TRANMERE head over the border to take on high-flying Wrexham this Saturday full of confidence after beating two of the Welsh side's promotion rivals in recent weeks.

A sold out away following of over 1,100 Rovers fans will make the short trip to North Wales for the first time in six years with Tranmere looking to maintain its unbeaten run at the STōK Cae Ras stretching back to 1988. 

Nigel Adkins’ side are unbeaten in their last three, most recently dispatching league leaders Mansfield Town 2-1 at Prenton Park in midweek, hot on the heels of a 4-0 win over Stockport County last month. 

Wrexham are second in League Two and drew 0-0 with Harrogate Town at home on Tuesday night and Adkins is expecting a close game.

"Momentum is with us," said Adkins. "In November that big ball was rocking in the wrong direction and I asked everyone to grab hold of it and try and get that forward momentum. 

"From when I took over permanently we've had the third most amount of wins so consistently we've been winning and we've scored the second most amount of goals in the division - we score goals, create chances and we're exciting to watch.

"Stockport, Mansfield and Wrexham will be the three teams that go up automatically and given the finances that carry them that's probably about right.

"It will be a tough game because it's away from home but we know we can win away from home and we know we can beat the teams at the top end of the table.

"On any given day we know we can beat anybody but Wrexham are a strong side and they're a big side. They're a big threat from set pieces and they have the ability to score from open play because they play out from the back - they're a good side with a good experienced manager in Phil Parkinson so we're under no illusions about what we've got to be mindful of. 

"At the same time we're in good form ourselves and it's a local derby which gives it that added bit of spice for the supporters - whoever goes out there in a Tranmere shirt, we go there representing Tranmere and will do everything we can to win." 

The rivalry between Wrexham and Tranmere is a historic and deep rooted one with the the clubs having played each other over 100 times in the Football League.

Adkins said: "I know it's a close rivalry for the supporters and I hope everyone behaves.

"I watched the game between Wrexham and Harrogate and yes, it was goalless, but Wrexham are a good side.

"But we want to go there and score but I'm quite happy with how we play when we haven't got the ball and I hope the fans are appreciative of that - Wrexham will build their play from the back and if we try to close them down individually they'll just pick us off for fun. Likewise, if we go charging in there they can play direct as well so we have to make sure we get our defensive resolve right. 

"On paper the the size and strength of the squad and the finances that Wrexham have got puts them at an advantage but as well know we're not playing on paper we're playing in grass."

 

Adkins caused some amusement on social media following the Mansfield game when he quoted new age philosopher Deepak Chopra when saying: “The past is history, the future is a mystery, and this moment is a gift. That is why this moment is called ‘the present’.”

Widely shared, the clip went viral, with many adding that the quote was also used in the 2008 film Kung Fu Panda.

"I haven't got a clue what Kung Fu Panda is," added Adkins. "I've been saying that for years even back to my days at Scunthorpe.

"During lockdown I was doing a walk every morning and filming me talking and I know a lot of people appreciated that at the time and that was one of the things I used to say quite a lot.

"It was a challenging time for everybody so just being in that present moment is an important thing. I wasn't consciously aware that I was quoting Kung Fu Panda. 

"I'm well read and educated and there are a lot of things stored up there - I remember at Southampton when we were in the Premier League and we'd just got beaten by West Ham and I'd just done a two hour press conference and somebody asked me a question and I recited The Man In The Glass by Dale Wimbrow because I love a bit of poetry.

"If it puts a smile on one person's face than I'm happy and if it helps someone through a difficult situation I'm happy."