Football: Let's put a bad week behind u; Chesterfield v Tranmere Today, kick off 3pm.

Byline: ROB BRADY

BRADY RIAN LITTLE will send his players into action today with the order - "don't make this my worst week in charge at Prenton Park."

The Rovers boss is keen to avoid his third consecutive defeat in eight days.

While he is still concerned by his side's impotent performance at Brentford last weekend, he was cheered by an improved attacking display in the second half of their Carling Cup exit to Scunthorpe on Tuesday.

But with just one win in their opening four league games, he knows the revival must continue at Saltergate if Tranmere are to keep touch with the division's early pacesetters.

A visit to second from bottom Chesterfield today, followed by a home match with Swindon Town on Monday, appear timely opportunities to gain six points.

"We have had a bad week so far," admitted Little. "It would be as bad a week as I've had since I've been here should we go to Chesterfield and not do well. We have a pretty straightforward directive to the players - try and get a result.

"I have to get over to them that if we can win today and again on Monday, we will be in a completely different position in the table. If you can string two or three wins together quickly in this division, you take a massive jump in the right direction.

"We are not too far away from changing the whole outlook and this weekend is a great opportunity to cheer everyone up."

Little is likely to be without midfield veterans Jason McAteer and Mark Rankine, but is tempted to give Birmingham City loanee Alex Bruce his first start on the right side of defence.

The manager said: "The two experienced midfield players being out will have some bearing on how we balance the team.

"Alex is very close to starting this weekend. It will be determined by what system we play. He has settled in and knows what we are about. I have no hesitation in saying he is ready." The manager wants to see a repetition of the forward play Rovers put on in the cup at Glanford Park, but combined with more solid defending.

"Our attitude and determination was spot on the other night at Scunthorpe," he said. "We were very competitive. We were brave in our play as well, with wing backs and centre backs attacking. We were flat out trying to win the game.

"The system worked for long periods, but there was a spell when our two wider attackers defended a little too deeply and left Chris Greenacre isolated. The main disappointment was that we conceded two poor goals, just as we did at Brentford."

Chesterfield have badly missed manager Roy McFarland, who has been absent from the club for almost a fortnight with mumps. They have lost all their matches since an opening day 3-1 win at Blackpool.

In captain Shane Nicholson, Paul Hall, Wayne Allison, and Reuben Hazell, they have four ex-Rovers players who face their old club this afternoon.

Despite their poor start to the season, Little has warned that the Spireites remain a threat.

He said: "They are still scoring goals, but they are conceding too many. They are actually playing pretty well, but giving away bad goals. They will be reflecting on that

Hotshots

Niven .......................... 2 goals Greenacre ...................... 3 goals

BadBoys

Allott ....................4 yellow 0 red Mark Rankine ............ 3 yellow 0 red

Sick Bay

Bailey (knee) Downes (ankle) Zola (foot) McAteer (thigh) Rankine (Achilles

Referee

Mike Pike (Cumbria

Odds

Home win .........................9/5 Draw ............................. 9/4 Away win .........................11/8

Last Season

Chesterfield 2 .............Tranmere 2 Blatherwick Logan Jackson Dadi

How They Stand

Prenton Peril

Paul Hall Rovers know all about the threat the former Jamaica international poses - he netted 12 goals for the club last season.

The Spireites deploy the versatile Hall on the right wing and his dribbles into the penalty area will need to be checked

CAPTION(S):

CRUCIAL MISSION: Tranmere boss Brian Little is desperate to avoid a third consecutive defeat