Tranmere Rovers eased past Crewe Alexandra on Friday to move up to ninth in League Two. Rovers are the League’s in-form side right now and Micky Mellon’s team will be looking to continue this form.

Louis White was at Prenton Park to pick out five things we learned from Tranmere’s win over the Cheshire side.

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1) A solid defensive pairing 

That is now five wins on the bounce in the league for the Birkenhead side but also five consecutive clean sheets. The two new summer additions of Jordan Turnbull and Dynel Simeu have been vital to Tranmere’s recent form.

They say you should never fall in love with a loan player, however, it is clear already that Southampton loanee Simeu is already a fans’ favourite at Prenton Park. The 20-year-old managed to get on the scoresheet in the first half and win another man of the match award.

If both central defenders maintain their fitness and form throughout the 2022/23 season, then Tranmere can start to look up rather than down the table.  

2) Elliot Nevitt needs to start  

With his defence being perfect, Micky Mellon will also be delighted to see Elliot Nevitt come on and grab himself a brace. Last season, the 25-year-old striker was the Tranmere players player of the year, supporter’s player of the year and won the goal of the season award.

This all came after signing from Northern Premier League outfit Warrington Rylands 1906. This season, Nevitt has already scored some important goals for the White’s. Most notably, the Liverpudlian netted against the world’s richest club Newcastle United back in late August.  

Paul Lewis struggled up top for Tranmere on Friday night, but the home side looked a lot more threatening once the change took place in the 33rd minute. If all is well fitness wise, you would think a start for Nevitt in Rover’s Papa John’s Trophy tie against Crewe on Tuesday is inevitable.  

3) The ‘Mellon Out’ brigade has gone quiet  

Being on the Kop Stand on Friday night, it has been hard to believe how toxic it started to feel around the Wirral club in recent weeks. Fans were demanding changes from the top to the bottom of the club, starting with the Palios owners. However, tonight was all about the fans supporting their team.  

Mellon has turned his side’s fortunes on their head. Ever since the 1-0 win away at Salford City in mid-September, Tranmere are playing with confidence and appear to be wiser about how to get these wins.

Rovers did not allow Crewe to build any momentum, which was credit to the midfield pairing of Lee O’Connor and Christopher Merrie. Former Celtic and Ireland international O’Connor has been impressive when called upon in midfield, having started out as a right back. The 22-year-old from Waterford even managed to grab himself an assist for Nevitt’s second and Tranmere’s first. Even though his side’s media team had no idea who got the final touch!  

4) Mellon finding his strongest XI 

With Tranmere now starting to dominate games and pick up results, it is clear which players suit his way of playing more than others.  

The 4-4-2 formation suited the home side very well here. As the game went on, Mellon began to implement a high press as Crewe tried to play out from the back. The Tranmere manager has experimented with a 4-2-3-1 formation at times including his side’s 2-0 away win at Sutton United. This should make Tranmere fans feel far more confident and excited about their team and where they are.

In Mellon they have a coach who has several approaches to a game depending on the opposition. The Scot isn’t the type to be solely dependent on a plan A, a sign of a really disciplined coach.  

5) Prenton Park is bouncing again! 

The start of the season was a tough watch for the Prenton Park side. Two wins in their opening eight games was a much slower start to the season than anyone was hoping for. But hearing the atmosphere on Friday night, you would be forgiven for thinking they were top of the league. It was pure singing and good vibes for 90 minutes straight!  

Mellon has spent just over a decade at Tranmere, both as a player and in two stints as manager. He knows the club better than anyone and is responsible for giving the fans at Prenton Park something to be happy about.

What we can all take from Tranmere’s 3-0 win is that this side aren’t going to be a pushover for the remainder of the season – if everyone continues pulling in the same direction. 

 

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