Tranmere Rovers welcome an in-form Ebbsfleet United at Prenton Park this lunchtime, as the two teams clash in a one-off match, with the prize being the Play-Off Final at Wembley.
The Rovers finished in second place two games before the end of the season, with Sutton United closest behind them but unable to pull back the points difference.
Ebbsfleet United, have been made to do it the hard way. A good run of form towards the end of the season saw them shoot up the table and into the playoffs with their dream very much alive.
Daryl McMahon’s side got the better of Aldershot Town on Wednesday night in a match which was locked 0-0 right to the very last whistle before spot kicks!
The Kent outfit was 3-1 down in the shootout before a dramatic comeback saw them book their place for the Semi Final at Prenton Park.
Micky Mellon’s team are not taking anything for granted, but have the advantage of having the whole week to prepare, whilst Ebbsfleet has been recovering from their previous match and travelling.
Tranmere Rovers Manager Micky Mellon believes that it is the best chance for the team to show the Prenton Park faithful what they are made of.
The former player also admitted to the local press, that he is really looking forward to the challenge ahead for his team.
This season is the Whites’ third season out of the Football League after they were relegated following a 94-year spell.
“We’re looking forward to it, we’re switched on and know it’s going to be a big game so we’re really looking forward to playing in front of a big crowd. It’s exciting.” Micky Mellon told the Tranmere Rovers official website.
“I can’t ask any more from the supporters, just get right behind us as they always do.” He added.”
“It will be a fantastic day for everybody, it’s what Tranmere wants to be involved in and should be involved in as a football club.”
“We’ll keep our focus and try and get it over the line and we should be in for a fantastic afternoon,” Mellon said.
Meanwhile, it is all about the pressure being off for Daryl McMahon as he brings his side to cause an upset at Prenton Park and to secure a place for his side in the final.
“Tranmere has been excellent this year with the best home form in the division,” McMahon told Ebbsfleet United’s official website.
“But we don’t care about that. It’s a one-off game, 90 minutes, the pressure’s on Tranmere, it’s not on us. We can go there, relax and enjoy it again and play our football.” He said.
Talking about previous meetings between the two sides, the Irishman believes that his team are totally different now.
“When we played Tranmere away up to now, we’re a massively different team today than we were then. We had no Powell, no Drury, no Whitely or Clark. “We’re a totally different side and we were a side off the back of 2-0, 3-0 defeats in that game then.”
The former Fleet player expects a big atmosphere at the match and knows that his players need to be ready to be playing in front of the mass crowd which is expected.
McMahon states that the first quarter of the game will be absolutely vital for his team to stay strong. "They’ll probably have 15,000 or 17,000 fans baying for blood straight away and we’ve got to go out and handle that.”
“We know that first 15, 20 minutes against Tranmere we’ve got to be strong.”
Tranmere Rovers FC’s motto this week has been to “Pack Prenton Park” with a number of adverts going out to big up the biggest chance the Rovers have had to get ever closer to the Football League once more, since the 3-1 defeat to Forest Green Rovers at Wembley last season.
Admission to the game can be found here:
Home supporters: https://www.trfctickets.co.uk/home-matches
Away Supporters: https://www.trfctickets.co.uk/visiting-supporters