WORRIED Tranmere Rovers Player-Manager John Aldridge knows that his side desperately need to embark on an unbeaten run if they are to have any chance of reaching the top half of the Nationwide League Division One table. And he hopes Saturday's 'six pointer' against lowly Ipswich Town at Prenton Park (kick-off 3pm) will trigger off that revival.

Mr Aldridge made his concerns clear after seeing Rovers fall to their 10th league defeat, last Saturday, at Sunderland.

"We are so inconsistent it's frightening!" he told me. "It's so frustrating that we can't seem to get an unbeaten run of eight or nine matches. We've got to take maximum points from our home games because our away form is very, very poor."

Rovers' defensive shortcomings became transparent again, following the superb performances in the previous two wins over Bradford and Stoke. Said a bemused Mr Aldridge: "I was very disappointed with our defending at Sunderland - we should have stopped all three goals.

"Our midfield didn't help out the defence and we were very poor. We had a lot of possession, but didn't create enough chances."

Centre-half Andy Thorn, who was stretchered off at Sunderland with a knee problem, is likely to be out of action for "weeks rather than months", according to club physio Les Parry.

Young Dave Challinor seems likely to deputise against Ipswich and there could be a recall for winger John Morrissey, who has performed well in his last two outings at Stoke and Sunderland as a substitute.

Mr Aldridge and his players have been involved in defensive work on the training ground this week in a bid to stop gifting goals away.

Ipswich are fifth from bottom of Division One and victory would put Mr Aldridge in a happier frame of mind for the festive season!

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