A FIRST-half goal from Andy Robinson gave Tranmere a 1-0 win over Shrewsbury at the Greenhous Meadow on Boxing Day.

Just as crucial as Robinson's third goal of the season was Rovers' first clean sheet in the league since mid-October.

The result kept Rovers above the bottom four and lifted them above Sunday's opponents, Sheffield United, into 19th.

Ronnie Moore made three changes to the team that started against Gillingham as Evan Horwood, Chris Atkinson and Andy Robinson came in for Jimmy McNulty, Jake Kirby and Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro.

Moore felt his side deserved their victory.

In his post-match interview, the manager said: "I thought we earned it. We grew into the game - we were sloppy in the first-half.

"Liam Ridehalgh had to play centre back and I thought he was excellent.

"We've had one or two decent half chances in the second half. It was a great ball in for the goal, laid down and then a good finish. Overall I thought we deserved to win it.

"All their shots came from 25 yards but we were too deep. We said that at half time, we didn't want to be camped outside our box and encourage them to come on to us.

"In the second-half we pushed out, got a lot of men forward and kept the ball better.

"Robbo was good on the ball, Koumas was excellent and Rides was probably our best player today.

"He's done a great job, he's not an out and out centre half but he fills that role.

"I'm pleased with the way we've performed but it would have been nice if we could have got the second goal.

"When you're hanging on and they're bigger than us, there was that one late chance where they head it down and he hooks it over the bar and it might have gone in.

"It's a massive win for us. We weren't brilliant, I'm not kidding anybody.

"We didn't play like Real Madrid but we did the right things in the right areas.

"The support has been fantastic. They got behind us and we gave them something to be happy about."

Rovers are due to travel to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield Utd on Sunday.