TRANMERE Rovers returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Macclesfield on Boxing Day.

Goals from Steve McNulty and Michael Ihiekwe were enough to see Gary Brabin's squad bring the points back to Wirral.

Brabin had made one change to the starting eleven with Matt Hill replacing Liam Ridehalgh at left back.

Cole Stockton returned to the squad following his loan at Southport and took a place on the bench.

Rovers made a positive start and opened the scoring on five minutes.

James Norwood forced a good save out of Shwan Jalal for a Tranmere corner and Adam Mekki's set piece was met by a towering header by Steve McNulty who sent the ball in off the post.

Macclesfield's first effort on goal saw Paul Lewis try his luck from 25 yards but his shot was straight at Scott Davies who saved.

On 33 minutes, the division's top goalscorer Kristian Dennis forced Davies into a smart save at his near post as the hosts tried to get back in the game.

The hosts equalised on the stroke of half time when a cross from the right was headed home by Dennis.

Rovers retook the lead when Adam Mekki with another right wing corner found Michael Ihiekwe at the near post who thundered a header past Jalal.

Macclesfield were reduced to 10 men with three minutes remaining as Paul Lewis was sent off for a second bookable offence as Tranmere played the game out to take all three points.

Gary Brabin said after the game: "It was a deserved victory today. We've almost got a siege mentality because we don't get anything so we have to work our socks off for everything.

"We're going to have a siege mentality, stick together and that's the type of battling performance we expect and want and I'm delighted we got the right result.

"We stuck together and, when we could, we played some good football and created loads of chances. James Norwood is gutted because he hasn't scored at least one.

"We looked comfortable for the first half an hour but the last 15 minutes of the first half, we got a little bit sloppy and we allowed them back into the game.

"We've worked hard on set plays and today we were clinical in the box from them and it's always nice to get those type of goals."

Brabin also had praise for the supporters who, again, turned out in great numbers to back the team on Boxing Day.

More than 900 Rovers' supporters were present at Macclesfield's Moss Rose ground.

Brabin said: "I thought our fans were absolutely outstanding. It's great when we have our support behind us like they were today."

Rovers Christmas fixture programme continues with a game against Altrincham at Prenton Park on Monday. It starts at 3pm.