Former Rovers boss Micky Mellon on Oldham's comeback win at Tranmere

Latics trailed to Connor Jennings' ninth minute opener. But against the club he fired to back-to-back promotions as a 32-goal top scorer, James Norwood sparked the fightback with his third goal of the season in his first start since September, and Jesurun Uchegbulam came off the bench to win it just after the hour.

The result puts Latics in the second round of the FA Cup for the first time since the 2020/21 season, and Mellon hopes it has a positive effect on the league too.

"I don't think we're flattered. In division and status we are a non-league club but with the types of players we've got and you see the performance today they can comfortably hold their own in the Football League," he said.

"What it's about is us getting through that little trap door and getting back into the Football League, because if Oldham gets back into the Football League they'll be a monster again. They will be a monster.

"It wasn't just a good result, I thought it was terrific performance. I thought we were excellent all the way through, we lost that early goal but we just kept going. We shuffled things a wee bit, but we looked such a good, strong side all the way through," he said.

"And I really thought we were comfortable in our skins, it wasn't like we were reaching outside of our comfortable performance levels. I thought we were well in them and we showed some great composure at really important times.

"I'm really pleased."

And Mellon said he had almost pre-empted Norwood's contribution, after top scorer Mike Fondop was hampered by a hamstring strain.

James Norwood scored his third of the season to spark the comeback (Image: Thomas Lee Stacey)

"I said to him yesterday 'We're all football romantics, wouldn't it be good if you could go back and get yourself a goal' and he was excited about that. I thought he was brilliant. That's the James Norwood that we want to see," said the Scot.

"If he keeps performing like that we'll take some stopping because he led the line so, so well.

"But across the whole team, we've got a good young players there who showed some great composure and put in some top performances.

"I'm really pleased for Jes as well. He's a great kid and we're really pleased to have him here."

But Mellon says it was not just about the players on the pitch, after a sell-out away end roared them to victory.

"The supporters...it was just ridiculous, that was just fantastic," he smiled.

"That's what it's all about, they got right behind us, the players responded and it was a really good day."

Latics were roared on by a packed away end at Prenton Park (Image: Thomas Lee Stacey)

Both Mellon and Norwood received a terrific reception from the Tranmere fans, and the Latics boss - who took Rovers back into the Football League and then League One in consecutive seasons - said: "It's so emotional because I've so many memories here.

"I wanted to come and win, that's what we're in football to do, but my respect for Tranmere will never go away. That will stay with me forever, as it will do for Oldham and all the other clubs I've worked for.

"When I take over a football club I'm all in and I give them everything I've got, and hopefully I can keep giving the fans days like this.

"But Tranmere will always have a special place because the memories that we had here were fantastic, and if we were to go and do that with Oldham... wow, what a time we're in for."