TRANMERE boss Micky Mellon admitted his side had to dig deep to claim all three points at Boundary Park on Tuesday night.

Charlie Jolley scored a last-minute winner for Rovers, to deepen the gloom at second bottom Oldham.

And Mellon was delighted with his players’ resilience, and desire to keep going to the end, having been on a run of one win in six games, including a 4-0 defeat at Leyton Orient in the FA Cup at the weekend.

The former Burnley midfielder said: “We needed to respond in that way. The kind of performance we put in at Orient just wasn’t us. The necessary effort just wasn’t there.

“We can feel sorry for ourselves and all the rest of it, but it was all about a response tonight, and I got that.

“The lads were gritty and determined – just like we needed to be here – and we were much more purposeful.”

And he hailed goalscorer Jolley: “I’m delighted for Charlie, too.

“I just felt he needed a chance to stick one away, he worked his socks off all night.

“He deserved that because he did well at Chester (on loan).

“He deserved to get the nod, and what a great way for the lad to end the game.

“On a really cold night, he certainly made me feel warm at the end.

“Overall we were miles better tonight, and we were backed by a brilliant away following.

“It was important we showed more of that fibre you need to get a good result.”