Tranmere manager Micky Mellon played down concerns about the state of the Prenton Park pitch ahead of their FA Cup date against Manchester United, claiming: “Good players can adapt and adjust to anything.”
Rovers booked a dream meeting against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side on Sunday afternoon by overcoming United’s Premier League rivals Watford in their rescheduled third-round replay.
A waterlogged pitch last week meant the Hornets clash had to be rearranged for Thursday night, where Tranmere progressed courtesy of a 2-1 win after extra-time on a playing surface where there were a number of bald patches, with both wings heavily sanded.
“Football management is tough, unless you’re a football manager you don’t understand how tough it is and all consuming it is – it’s a 24/7 job,” Mellon added.
“For every football manager, I know how tough it is, regardless of where they are and what their situation is. We have different challenges and it’s tough for everybody.”
Mellon, whose teenage son Michael last year swapped the United academy for Burnley, admitted he has been hit by the demand for tickets.
Fans queued well into the night immediately after the win over Watford as Tranmere made it into the fourth round for the first time since reaching the quarter-finals in 2003-04.
Mellon added: “All of a sudden you gain more friends and family! It’s great that everybody wants to come to the game.”
