TRANMERE manager Nigel Adkins is relishing the prospect of playing Salford City in what will be the 400th Friday night match under the Prenton Park lights.

Rovers have an excellent record in these unique occasions winning 212 of those 399 games so far, losing just 97 with 91 ending in a draw.

Adkins: said: "I've played in a few myself - they're special and I'm really looking forward to the game. We've been away from home for more or less a month but at last we're back at Prenton Park and it's an opportunity for everyone to come together and get behind the mighty Rovers."

Looking back to his time as a Rovers supporter before he became a player and then manager, Adkins said: "My mum didn't like it sometimes because it was a bit violent back in those days but you'd go and stand behind the goal and you learned to run quickly and you got a bit of a smack now and then but they were special days and if you win it makes for a great weekend. 

"It's the atmosphere and there's often a bit of dew on the pitch so it's quicker. Sometimes when it's 3pm on a Saturday the ball will move slower because it's not slick and then of course it's dark and you have the floodlights. It's special and the players have been made aware of that"

Rovers return to Prenton Park following three consecutive league games on the road, where Adkins' side initially picked up a 2-1 win at Carlisle United, but have subsequently gone on to suffer back-to-back 3-0 losses at Gillingham and last weekend at Colchester United.

Adkins said: "Unfortunately the last couple of results have gone against us but we really appreciate the supporters who came down to Gillingham and Colchester. We couldn't back up the great win we had at Carlisle.

"It's an opportunity and we now have back to back home games having had a month away - we have to capitalise on this and it's about the harmony between the players, the staff and the supporters all willing each other to do well 

"We work hard and train hard and yes we need to score some more goals but we started the season well it's fair to say and we could have won both the last away games but unfortunately we conceded the first goal early in both and that changes the complexion. 

"We also had one or two players under the weather and had one or two who were ill during the game but that's sport and that's what happens and everyone seems to have settled down now."

Salford have had a similar start to the season to Tranmere with both having eight points from their first six games but Adkins knows results must improve after the last two defeats.

Rovers have also only scored three games in those six games with all of them coming from new striker Omari Patrick. 

He said: "Karl Robinson has come in at Salford and he's an experienced manager and they'll probably play a number of different formations but there are things we think we can cause them a problem with 

"We've been very good defensively and hard to break down - what's happened in the last two games is we've conceded an early goal and the opposition have then defended deep.

"We've actually had more possession in the last two games than we had in any games last season but we've lost.

"It's now about turning that possession we've got in the attacking third of the pitch into better possession to create better chances and likewise by being adventurous and not leaving ourselves open to the counter attack.

"We know we've got to score more goals and turn that possession into goalscoring opportunities."

Tranmere Rovers v Salford City, Friday, September 27. 7.45pm. For tickets click here