TRANMERE Rovers manager Micky Mellon has praised fans' support ahead of this weekend's national league game against Braintree Town.

Taking place on Saturday at the IronmongeryDirect Stadium it comes a week after Rovers' hopes of victory were dashed by an injury-time equaliser at the end of a pulsating derby against Chester at Prenton Park.

During a press conference at the club this afternoon, Mellon told the Globe: "The fans support is always crucial. What I loved about Saturday was that it was an opportunity for us to show everybody what we are as a football club.

"Certainly on Saturday I think this club flexed its muscles and showed what a very very good football club it is.

"The amount of supporters here and the atmosphere here and the way the whole operation was run was fantastic.

"It was a pity about the last-minute goal that day, but everything else was terrific." 

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The Braintree game marks the start of a busy week for his squad.

It will be followed by a trip to Forest Green on Tuesday and home match against Torquay a week on Saturday.

Mellon said that despite the busy schedule, his players will take each game at a time and the next one will always be the most important.

Looking forward to what promises to be a tough game on Saturday, he said: "The next game is the biggest game for us so we'll go down to Braintree and try and get a positive result.

"We will respect our opponents as we always do and know that we're going to get another tough game down there.

"The prize for every game is three points and is very valuable to us, so while there will be games which are slightly higher profile, the prize remains the same.

"It's a massive week, an opportunity for us to gather nine points from three games.

"We'll not into it and not rush, like we do every game. Get them recovered and then into the next game.

"Players would rather play anyway than train. So I'm not too disappointed that we've got a little batch of games coming up."

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Winger Ben Tollitt is unavailable due to suspension following Saturday's derby against Chester while striker Connor Jennings and midfielder Steven Jennings will miss out through knee injuries.

The manager says that he is happy with the squad to cover such absences.

He added: "Apart from Connor and Steven, everyone else has trained with us so they will be available.

"We've never moaned about injuries or suspensions, we just get on with it because we trust the group to come in and do a good job for us."

During the press conference, Mellon praised former Rovers' defender Aaron Cresswell, who made his England debut on Tuesday night during their international friendly against Spain.

The 26-year-old, now at West Ham United, came on as second half substitute in the game at Wembley, which ended 2-2 for Gareth Southgate's squad.

Cresswell (pictured, below) came through Rovers' Academy system and progressed into the first team. He is one of many players to go on to have good careers at the top level.

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Picture: Action Images/Tranmere Rovers FC

Mellon said: "The football is very very proud of Aaron and fans will be aswell.

"Everybody knows how Tranmere relies on and does very well from its youth policy; it has to.

"He's one of a very very long list that has gone on to achieve huge success.

"An awful lot of credit to Aaron for the hard work he's put in.

"We're very very proud of the part Tranmere has played in his success."