I’d paid to watch it I’d have given a boo now and then and then gone home and thought they’ve done well and did I really need to boo them.”

Rovers remain at the top of the league with 38 points. They will take on Stevenage away on Saturday.