Tranmere Rovers manager Micky Mellon was pleased to see his team get off the mark with a 1-0 win against Walsall.
Callum McManaman’s second half strike sealed the win for TRFC, despite Rovers finishing the game with ten men after Chris Merrie’s red card, the man who assisted McManaman for the goal.
Speaking in his post match press conference, Mellon said: “I was pleased with everyone’s performances today. We worked very hard as a unit and we looked a nice unit all day.
“We played some good football, when we had to defend 1v1, we did this very well. We had a couple of chances where we could have made it a bit more comfortable for ourselves but it was a really keenly contested game between two sides really up for it.
“It was a great atmosphere, it was brilliant to see supporters back in the stadium and last time I had supporters was with Tranmere at Blackpool last year and I have been away for a year, so it was amazing!
“It was a good start for us, that is all that it is. We can build from this and we will enjoy the weekend and move into Monday now.”
Mellon moved on to discuss Merrie’s red card. He added: “I am a long way away from the red card decision, but I always think that if it is reckless then I don’t want to see people getting hurt.
“I do think that the boy (Chris Merrie), who had a fantastic game has slid for the ball to win possession, not to hurt anyone. I need to see the decision back again, but my first thought was that if it was anything, it would be a yellow.
“I would never ask anyone to hurt another player but his intentions were to slide, as you are allowed to do in football, and win the ball.”