Football: Flying start 'is everything I could have asked for' LEAGUE ONE.

Byline: NICK HILTON

MANAGER Ronnie Moore says his Tranmere players are "giving everything I could ask for" in a strong start to the League One campaign.

Rovers strengthened their grip on second place in the table over the weekend, opening up a three-point lead on the pack of clubs in the play-off zone after six games.

Tranmere topped the division for a few hours after Friday night's 2-1 win over Luton at Prenton Park, only for Leyton Orient to regain pole position, thanks to a 1-0 win at Yeovil the following afternoon.

Moore said: "It is early days but we have put the points on the board. I don't mind being up there near the top of the league to be shot at. We will see how good we are.

"I think the spirit and the determination we have here is excellent. The lads get along well together and work well together. It is everything I could ask for as a manager at the moment - and long may it continue."

Moore took particular satisfaction in seeing Tranmere dig out the victory over Luton with two late goals after trailing for most of the game. Rovers usually struggled when they went behind last season and had to wait until the end of March before recording a comeback victory.

"I think we have shown we have the bit between our teeth," Moore said.

"Friday night's game was a good advert for this division and I think we will look back at the end of the season and say what a good result it was.

"Luton are a very good side. They are going to be there or thereabouts at the finish. They have quality, pace and experience all over the field.

"But I still think we were the better side and deserved to win the game. We outfought them. I have nothing but praise for the character our lads showed."

Even so, Tranmere were trailing to a fifth minute goal from Luton's veteran striker Paul Furlong when Moore made a couple of decisive substitutions around three-quarter time.

Teenage prospect Craig Curran, a 71st minute replacement for target-man Gareth Taylor, fired Tranmere level on 83 minutes with an opportunist strike to follow his winner at Carlisle the previous weekend.

Then versatile defender Anthony Kay, on in place of midfielder Steve Jennings, headed the winner from Shane Sherriff's 87th minute free-kick.

Moore said: "I told the players at half-time that if we got a goal we could go on to win the game. We had four or five chances that did not go in. We changed things and it worked for us.

"It is all written for Craig at the moment. It's like Craig of the Rovers instead of Roy of the Rovers.

"Bringing Anthony Kay on gave us extra height in both penalty areas. When he gets forward, he is capable of scoring the type of goal that won the game for us. It was a real centre forward's header.

"But I think Gareth Taylor deserved big praise for his performance. He suffered a broken rib three weeks ago but he was willing to roll his sleeves up and play on Friday night because I wanted some extra strength up front. He led the line well and passed it well. His touch was good."

Moore paid tribute to the noisy Friday night crowd at Prenton Park, who kept the decibel levels high as Tranmere wore down Luton's resistance.

"The crowd got behind us and created an atmosphere," Moore said. "It was that special Friday night magic and we want to try and carry it on into Saturday games here."

I don't mind being up there near the top of the league, to be shot at

RONNIE MOORE

CAPTION(S):

Steve Davies fires in a shot at the Luton Town goal during Friday's 2-1 win Picture: MARTIN BIRCHALL