TRANMERE boss' Micky Adams said the squad must take on board lessons learned from a midweek beating by Portsmouth when they face Cheltenham tomorrow.

Rovers go to Whaddon Road in 20th place in the division with an away record of three wins, four draws and nine defeats. Victory on Saturday could lift Adams' side as high as 17th.

Cheltenham are 23rd on the league table, three points behind Tranmere. At home they have won three, drawn seven and lost six.

Rovers conceded three second half goals in quick succession to fall to a 3-2 defeat against Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Tuesday night.

Reflecting on his squad's performance during a press conference at Prenton Park, Micky Adams said: "The last 15 minutes was a bitter pill to swallow, really, but we've got to get over it, learn the lessons and move on.

"We've got work to do on our defence and have got to improve. As long as the players understand where they've lost it, then we'll make progress.

"I'm learning about everybody on a game-to-game basis, and certainly the mentality of defenders has got to change.

"I think they're too nice at times, don't demand enough off eachother, accept things too easily and it costs you.

"We've got to get tougher with eachother and words have got to be said sometimes. You can't always sugarcoat it.

"I'm looking for the players to demand more from eachother and understand where they're going wrong.

"I still expect the same principles put into place about the way we defend, regardless of whether we're 2-0 up or 3-0 down. The principles remain the same."

Josh Thompson will miss tomorrow's match after being concussed during Tuesday night's fixture at Portsmouth while Rob Taylor is a doubt with a hamstring injury.

Marcus Holness is out of action with a knee injury, Matt Hill is out with a problem Achilles tendon and Cole Stockton is waiting for a hernia operation all miss out.

Assessing this weekend's opponents, Adams said: "At the beginning of the season they were well-fancied, but have had a change of manager - two managers - in a season, which tells its own story.

"That's never good for continuity and not good for trying to produce results.

"But they are down where they are and will be fighting for their lives, very much like we are.

"We put nearly two back-to-performances together. We need to go to Whaddon with no excuses, try to have a go and try to win the game.

"You see it in all leagues; the top boys go through little spells and I'm not saying we've gone through it because we put two back-to-back performances together against two good sides."