Tranmere Rovers manager Micky Mellon has urged his side to “embrace” the task of Sunderland away ahead of Tuesday night’s Sky Bet League One fixture at the Stadium of Light.
Rovers head up to the North East for a midweek clash under the floodlights, aiming for a second successive win on their travels.
Standing in Tranmere’s way are a Sunderland outfit who will be looking to get back on track under new boss Phil Parkinson, who takes charge of his first home game.
Speaking ahead of making the journey to Wearside, Mellon is looking forward to seeing Rovers test themselves at the Black Cats.
Mellon said: “It’s fantastic, we worked so hard for promotion for us to go and take part in these types of games, so you have to make sure that you go and take part, to embrace it and test yourself in that environment.
“It is against one of the biggest clubs in the division but it is important that we attack it. We’ll have a look where we’re at as a team, we know where we are as a Club, we’re a fantastic Club, but we’re going to attack it and I’m expecting us to go up there and give a really good show of ourselves.
“Anything that you’ll take in order to try and get a better result, we’ll try and do that. We have to concentrate on ourselves and get ourselves right, and if we get ourselves right, we’ll be a force to compete with anybody.
“We know what a good side they are, what a big club they are, and it’s always difficult to go up to places like the Stadium of Light so we know the threats are there, but we are Tranmere and we’ll make sure that we go up and try and do this Club justice, and go and try to bring back the points.”
Over 500 of the SWA will follow Rovers on the road to Sunderland, and Mellon knows the backing they will give to the lads.
He added: “They’ll turn up in big numbers at the Stadium of Light. They’ll still get behind us and they’ll still make themselves known, and there will be no doubt that the people of Sunderland will know that Tranmere are here as they get right behind us for away games, so it will be great.”
Micky’s pre-match interview will be available on iFollow. CLICK HERE to sign up and watch!