TRANMERE boss Micky Mellon has urged his players to forget about the fall out from last week's fiery encounter with Carlisle which ended with nine man Rovers conceding an added time equaliser. 

Things boiled over at Prenton Park after home defender Calum MacDonald was dismissed late in the first half for a dangerous challenge on Kelvin Mellor.

It was followed by a large scale melee involving players from both sides.

The hosts had taken the lead through Kane Hemmings, and then for a second time via Elliott Nevitt after Omari Patrick’s equaliser.

Kieron Morris became the second home player to be red-carded for a dangerous challenge on Rod McDonald shortly before sub Sho-Silva scored in the 98th minute.

Tranmere confirmed this week that left-back MacDonald and midfielder Morris will both be suspended for Saturday's meeting with Bristol Rovers after their bid to have the two red cards they received rescinded.

And to make matters worse the Prenton Park club have seen one of the suspensions - to Morris - increased by a game.

"We're very disappointed," said Mellon. "The reason we put in the appeal was because we believed we would be successful.

"It's not gone our way and we have to accept that and move on. It's not just the sendings off that we believe were wrong but now we will lose Morris for four games which is ridiculous really."

Following the match Mellon was scathing about the decisions of referee Charles Breakspear with Carlisle boss Paul Simpson criticising the behaviour of the crowd towards his bench calling them "hostile" and their language "horrible". 

Mellon said: "I have to be careful what I say because I don't want to get the club into trouble but there are people in football who I respect who were at the game and they understand why that atmosphere was created.

"It never started like that and we all know why it was created and there was no need for it.

"It was never a game that was like that so now it's the responsibility of people who can do what they did to that game to go away and learn about what can happen if you don't understand how the two groups of players are going to go at a game like that."

Fifth-placed Bristol Rovers head to Prenton Park with no shortage of confidence after a fine comeback win over Bradford City last time out with just two points separating the clubs in the League Two play-off positions.

"The players are giving it everything they've got and they'll continue to do that," said Mellon. "If they have more determination in them and they hadn't been using it you'd question them but they have always been a hard working group.

"Last minute goals are tough at the time I won't lie but one of the abilities you learn in football is resiliance and you have to keep going and go again.

"We've talked about it to see if there's something we can improve on and now we hope to show those improvements in the next game.

"We worked so hard and were seconds away from the win and credit to the players for working so hard when we down to ten men and then nine men for so long.

"I have nothing but admiration for the way the players attacked the game."

Rovers currently sit seventh in League Two in a tightly contested race for promotion as five points separate fourth from 11th.

"Every game is must win," added Mellon. "You don't know until the end of the season how important a game is but obviously we know this is an important game and an exciting game but I look at it with optimism.

"Every player, manager and fan wants to make sure they are in the shake up at the end of the season and we are - we're in it.

"What we need to do is make sure we stay there and try to win games in order to do that.

"Everyone keeps telling me how well other teams are doing and nobody seems to talk about us but we are right in the middle of it all. 

"Obviously we haven't had the results recently we would've wanted but we are still in that shake up and deservedly so."