‘Beach’ battle at Tranmere is nightmare for Solskjaer

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his crisishit Manchester United stars will not relish playing on the Prenton Park beach after Tranmere set up an intriguing FA Cup fourth round clash on Sunday.

Paul Mullin’s extra-time goal earned the League One strugglers a win over Watford’s shadow squad and a much-needed £500,000plus cash jackpot.

Tranmere coach Micky Mellon said: “This has got to be up there with one of the best nights in the club’s history. It is massive for us.

“It will be a game-changer for the club on Sunday. United playing here is brilliant for the whole area. It is no secret we need the money and it will give us an opportunity to strengthen the squad.

“United are an unbelievable football club and we are at the bottom end of League One, but we are going to give it everything we’ve got.

“We will try to represent the club again and the players will run their socks off again and who knows? Two days is enough for us to be ready ... we will be fine.”

Watford coach Nigel Pearson has made it clear Premier League survival is Watford’s priority and underlined that by making 11 changes from the side that lost at Aston Villa. But he refused to use the awful pitch as an excuse and said the game will be a learning curve for his young players.

He said: “It was a really tough game, congratulations to Tranmere. People said we were not interested – we were. It was just a great cup tie. We would have preferred to have gone through.

“You have to earn the right to play. It was a bit of a reality check for some of them – a wake-up call. Welcome to the man’s game. Some of our young players thought they could just turn up in the first half. We had words at half-time.

“We showed more desire in the second half. Micky is a good football man and I want to congratulate him and Tranmere.”

Super sub Mullin headed home in the 105th minute after Corey Blackett-taylor had flicked on Liam Ridehalgh’s cross.

Monthe put the League One strugglers ahead in the first half but Watford’s young team improved after the break when sub Kaylen Hinds equalised.