Micky Mellon spoke to the local press after New Year’s Day’s 1-0 defeat at the Mornflake Stadium against Crewe Alexandra.
Mellon spoke about the disappointment of the defeat; chances not being put away and the how the January transfer window will look for Tranmere Rovers.
“When you’re on top as much as we were in the first half, it’s disappointing to lose. We weren’t good enough in those vital moments – we were good enough to get to those moments and to create good chances, but we couldn’t put the ball away.
“We gave them something to hang onto and to be fair to Crewe, they worked really hard, but we weren’t good enough to put the ball in the net. However, everything else, I think we did well enough, and it was all about us – but we couldn’t get that vital touch.”
Rovers had two stand-out chances in the 90 minutes, with Elliott Nevitt and Joel Mumbongo both having chances to score the opener for Tranmere – but couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.
“You’ve got to take those chances. It’s no good me saying anything else – when the opportunities come, and we get into the good positions and create those chances, then you must score the first goal.
“The goal that we gave away is, from our point of view, a poor header. The Crewe player has struck it very well; however we must do much better with the header. But that was in the 30th minute and we were very much on top at that point, and we have to hold ourselves responsible for not getting that first goal when we’re on top.”
Mellon was asked about his options on the bench to extend his attacking force, and the decision to bring on Jon Nolan to attempt to change the game and get that decisive goal.
“We have no other strikers. The lads on the bench are defenders and midfield players, so attacking-wise, we didn’t have anything else. We tried to move things around with Jon Nolan on the bench and tried to get him on the ball, which I think he did, with some good little passes – but if you don’t take the first goal and get on top like we should have, then it’s very difficult. We weren’t good enough to put the ball in the net.”
From today, the January Transfer Window has opened for Sky Bet League Two and Mellon expressed his need to strengthen the front line during the window.
“For sure, we need attacking options. We’re light in that area of the pitch and we have been all season, and we’ll look to see if we can bring bodies in over the next few days and weeks, and we can do something about that. We’ll need to wait and see. I think we’d have to move some players out before we can do that though and shape the squad around – but that’s not easy.”
“However, I don’t think that was the story of today’s game. You’ve got to get the first goal. We were helped by our magnificent support, and I feel like we, including me, have let them down by not getting that first goal when we were well on top. Being clinical in the 18-yard box is vital, and we just weren’t able to do that.”
Rovers have picked up 6 points out of a possible 9 over the festive period, after wins against Doncaster Rovers and Barrow – however just fell short of the maximum points with the defeat at Crewe.
“You want to be greedy and win all 3 games. At the end of the day, it’s a sore one, to come here after playing like we have done in the last two games and lose. But we weren’t good enough to put the ball in the net, and if you can’t do that then you are going to find it difficult to win games.”