Tranmere Rovers manager Keith Hill wants his players to “put on a winning display” for the returning SWA against Walsall at Prenton Park on Saturday afternoon.
Rovers will host a crowd for the first time since February, with up to 2,000 fans attending the Sky Bet League Two fixture with Darrel Clarke’s Saddlers.
And with Tranmere having won five matches in a row in the league following on from Tuesday night’s 1-0 victory away at Oldham Athletic, Hill wants to reward the Club’s faithful with three points this weekend.
Hill said: “From a player perspective, they want the 12th man, and they want to show how good they are. We have been brought up in an environment where supporters are a key component of any competitive game, so we are really pleased to see them reintroduced into the stadium.
“We are excited to hopefully put on a winning display for them on Saturday against Walsall.
“It means a lot. You are representing the community and you are representing the backbone of a football club. Throughout the years historically, fans have saved football clubs and we are just really pleased. The football world wants supporters to see a game of football again, a sport that they love.
“I don’t know from a psychological point of view how it’s affected the players. Obviously from Saturday onwards, fans are back in the stadium and I hope that the players can deal with the psychology of having supporters back in the stadium.
“I know the supporters have missed being in the stadium. It will be different again, but it will be better. The players are experienced, and these players want to show how good they are and their capabilities. They want that reward from the supporters, and there is an excitement for the supporters being allowed back into the stadium.
“The fans are very loud, they support the side and what I have witnessed since I’ve been in the area, on the training ground and in and around the stadium, the people in the area are superb, very warm and welcoming and I’ve found that really refreshing, so I’m excited for the supporters to be allowed back into the stadium.
“From my perspective, I’ve had great support already at the football club.”
Hill has been impressed with his squad since his arrival, who have carried on their recent run which started under Ian Dawes and Andy Parkinson’s interim stewardship.
He added: “The players are quick learners, we have come up with the right methods and formulas, with tactics, but we understand the players’ strengths and weaknesses, and vice versa, the players have taken on the information really well, and they’ve taken it into their performances.
“The atmosphere on the training pitch is a good one, it’s a learning environment and there is no complacency. They are a good group, they are very grounded and eager to win more games.”
“We are taking it each game at a time. Walsall have drawn nine games out of 15. I know Darrell Clarke really well and they try to play attractive football, but we have to concentrate on ourselves, it is the 16th league game of the season and we are really encouraged with our form going into the game.
“We are more focused on what we need to do rather than what Walsall can do.”
Keith’s pre-match Walsall thoughts and more exclusive video content is available on iFollow. CLICK HERE to sign up and watch.