Tranmere Rovers manager, Ronnie Moore, placed defensive discipline at the top of the agenda this week.

The English League One manager has fired warning to the Gambia international midfielder Edrissa Sonko and his forward partner, Chris Shuker, to start knuckling down to the defensive side of their roles they prepare to put their fragile away form to the test.

Moore believes his creative and attacking players must find the discipline to fulfill their defensive responsibilities if Tranmere are to become stronger and more resilient on the road – no matter what formation he chooses to use.

“In a 4-4-2 system the two wingers must tuck in and defend when they have to. But it is the hardest thing in the world to get wingers to be disciplined. They are always wanting to get forward. They don’t want to do the hard job of defending.

“It has to be instilled into them. If not we will have to change the people who play there,” Moore told club website.

Moore is confident Rovers will be able to take care of themselves at Prenton Park this season after winning three out of four games in front of their own supporters so far.

But he reckons a 1-0 defeat to League One leaders Oldham last Saturday served as a reminder that his team cannot bank on home results always going their way.

The away record – showing three defeats and eight goals conceded – has to improve. And that means plugging the defensive leaks ahead of the League One visits to Huddersfield on Saturday and to Peterborough at the following weekend.

Meanwhile, Tranmere Johnstone’s Paint Trophy second round tie against Crew Alexandra will be played at Prenton Park on Monday, October 6.
The unfamiliar Monday tie enables Edrissa Sonko to be involved before he travels to Banjul for Scorpions World Cup and Nations Cup qualifier tie against Senegal later the same week.