TRANMERE Rovers travel the short distance to Crewe Alexandra on Saturday hoping to end a winless away league run that stretches back to February.

Interim Rovers boss Nigel Adkins’ side are yet to pick up a point on the road this season but have seen an improvement since Ian Dawes' departure winning seven points from their last four games. 

Crewe are sixth in the division, having enjoyed a strong start to the campaign but come into the match off the back of defeats to Salford City, and then Wrexham in the EFL Trophy. 

"I have found it interesting just how competitive this division is," said Adkins. "There are no easy games and there are so many variations in formations.

"Crewe always want to play football and develop young players and they've punched above their weight for so many years playing football in a way that is 'the Crewe way' and those principles are still there. 

"I'd like to think we are growing in confidence all the time - we're scoring goals and we've got to make sure we continue that theme but we've conceded too many goals.

"Many of the teams in this division have been conceding goals - if you look at some of the score lines it has been a high-scoring division this year so it's important everyone starts getting some defensive resolve although for fans across the country the goals have been going in and that's what you want to see."

Despite narrowly losing 1-0 at home to a Leicester City academy side in the EFL Trophy in midweek, Adkins was pleased with what he saw. 

"We did ever so well the other night," he said. "700 passes, 80 per cent retention, they types of runs we were looking for and patterns of play.

"The players have been working extremely hard and together we are trying to be on the same page with an alignment about what we want to achieve and for me in the short space of time I've been in this role things have been progressing."

On looking to end Rovers' long winless away run, Adkins admitted it was going to be difficult and highlighted the difference Tranmere's home support made when achieving results.

"It shouldn't matter if you're playing home or away," he said. "At the end of the day you're playing on a pitch with more or less the same dimensions with a goal either end and the object is stick the ball in one end and keep it out of the other. 

"But why do most teams win at home and not away? It's the fans and the support that drives you on - it's really important. It was rocking inside Prenton Park on Saturday - the game went into a bit of a lull and we were asking the fans to get behind us and they did and it was absolutely brilliant. 

"That's what we want - we're coming to enjoy football and we want to be part of it and sing and shout together and help our team when they're struggling. 

"We're away at the weekend and our fans have got to travel again but be there with your mates, talk to your mate, have a chat about life - it's so important.

"Saturday is an opportunity for us to all be together, to talk to each other, to check on your mates and get behind the team.

"The fans, the players, the staff - there was a unity on Saturday and we were all having a go for each other and that was wonderful to see and be part of."

 

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