Mellon praises Tranmere players after replay win over Oxford City

Posted Wednesday, November 21, 2018 by PA

Micky Mellon was pleased with his Tranmere side’s professionalism as they succinctly saw off Oxford City 2-0 to ease into the second round of the FA Cup.

There was no repeat of the nail-biting 3-3 draw that preceded Tuesday’s first round replay, the in-form James Norwood and Paul Mullin both scoring in the first period.

Plain sailing proved just the ticket for Prenton Park chief Mellon, who can now look forward to another clash with non-league opposition in December, Tranmere set to make the short trip to Southport.

“With a 4G pitch, on a Tuesday night, with all the TV cameras; we knew we just had to be disciplined and not get too carried away with playing expansively,” said Mellon.

“We wanted to do a professional job, not create loads of turnovers and keep a good shape, which I felt we did.

“We also wanted to punish them with the pace we had up front and we did it.

“It meant we could keep the party atmosphere under control a little, so every credit to the boys – it was a terrific performance.”

The prolific Norwood finished off a clinical Tranmere counter-attack six minutes in, cutely lifting the ball over keeper Craig King.

And on the half hour mark, Mullin took the ball off Frankie Musonda before curling home expertly.

Oxford boss Mark Jones said: “I think Tranmere deserved it.

“We never really got ourselves going but Tranmere never allowed us to.

“Once they got themselves in front, we never looked like coming back.”