TRANMERE will host City tonight in better spirits after fighting back to end a three-game losing streak.

Rovers had dropped out of the League Two play-off positions with their recent wobble – and looked set to suffer further disappointment at Bristol Rovers at the weekend.

But Micky Mellon’s side rallied from two down at the Memorial Stadium to salvage a point through Callum MacDonald and Paul Glatzel.

Mellon returned to Prenton Park this summer – just 12 months after leaving them to join Dundee United.

The Scot had steered Tranmere to back-to-back promotions during his four-year stint on Birkenhead before departing when they were relegated to League Two on a points-per-game basis when the 2020 campaign was cut short by the pandemic.

He admitted it was a “no-brainer” to come back when offered the chance to replace Keith Hill, who was sacked just nine days before Tranmere lost to Derek Adams’ Morecambe in the play-offs.

Tranmere still feel a sense of injustice about their relegation and Mellon is hungry to take them back to the third tier as quickly as possible.

"It spoils my life when Tranmere doesn't work,” he said. “Trust me when I say that, we don't go home and sleep well for a while.

“I can't get across the 18-yard box. I'm too old, I'm goosed.

"Players have got to go and deliver on that.

"I can't make runs in an 18-yard box and show you how much desire I have for Tranmere to score a goal, because if I could, trust me, I would be putting you and the ball in the back of the net, no danger.

"So maybe if we can run into the box with the mentality, we might have a better chance of scoring a goal, because that's what football is all about.

"The great players - when that ball comes into the box, they see ball, they see goal, and they're getting on it. We just have to encourage the players to have that type of mentality."

Mellon made three changes at the weekend – one enforced as Jay Spearing sat out a one-game ban following his fifth booking.

But the feisty midfielder is available to return against the Bantams.

City are unbeaten in their last six Prenton Park visits.