Last updated 12:47, Thursday, 02 October 2008

TRANMERE defender Andrew Taylor claims the Wirral club’s mediocre league position does not tell the full story of their start to the season.

Tranmere’s Andy Taylor in action against Colchester

The full-back believes Ronnie Moore’s men are playing better than the standings suggest, and they come to Brunton Park brimming with confidence.

Rovers arrive in Cumbria on the back of a bizarre 4-3 home defeat to Colchester last Friday in which Taylor scored a freak goal when visiting ‘keeper Dean Gerken fumbled a long free-kick over the line.

They have managed three wins from their opening eight games, but Taylor warned they are close to finding the winning formula.

“I don’t think the results change the fact that we’ve been playing pretty well in the last few weeks,” Taylor said.

“We have just got to stay positive. It is early days yet and there isn’t a lot wrong with the way we have been playing.”

Boss Moore is understood to be weighing up a return to the 4-5-1 formation which earned his side a 1-0 win at Brunton Park in the corresponding fixture last season.

That could see dangerous frontman Chris Greenacre reverting to a midfield role with giant target man Bas Savage leading the line.

Winger Chris Shuker, a one-time United target, has had to be content with a place on the bench in recent weeks. But another man once coveted by the Blues, Ian Moore, is set to start.

On Rovers’ victory on their last visit to Carlisle, Taylor added: “I hadn’t joined Tranmere at that point, but the lads who were here say it was a good performance.

“I would like to think we can repeat that. We are playing well enough to get a result there.”

Probable starting XI: Coyne, Shotton, Chorley, Goodison, Taylor, Moore, Kay, Jennings, Sonko, Savage, Greenacre.