No reason for doom and gloom - Rovers' boss

4:36pm Tuesday 25th March 2008

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A FRUSTRATED Ronnie Moore wants Tranmere Rovers back to winning ways to keep their promotion challenge on track in the final weeks of the Coca-Cola League One campaign.

The squad - currently seventh in the table with 59 points under their belts - lost 2-1 following a disappointing performance against Bournemouth in front of 4,118 spectators at Dean Court on Monday afternoon. Goals from Jo Kuffour and an own goal by Ian Goodison sealed Rovers' fate.

I don’t think there's any need for doom and gloom because I've got 20 players who are fit and ready for the job of going out there and getting those all-important goals.

Ronnie Moore

It was a thoroughly disappointing end to an Easter weekend that got off to a promising start on Thursday night with a promising 2-0 defeat of bottom club Port Vale.

All eyes are now on Prenton Park where Rovers take on Swindon Town this Friday (7.45pm). It is a crucial game that, if won, would see Rovers re-enter the play-off zone with three valuable points.

The following Saturday (April 5) Moore's men are off to promotion rivals Walsall and the week after (Saturday, April 12) they welcome fourth-placed Nottingham Forest to Prenton Park.

With just six games left to play, every point now counts if Rovers are to have a fighting chance of making the end-of-season play-offs for the one remaining promotion place to The Championship.

Reflecting on Monday's loss at Bournemouth, Moore told me: "I think we let ourselves down badly. Frustrated is the word, because I know that we're capable of much better than this - we thoroughly deserved to win the game, but we just did not perform on the day.

"I'm sorry for the supporters who made the journey with us to see the game.

"But I don't think there's any need for doom and gloom because I've got 20 players who are fit and ready for the job of going out there and getting those all-important goals.

"We really need to get those points in the bag on Friday night and I hope as many fans as possible will turn out to show their support. April's a busy month of games and success is in our hands."

Meanwhile, Tranmere Rovers have received The Football League's Family Excellence Award 2008, following two mystery fan visits to the ground during the 2007-08 season.

It comes just weeks after the club was nominated for the League One Family Club of the Year Award at the Football League Awards.

Tranmere is just one of 32 clubs from the whole of the Football League and one of only four from the North West receiving the award.

In developing the award, The Football League commissioned an independent assessment of the family experience at all 72 League clubs during the 2007-08 season through the use of "mystery shopper" families.

Family groups attended matches at each club as both home and away supporters and carried out a detailed assessment of the family experience on offer.