Tranmere made it seven wins on the bounce inside a rocking Prenton Park earlier, as they thumped a plummeting Carlisle by three – who themselves were backed by 910 supporters in the Cowshed End.

Oliver Banks opened the scoring with his head just prior to the break, with James Norwood doubling the lead to midway through the second half, before Emmanuel Monthe ended the contest with a late header to give the Super White Army a crucial three points to keep them in fifth place and eyeing automatic promotion.

Four games without a victory for the Cumbrians is part of a nightmare run of one in 10 despite a promising first half.

Steven Pressley had to make do without club captain Danny Grainger, while the under-fire boss recalled Gary Liddle as he dropped Hallam Hope in favour of a defensive lineup.

Micky Mellon, a fellow Scot, had former blue Mark Ellis in his imperious back line – putting in an excellent shift against his former employees.

In the opening stages, Tranmere were forced into an early change with Luke McCullough being replaced by James Harris in central midfield.

Carlisle has started well in their 3-4-2-1 shape, with usually centre back Tom Parkes operating as left wing back.

The first guilt-edged chance of the game went the way of the Cumbrians after Regan Slater did well to play fellow Sheffield United loanee Nathan Thomas through on the counter attack, and when the winger turned Ellis on the right of the penalty area, he squared it across to Callum O’Hare who hit the bar.

Despite the decent away display, just as the interval loomed, the Super White Army broke the deadlock.

Some great play from Ellis allowed David Perkins to pick up the ball on the left of the box to whip across for Banks to head into an empty net for his second goal of the season. However, in the build-up, Norwood appeared to use his arm to keep control of the ball, prompting plenty of vented anger from the travelling supporters.

Half-time: 1-0

The home side came out of the blocks stronger and it took 19 minutes for Norwood to get his 29th goal of the season. Passing backwards for around 30 yards, Jake Caprice – a threat all afternoon – crossed for Norwood to bundle home past Adam Collin.

That knocked the stuffing out of the visitors, while the hosts were making the most of their superb support as they broke the 8k mark – much thanks to the almost one thousand strong blue army.

Pressley was firmly under pressure and many of those blues erupted in fury when Jamie Devitt (who boasts 16 goal contributions this campaign) was taken off for defensive midfield Kelvin Etuhu.

Shortly after, their misery was compounded. Perkins hit a rifled effort towards goal in the 81st minute which Collin tipped round his post for a corner with appeals that O’Hare was fouled leading up to the shot.

From that, Monthe beat Anthony Gerrard on a Banks corner to head in for a third, raising the roof in Birkenhead.

O’Hare, to his credit, went close with a free-kick in injury that almost began skipper Scott Davies at his back post.

The final whistle blew a few moments later, leaving a contrast of cheers and jeers around the ground.

Just two goals conceded in their last nine games means Tranmere are well and truly on a roll at both ends; the complete opposite for Carlisle as rapturous elation drowned out of the seething cries “we want Pressley out” in the Cowshed End – although the manager told the press he had ‘no complaints’ about the group.

The Super White Army move onto Oldham Athetic on Tuesday as the Cumbrians – like a rudderless ship at this point – welcome another promotion chaser to Brunton Park as Bury come to town.

Attendance: 8,095 (910)

Home star man: Mike Jones

Away star man: David Perkins

Referee: Scott Duncan

words Nathan Ridley, D3D4 Carlisle United correspondent