TRANMERE Rovers manager Nigel Adkins is pleased with his side's start to the new season despite them going into Saturday's home game with Walsall still looking for a first league win.

Rovers have drawn both their matches so far 0-0 but have progressed to the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 3-0 win over Accrington Stanley setting up a trip to Premier League Leicester City next week.

On Tuesday evening, Adkins' men lost 3-1 to an Everton Under 21s side in the EFL Trophy but the boss was happy with what he saw.

"I thought we were excellent against Everton," Adkins said. "The work rate and commitment and some of the football we played was excellent and from my point of view we go into a big week now with Walsall on Saturday, Leicester on Tuesday and Carlisle next Saturday and everyone is pulling in the same direction."

Tranmere face injury concerns over Luke Norris, Connor Wood and Brad Walker but Adkins is keen to focus on the positives.

He said: "This is my 43rd year in professional football and I can tell you now that it's very rare that you get everyone crossing that white line 100% fit. They are always carrying something but it's how you get that mindset, that grit, that resilience into them and we've got that in spades.

"We have purposefully kept the squad small - we have 24 players and ideally we'd like 25 - if you have too many players you don't create a team so we're trying to have a small group of players and at times like this it is about how the team builds and sticks together.

"Saturday is an opportunity to keep building as a team and the resilience when you're up against it can be a good thing and that's how I'm seeing it."

Walsall currently sit top of League Two having won their opening three games in league and cup and they are also yet to conceded a goal. 

Adkins said: "They had a good finish to the season and have kept the same group of players together but we've played well so far this season and the opposition will know they're in for a tough game. 

"We've got the Super White Army behind us - that drum is going to get banged and the fans will be behind us and it will make for an exciting afternoon's entertainment.

"I've been really pleased so far - it's a game of margins and we could have won both our games 1-0 or 2-0 and I know we've got goals this team.

"With the 0-0 last week we hit the inside of the post and they should have been down to ten men after 12 minutes and that would have put a different complexion on things but we have shown we have a determination and resilience and an understanding of what we're trying to do with three or four different formations during games."