Mickey Mellon says Tranmere’s point at Newport could be crucial
Posted Sunday, April 07, 2019 by PA
Tranmere manager Micky Mellon believes their hard-fought point at Newport will prove valuable in the promotion run-in.
Mark Ellis powered a header onto the crossbar in the 13th minute as Tranmere looked to get back on track following their first defeat in nine games.
Substitute Chris Dagnall hit the post in the second half after County goalkeeper Joe Day let a corner slip through his hands five yards from his own goal.
Joss Labadie thought he had won it for Newport in the 87th minute but assistant referee Lisa Rashid flagged for offside.
The 0-0 draw left Tranmere in fifth place in League Two, four points off the automatic-promotion spots.
“The teams above us lost so we’ve gained a point on them, I’m over the moon,” said Mellon.
“If you had asked me if I’d have taken that before kick-off I would have absolutely bitten your hand off.
“The next four games are at home so we will really attack them now. We knew we had two difficult away games that we wanted to take more points away from, but we can take heart that those above us have lost.
“We’re going to keep fighting, we’re not getting carried away, you don’t get anything in football unless you fight for it so we’ll just keep on going.
“We didn’t do enough to win it today but to come away from here with a point at a tough place to play against a team fighting in last-chance saloon to reach the play-offs was always going to be difficult.”
Newport remain six points away from the top seven ahead of Tuesday night’s clash with Swindon, and manager Mike Flynn is hoping his side can be more clinical in front of goal.
“It was a good solid performance with nothing spectacular in the final third but I thought we played some really good football against a team who are firmly in the play-offs,” he said.
“We were the better team without being at our best, so it was a little bit frustrating. The pitch didn’t help, the ball seemed to bobble every time we went to put a cross in.
“They hit the woodwork twice, they might be frustrated, but that was all they had. There weren’t many scary moments.
“Their performance had the look of a team coming for a draw, there was only one team trying to win it and we saw that.
“We’ll keep going, they’re all big games now whether you’re down the bottom, in mid-table or fighting for promotion.
“The boys defended well and their effort was there but the only thing missing was the final third.”
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