By Jon Colman

Last updated 11:36, Saturday, 04 October 2008

Carlisle United boss John Ward will lock horns with Ronnie Moore today – more than 30 years after they went head-to-head in the goalscoring charts.

Tranmere boss Moore and Ward were prolific marksman in the old Fourth Division and were involved in a race for the top-scorer’s crown in 1975/6.

And Ward is hoping for a different outcome when they clash as rival managers this afternoon.

“Ronnie was a centre-forward at Tranmere and I was a centre-forward at Lincoln City,” recalled Ward. “He finished top of the goalscoring charts in 1975/6, and I came second.

“We were competing even then. He was a strong centre-forward – big, bustling, with a good touch, and he got goals. I was the type that liked to play off a big guy like that. Maybe we would have been a good pairing.

“I’ve known Ronnie a long time. You don’t stay in the game at this level for so long unless you’ve got something about you.

“We’re both trying to bounce back this weekend and it will be an interesting battle.”

Ward has pinpointed giant Tranmere striker Bas Savage as Rovers’ key man this afternoon and warns the 6ft 3in frontman could cause havoc if he is not watched carefully by his rearguard.

“He will cause some chaos at times challenging for the ball,” said Ward. “We’ve got to try and stop the service better than we did at Walsall.

“And we’ve got to compete and get around the second balls, because that’s when Chris Greenacre gets on them and can be effective.

“We watched Tranmere last Friday against Colchester, and a 4-3 defeat suggests they’ve got strength at the front and problems at the back. They may look at us and think the same thing, because we’ve let in a few more goals than we would like.”

Ward wants his side to play a high-tempo game this afternoon in order to keep the visitors on the back foot.

“I’m looking for the game to be bright and quick,” he said. “We’ve played that sort of football at home and I’m looking for that lift.

“We got a bit sorry for ourselves last weekend, there wasn’t a lot of leadership to say, ‘I’m going to be the player who sets it off’. We need to stand up and be counted a bit.

“Let’s play with some tempo and encourage ourselves and our supporters.”