Tranmere Rovers manager Micky Mellon expects a difficult challenge when Rochdale visit Prenton Park on the opening day of the Sky Bet League One season on Saturday afternoon, 3pm kick-off.
TRFC welcome Brian Barry-Murphy’s Greater Manchester outfit to the Wirral as Rovers return to the third-tier for the first time since 2014.
And after back-to-back promotions, both coming in Play-Off Finals under the Wembley Stadium arch, Mellon is pleased that his side can kick-start their 2019/20 term in front of the SWA.
However, the Scotsman, 47, is wary of the threat that Rochdale, who begin their sixth consecutive year in Sky Bet League One, will possess.
Mellon said: “It’s great that the first game is at home and we can start the League One campaign with a big support at home, an enthusiastic support and it’s up to me and the players to make sure we go out and represent that properly.
“It will be a tough game as Rochdale are an established League One team with League One proven players who have done that at this level before.”
Mellon wants his squad to improve on the levels that they hit in 2018/19 as TRFC join a division where they will compete alongside the likes of Sunderland, Ipswich Town and Portsmouth.
He added: “We now have to improve on the levels that we were used to last year and go and take that challenge on and we are ready to do that, and we are excited by it.
“It is all about moving forward in football, it’s just about trying to keep looking forward and keep trying to improve and that’s what we just need to keep doing.”
Micky's full interview will be available on iFollow here
Let’s Pack the Park and get behind Micky and the lads as we start our Sky Bet League One journey!