Micky Mellon: Tranmere full value for point against Stags

Posted Wednesday, August 22, 2018 by PA

Micky Mellon felt his Tranmere side had earned a derserved point after playing out an entertaining goalless draw against Mansfield at Prenton Park.

The visitors arguably had the best chances in the second half when Otis Khan and Tyler Walker both missed golden opportunities to take all three points back to Nottinghamshire.

But Rovers responded well and were lucky not to nick a win themselves with a sustained period of late pressure. The stalemate keeps Mansfield unbeaten this season.

Mellon said: “It was a very good game of football. We’re looking for a measurement of where we’re at and we knew that Swindon and tonight’s game would possibly show us where we are in the pecking order in terms of the division.

“To come out and play the way we did, with the tempo that we did for the whole game was terrific.

“Did any team really deserve to lose in a game like that? A good sportsman would probably say that it would be harsh on either one.

“I think we shaded it second half. We were certainly the one on the front foot but they had a chance when we slipped and they had a one-v-one with Scotty, but all in all we represented the fans properly and played some terrific football.

“We probably shaded it in a really good game but credit to both sets of players.”

Stags’ boss David Flitcroft said: “I think it was a real open game second half. The first half was a cagey affair where they sat off, but the start that Tranmere had in the second half, they came at us and that seemed to suit us because the game really opened up and became stretched.

“The chances that we’ve created – the header and the one-v-one – the only person you want on that ball at that time is Tyler Walker with his finishing quality and prowess.

“I thought you would just see the back of the net ripple. We had to work really hard for the opportunities.

“When you see the game open up and you see Otis (Khan) with just the keeper to beat, with his technical ability, he’s just lost his composure a little.

“When you don’t score them it’s really important that you don’t concede and you get that clean sheet.”