MOORE GETS GIFT OF COLE

TRANMERE Rovers boss Ronnie Moore backed his side’s ability to grind out vital wins as Cole Stockton’s winner against Scunthorpe United returned them to League One’s summit.

Substitute Stockton grabbed the all-important goal in the second half to make it consecutive home wins for Rovers, while the Iron remained in the bottom four.

But Moore, who felt a half-time tactical switch helped his side, believes there is much more to come from the title and promotion race.

“You have to grind games out and there’s one or two tired legs out there, but a pat on the back, they kept going,” said Moore.

“We’ve got to win our home games and grind it out.That’s what happens when you’ve got four players missing.

“All we’ve got to do is our job, and you never know where it’s going to finish. There’s plenty of twists and turns to come.

“Cole changed our style - he’s done what all good strikers do, he’s sniffed out the goal and it was nice when it went in, because it looked like it was never going to happen.”

Scunthorpe made the more confident start and midfielder Andy Barcham squandered a good chance on 18 minutes, firing over from 15 yards.

Rovers’ first chance came on 28 minutes, with skipper Andy Robinson turning the ball across the box from Ash Taylor’s instant delivery, but there were no white shirts available.

Robinson came close again on 37 minutes, floating a free-kick over Steve Mildenhall’s bar after he was fouled following a great break from Taylor. The former Swansea man was at the centre of all Rovers’ play, and he forced Mildenhall into a low save on 52 minutes, with sub Stockton unable to follow up.

Rovers took a deserved lead on 59 minutes, when Taylor rose highest to meet Robinson’s corner, with Mildenhall making a superb save before Stockton headed home from a yard.

Barcham should have drawn the Iron level on 77 minutes, but he fired high and wide from 20 yards with Owain fon Williams out of his goal.

Scunthorpe boss Brian Laws was delighted with the spirit of his makeshift side – dented by injury and illness – but felt the Iron deserved more.

“It was a spirited performance, especially when you look at the injuries we have, but also the illness that’s swept through the team – great credit to them,” said Laws.

“We’re disappointed because I thought we bossed the first half. It was nip and tuck in the second half, but that just shows that Tranmere had to change their style and formation to adapt.

“The difference is that Tranmere took an opportunity which came their way from a set-piece. We had another bite of the cherry, but didn’t react.

“They did, and that’s the difference, mentality wise, between the

top and the bottom.”