Joel Mumbongo spoke to the local press after Monday afternoon’s 3-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers.
The striker, who made his first league start in a Tranmere shirt on Boxing Day, displayed his appreciation for the entire team performance, as well as his gratitude to be back out on the pitch in front of a packed Prenton Park.
“It feels amazing. It’s been a lot of hard work to get to this point, but it’s a massive win for the team, and I’m just happy to be on the pitch and to play my part.
“We knew from the start that if we wanted to win this game then we had to play as a team. If that means dropping and defending, then that is what we will have to do. f that means me winning headers and holding the ball up, then that Is what we must do.”
“I always try and take responsibility to use my size and strength to create opportunities. If we work as a team and utilise the things that we are good at then results will come.”
Tranmere picked up their first three points since mid-October this afternoon, with goals from Kieron Morris, Kane Hemmings and Paul Lewis securing the win on the Wirral.
“It’s amazing – it’s nice to get a win and that’s what we needed. We need to keep working, doing the right things both off the pitch and on the pitch of course.
“We knew this was going to be a big game. The whole week in training leading up to Boxing Day was that the focus was on winning the game. When the game started, we knew what we needed to do, and we had one job – to get three points.”
Micky Mellon’s side have not been blessed with injuries so far this season, with many senior players being out for extended periods of time.
“I have done my work off the pitch, and I need to keep working. I feel good, the body feels good, and I have had the conversation with the manager and the medical team every day to ensure that I am fit.”
Rovers take the trip up to Cumbria in the final game of 2022 on Thursday evening, where Barrow attempt to prevent Tranmere from taking all three points back to the Wirral peninsula – a win for either team would set them in good stead ahead of New Year’s Day fixtures.
“I’m ready for Thursday – I want games, I’m happy, we want the games to come. We have the belief in the squad – we know what we’re capable of doing – we must work as a team and the results will come.
“Consistency is key. This is a great start and I feel like we had a great week coming up to this game – we have to work as a team. A team performance wins the game and we need to take this momentum into Thursday night.”
Mumbongo started in the centre-forward role this afternoon alongside captain, Kane Hemmings, in a pairing which looked positive for Rovers fans to look forward to better things to come in the striking department in the upcoming games.
“We work well together, and we showed that today – from defending, pressing and creating chances. That’s what you need when you play two up front – for them to work together and play off each other.
“Training is important – we work on communication and link-up play, and if something isn’t right, we will talk about it. We need to deliver what the game brings though – if the game asks me to win headers, I must win headers, and if the game asks me to hold the ball up, I must hold the ball up. It’s easy to say what I like to do, the way I like to play, but when the game comes, you have to go with the flow.”