Dagenham & Redbridge 0 ... Tranmere 4

MICKY Mellon heaped praise on his strike force after terrific Tranmere trounced Dagenham & Redbridge in their own back yard and kept Rovers' promotion hopes on course.

Forwards Andy Cook and James Norwood scored two goals each without return in a superb second half display that keeps the Birkenhead club third in the National League, albeit they are still seven points behind in-form leaders Macclesfield town.

An impressive debut in midfield from new signing Drissa Traore and the return of long-term absentee James Wallace gave the Super White Army plenty of reason to be optimistic for the run-in, but it was the old boys Cook and Norwood who showed a touch of class in front of goal, as Mellon acknowledged.

He said: "All credit to the boys and supporters today who drove them on.

"It's a massive result and at a good time.

"I thought they (Cook and Norwood) were excellent. They were brilliant.

"They led the line well, linked really well and scored two each.

"I'd be nit-picking if I asked for any more from them.

"I'm pleased for them and the whole group.

"They looked a threat from the first whistle. The mentality was great.

"They worked had to try and be a pair and lead from the front.

"They set the standard right the way through the whole team. They've given a very professional performance at very difficult place to come."

With last week’s match against Gateshead postponed, Rovers had not kicked a ball for two weeks, but Mellon made four changes to the side that won at Maidstone.

Steve McNulty, Liam Ridehalgh and on-loan winger Josh Ginnelly all returned to the side, but the big talking point was the inclusion of imposing former Forest Green midfielder Traore for his maiden appearance.

Ritchie Sutton and Ben Tollitt had to settle for a place on the bench where they were joined for the first time this season by James Wallace who, thanks to injury, has not been seen on a team sheet since last May.

Connor Jennings tried his luck twice from distance early doors but didn’t cause Daggers' 'keeper Mark Cousins too much trouble before Luke Pennell headed a free kick just wide at the other end when he really should have given the hosts the lead.

When Jennings had his pocket picked in his own penalty area Dagenham should have been one up, but Fejiri Okenabihrie won't want to see replay of the move, as he somehow managed to head a cross over a gaping net from five yards out.

Traore tested the palms of Cousins before Ridehalgh curled a free kick over the bar as Tranmere continued to push forward on the front foot.

But it wasn't until early in the second half when Cook broke the deadlock, turning in Jennings' low bi-line cross from six yards.

From there on in it was all Tranmere and with little over 20 minutes to play the game was put to bed.

First Norwood opened his account for the day with a delightful dink over Cousins before Cook grabbed his 17th league goal of the season with superb trademark curling effort two minutes later.

The goal cushion allowed Mellon to introduce Wallace for a 10-minute cameo, with Jay Harris making way, gaining the fit-again play-maker some vital minutes under his belt.

Ridehalgh went close to scoring when he picked off an opponent’s pass and drove a shot just wide of the post.

But there was still time late on for Norwood to grab his second of the match – and Rovers' fourth – when he accepted Cook's flick on and quickly turned the ball past Cousins into the net, finishing off a satisfactory afternoon's work.

After the match, Mellon also had words of praise for debutant Traore, who shone in front of the 359 travelling supporters.

He said: "I thought he was excellent. He did everything that we knew he was capable of doing.

"Great composure and quality in the middle of the pitch. I'm loathe not to mention everybody because right the way through the whole side (they were great)."

Victories for Macclesfield and Sutton United elsewhere meant that Rovers did not gain any ground in their pursuit of the solitary automatic promotion spot at the weekend, but successive away wins on the back of that disappointing home defeat to the league-leaders last month will have done the plenty to restore the hopes of both players and supporters alike.

With nine games left it's still all to play for.