Tranmere boss Micky Mellon said his side could have won more comfortably once they handled the "anger" of Carlisle United's start to the game.

The visitors' 1-0 win took them fourth in League Two as the Blues sank to second bottom.

Rod McDonald's own-goal was enough for Rovers, with Blues keeper Mark Howard saving a Kieron Morris penalty.

Mellon said of the Cumbrians: "In the first 10-15 minutes they played like a team that had lost their manager.

"They were at home and wanted to gain the energy from the anger from that.

"We dind't meet that and allowed them to set that. But then we settled, started to get going, strung some passes together and used the energy of the team to get into dangerous areas."

McDonald's own-goal in the 48th minute was Tranmere's first goal away from home in the league this season.

Manager Mellon added: "We could have made it more comfortable for ourselves but we showed a whole load of other qualities.

"It's always difficult to come to Carlisle, but when they've not got a manager and fighting like they were, it was going to be [particularly] difficult.

"We showed a massive amount of control, were very composed when we needed to be - I would have liked to score more goals but we kept a clean sheet, kept going and got over the line."

Mellon felt his side "came out of the traps like lightning" in the second half to get in front.

He also praised keeper Ross Doohan for a crucial save from Jordan Gibson shortly after Tranmere had gone in front.

"It was a great save," he said. "If we're being the best we can be, we need to match the back post better than that.

"But your goalkeeper then has to pull you out of trouble. We know we have a brilliant goalkeeper and he made a great save."