By David Lawson-Cooke
Tranmere Rovers striker James Vaughan has rallied his teammates to use their unfortunate relegation last season as ‘fuel’ for this campaign.
He said: “On one side you have to forget about it and move on.
“But in another way, you have to remember it and let it fuel you for the season ahead.”
Tranmere were relegated from Sky Bet League 1 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The League 1 season was cut short with ten league games remaining.
Vaughan signed for Rovers in January from Bradford City to try and keep the club in League 1.
He scored three goals but unfortunately no amount of goals could save Tranmere from the drop due to the circumstances.
Vaughan believes Tranmere could have survived the drop if the league was played to its conclusion.
He said: “Last year, we all think that we would have stayed up if we were given the chance.”
“This is a club that we all believe should be in League 1 but, for whatever reason we are not but we are going to be giving everything to be getting back where we think we belong.”
Targets for this season
Despite not having the best start to the season Vaughan believes that Tranmere should be pushing hard for promotion.
He said: “The squad of players we have here should be challenging for it and putting it into action to get the results we need.”
“I think if we click then any team in the division will struggle to live with us.”
However, Vaughan also made it clear that the actions on the pitch are what wins games.
“Yeah, we have a great squad, but we keep saying a squad on paper does not win games.
“It is down to us to go and put that into action and we will be working really hard to do that”
Vaughan’s goals vital for Rovers’ season
Vaughan is yet to score so far this season in League 2. However he did manage to score a brace midweek against Liverpool U21s.
Vaughan does not seem worried about the situation in the League and believes the goals will come.
“I’ve been in the game long enough to know you will go through spells of not scoring but I know what I am about and we will just keep at it, we will do what we need to do.”
“You have last week were we had loads of chances and I thought we were unlucky not to get the win. I will keep getting in there and so will the other forwards and we will get the goals to win the games.”
Tranmere’s success may be reliant on Vaughan finding the net regularly this season. The veteran striker has outlined his hunger to get goals this season.
“Scoring goals is what strikers get judged on and for me that desire to get goals and to help the team is always there.
“As long as we are getting wins and points I am happy, but I want to contribute as many goals as possible.”
Tranmere’s play Scunthorpe United at home tomorrow (October 3). Vaughan will be hoping he can get his first goals of the Sky Bet League 1 season.
Featured Image via Tranmere Rovers
