By Max Rudd
Tranmere boss Mike Jackson insists he is pleased with his teams solid start to the League Two season and is relishing Saturday’s clash away to Salford.
Rovers have kept three clean sheets from four games so far this season and defeated Scunthorpe town 2-0 last time out to claim their first three points of the season.
Tomorrow is another tough challenge for Rovers, but a challenge that the Rovers boss insists his side should not fear.
“We’ve got to remember that we’re Tranmere. We have a place in this league too, whenever we go away to anywhere we are going there to try and win the game. We back ourselves, we get things right with the talent that we’ve got and we keep that team spirit about us.
“We believe if we get players back from injury and back into the group that we can go and achieve something this year, but again it comes from them starting points, the work we’ve put in in the last few weeks is something that we must continue to do. We’re going there, we must remember who we are, not just focus on the opposition.”
Parry believes that the hard work on the training pitch is the reason behind Rovers solid defensive start to the campaign whilst also highlighting he has been impressed with his team’s ability to press effectively and at the right times.
“We watch things back and then we show the players. It starts with the principles that we’ve been doing from the start of the season. When there is a way to press if we can press altogether, or if you can’t get there then be good on that next ball. That comes with all the principles that you’re getting in every training session so it becomes a habit and it becomes an identity of the team but it takes a lot of hard work and a lot of buying from the players.
“Some of the pressing and the shape and the structure of the team the other day against Scunthorpe was very very good. The structure of the defensive shape and the way the group pressed and the distances was very good. When we lost the ball we went and won it back early. It’s a great thing we’re trying to work on all the time.”
Defender Paul Clarke admitted his joy in keeping two consecutive league clean sheets, stressing it is a collective effort from the entire team.
“We all love keeping clean sheets, the more regular we can keep them, the better opportunities it gives us to win games. We really pride ourselves on it, we work hard for it, but it’s not just the boys at the back and the keeper, it’s a collective thing. There are things going on in front of us and it starts with the boys up top.”
Clarke at 38 is no stranger to the game, his experience and the partnership struck up with fellow central defender, 25-year-old Manny Monthe, is proving to be something that Rover’s fans can get excited about.
“We’ve started the season together with the two of us and we’ve got a good understanding. We both compliment each other quite well, it’s nice to be getting the shutouts and collectively we’re really pleased with where we are at. We hope moving forward we can continue to build on this.”
As Well as the solid defensive performances, Mike Jackson was also keen to praise experienced striker James Vaughan’s recent performances:
“The goals that he scored against Liverpool u23 did him the world of good. He is getting them fitness levels up. He’ll fight for you, he’ll lead the line, he’ll go and press people. Even if it’s not going for him in front of goal he’ll still go and do that for the team, so that’s a really good mark of a good striker.”
The former Shrewsbury Town boss hinted that the secret behind the number nines upturn in form was the improvement of service into the box.
“The last few games there has been a hell of a lot more crosses coming in especially from Liam Feeney. Young Lee (O’Connor) the other day did great, he’s been working a lot on his crosses, he knows that’s a part of his game. Some of the crosses he put into the box were great and we’ve been thriving on that.”
Although Tranmere earned their first three points last time out at home to Scunthorpe, it was the performance in the goalless draw against Cambridge United that has impressed Jackson the most so far this season. The manager did admit that after speaking to an EFL official, it was confirmed that their disallowed goal in that stalemate should’ve been awarded.
“There have been some good performances, the Cambridge game was great in terms of football and we should’ve got the result. We’ve spoken to the assessor about that and we should’ve had the goal, it should never have been disallowed, so on another day we’re sitting here with another 2 points on the board.”
Tranmere travel to Moor Lane on Saturday with a 3pm kick off.
