TONY Warner won’t dismiss the long-odds bet that Tranmere can turn around a poor run of results at the expense of promotion chasers Bournemouth tomorrow.
Rovers have already lost twice to the Cherries this season, the first a 3-0 defeat at Prenton Park early in the League One campaign, the second a 5-3 reverse at Dean Court in the FA Cup.
They head for the south coast after a sequence of one win in 11 games and on the back of a 4-0 hammering at Sheffield Wednesday in midweek, bringing the threat of relegation into sharper focus.
Even so, the experienced goalkeeper says he can travel with confidence in Tranmere’s ability to raise their game against the division’s top teams.
Warner said: “Since I’ve been at this club I have noticed we seem to play better against the better teams, the teams higher up the division.
“Form does not mean that much when the whistle blows, as long as you set your stall out well.
“The game that sticks in my mind was against Southampton. No one gave us a chance and we turned them over 2-0.”
Tranmere produced a spirited performance against second placed Huddersfield Town last weekend but were beaten 2-0. And they can take encouragement from Bournemouth’s recent form – the Cherries lost at Bristol Rovers in midweek and have not won in six.
Rovers’ fate is looking as if it may rest on how they perform in the final six games of the season, four of which are at home, with three against teams who are currently lying below them.
Warner said: “When we played Yeovil and Bristol Rovers here, the results (both defeats) spoke for themselves. We should have taken four points from those games and we came up with nothing.”
Tranmere will have defensive strongman Ian Goodison back in the side tomorrow after missing the last two games with suspension. However, influential midfielder John Welsh misses out through suspension following his booking at Sheffield Wednesday and manager Les Parry rates Andy Robinson as a doubtful starter once again because of a groin strain.
Bournemouth’s assistant manager Steve Fletcher reckons Tranmere’s visit has become ‘the most important game of the season’ as the Cherries attempts to revive their promotion challenge.
Fletcher said: “Performances have been good but we need to be more clinical in taking our chances. Tranmere are just above the bottom four and fighting for their lives. They had missed Ian Goodison but he should be back and that will give them a lift.
“This is now our biggest game of the season.”
Parry confirmed Tranmere have opened talks about contracts for next season with Welsh and Michael Kay and Robbie Weir, the two youngsters on loan from Sunderland. Rovers plan to continue talks with Aaron Cresswell and Dale Jennings at the end of the season.