TRANMERE Rovers take their battle for League One survival to the wire this weekend and fans are being rallied to turn out in force.

The squad's hopes of staying in the league were dealt a severe blow after a 2-0 defeat at Leyton Orient on Saturday.

The result placed John McMahon's squad in the relegation zone on 47 points, one behind Crewe who sit above them in the table.

They face Bradford in their final game of the season at Prenton Park on Saturday, but are relying on slip-ups by Crewe or Notts County to retain League One status.

Issuing a battle cry to fans to get behind the team, McMahon said this morning: "We're preparing for what is going to be a massive game and need the full support of everyone.

"We need the club to lift the players, and the players to lift their colleagues and the fans.

"I can't recall a season when so much has gone wrong. But hopefully we can put that behind us on Saturday.

"It's a situation that's out of our hands in some respects, but we've absolutely got to make sure we do all we can to win.

"The fans' support away from home has been fantastic and we need to repeat that at Prenton Park on Saturday.

"We're at home and the focus is on winning.

"We’ve got to come off the tracks and get ourselves in the game early.

"Hopefully, come five o’clock on Saturday, we will have retained our League One position.

"Everyone who cares about the club needs to be here.

"It will make for a great atmosphere that will lift the club."

Rovers' last away game of the season at Leyton Orient saw them conceding shortly before half-time.

Despite improving early in the second half, a long range strike from Chris Dagnall sealed the points for the hosts.

Promotion hopefuls Orient took the lead a minute from the half-time whistle. Matthew Pennington had blocked a shot from David Mooney and Scott Cuthbert's header from the corner was saved by Fon Williams.

But Kevin Lisbie reacted quickly to turn in from close range. Orient's second goal came on 76 minutes.

The hosts pressed and forced Steve Jennings to play the ball back to Fon Williams.

His clearance landed at the feet of former Rovers striker Chris Dagnall, who fired a shot into the empty net from 35 yards. McMahon blamed "silly defensive errors" for the defeat.