TRANMERE Rovers host Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday looking for a sixth consecutive home league victory.

Nigel Adkins’ side beat Notts County 4-2 at Prenton Park on New Year’s Day to extend their run at Prenton Park although they were defeated 1-0 away to Barrow last weekend.

Rovers haven’t lost a home match in the division since October, which has helped them to climb away from the bottom two. 

MK Dons are eighth in League Two after a resurgence under new boss Mike Williamson, who joined the club three months ago, replacing Mark Jackson.

The Buckinghamshire side were nine league games unbeaten before a 3-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers on New Years Day but are level on points with the play off places. 

"We got a good performance against Barrow who are undefeated at home," said Adkins. "It was always going to be challenging and it was a super strike from the lad who scored. You could tell in the dressing room afterwards how disappointed everybody was but that they knew they'd done well. 

"The attitude and the application of all the players is excellent - they are working really hard and there's a great camaraderie at this moment in time.

"There's a collaboration with all the members of staff and I value all of them. I listen to them and challenge them and that's important because we want to keep improving all the time. We all want the same thing."

Adkins said he was relishing a return to Prenton Park where Rovers have been so strong under his leadership.

"I've been really pleased with the home form and the way the lads have played," he said. "The MK Dons will be similar to the Notts County game and if we get the same result we'll be happy. 

"Their new manager has come in and has done very well. They're another very good, possession-based side who want to play this beautiful game. We're trying to mix it up a bit more because you've got to understand what you can and can't do.

"I want us to be exciting and if we can put in a similar performance to the Botts County game the fans are going to be in for an exiting afternoon."

Adkins, who was sent off against Notts County, will be 18 years older than his counterpart in the dug out on Saturday but insisted he still has a youthful outlook on the game.

"I'm still a 17-year-old in my mind," he said. "I'm passionate and I look after myself from my a health point of view and it's an absolute honour to be the manager of Tranmere Rovers. It was the team I supported and still support and it was the team I played for. I just love being involved with football and hopefully that enthusiasm helps other people. 

"I'm very calm and disciplined and sometimes you have to take the emotion out of things and be cool, calm and collected. But I was a physio for ten years and I had several injuries myself so I know what it's like to be injured and I care for my players. When I see something happening on the field of play as it did the other day you sometimes react - I understand and accept we are trying to stamp that out in the game but I am passionate and I care about my players - you'll never take that away from me."

Adkins also paid tribute to Tranmere's former chairman, Peter Johnson, who passed away this week aged 84. 

"It's a sad loss and Peter should be remembered in a great way," added Adkins. "I never had the privilege meeting him but as a Tranmere Rovers supporter you watch from afar and what he did to provide stability at the football club and then take us on the journey we did go on was phenomenal. He should always be remembered and thanked for the work he did."