Micky Mellon will make changes to his starting XI against Bristol Rovers on Saturday, as Tranmere look to end a slump of three consecutive defeats in League Two.

Rovers had been on the cusp of the automatic promotion places before an unexpected 2-0 home defeat to Northampton Town started a run of losses that has been interspersed with two cup wins.

But after failing to create enough genuine goal-scoring chances in a humbling 1-0 defeat to Sutton United last weekend, the Scot has made it clear that he will now give opportunities to others.

Speaking at his regular weekly pre-match press conference, Mellon said: "We understand that there's things that we need to get better at. I've never hid away from that, that's my job to try and improve it.

"We believe we know what that is and we'll try and find a way with the group that we have here to try and fix that."

"I can work in hindsight, reacting to a result, but I've got to be fair to my group. When I look at it, it didn't go the way that I wanted it to go (against Sutton). I'll look at the group, I'll look at the team shape and I will be fair to the group because I only care about Tranmere.

"It spoils my life when Tranmere doesn't work. Trust me when I say that. We don't go home and sleep well for a while.

"I will coldly now put out the team that I believe will get Tranmere the result, score us goals, keep clean sheets and try and perform well.

"There will be people who will be left out. I don't have a problem with that because they've had the opportunity on Saturday to score us goals, keep clean sheets and play well and it didn't happen.

"So we have to work with someone else in the group and if I believe it will give my beloved Tranmere the chance to get a result then I'll do that. No problem."

Tranmere will make the 180 mile trip to Bristol today to face a side that sits one point and two players below Mellon's side in the table, but have won their last two matches.

In his post-match press conference at Prenton Park, following defeat to Sutton, Mellon hinted that his players needed to be more accountable for their on-pitch performances and needed to step things up once they crossed the white line.

And that sentiment was reinforced by the Scot ahead of this week's match.

Mellon said: "The team have to stand up now. At the end of the day, I can give them a framework - this is not me backing away from responsibility - and decide the way we're going to play. And within that people have got to carry out the technical expertise of delivering on that framework.

"My responsibility ends where I say fullbacks have got to try and get it into the front man, front man's got to try and hold it up, midfield players have got to try and support that and then you've got to go and finish it. I can't do that.

"Players have got to go and deliver on that now. I can't get across the 18 yard box. I'm too old. I'm goosed.

"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."

Tranmere will have defender/midfielder Lee O'Connor available again, after international duty.

Aside from long-term absentee Scott Davies, Mellon will have a fully fit squad to chose from.