Sheffield United had gone into the game on back of a 4-2 defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion which had slumped the Blades, managed by interim manager Steve Thompson to 6th in the league as United looked to overturn there Play-Off Final defeat inflicted on them by Crystal Palace last May.
Year in year out seasons take all different types of changes and towards the finale of the 1997-98 campaign the Blades were forced to play four matches in the space of nine days and with a back-log of re-arranged fixtures had to face Tranmere on the Tuesday night and Crewe Alexandra two days later before a last day push at Stockport County - all away from home. Still they were in a good position, with one game in hand a level on points prior to our trip to Prenton Park with Birmingham City only three points would be enough to guarantee a top six finish.
Fatigue was clearly setting into the United legs after a so far long season which had seen them lose a FA Cup Semi-Final to Newcastle United three weeks previous and with the daunting task of facing those three fixtures, but Rovers capitalized on their opponents woes and with ten minutes remaining were three goals to one reply to the good with the S2 side looking to concede defeat but after a brave comeback need just a further two more points to deny Birmingham.
Tranmere stuck twice in three minutes into the second half but Welsh International Dean Saunders inspired a comeback to make films of when he ghosted into the penalty area with twelve minutes remaining to head home and put in a performance worthy of Player of the Year. He had a hand in the equalizer too; deep into injury time combined with Lee Morris to deliver a stunning cross for Paul Devlin to score.
The hosts had taken the lead when keeper Simon Tracey was involved in a rare error when he allowed O'Brien to score after handling Kubicki's cross but thumbed and dropped for O'Brien to score a simple goal. Seven minutes into the second half the Blades were level when a shoddy pass from Mellon found Graham Stuart and the Blades forward played the ball across the box for Wayne Quinn to fire past future United keeper Steve Simonsen.
At this point it was United who had the upper hand but lack of concentration let the hosts worm there way back into the match; Gary Jones headed home a Morrissey cross and another future Blade Andy Parkinson chipped home from the edge of the area and United left wondering how to get back into the match, but no on would have tipped them to.
In the end the United lost there remaining fixtures at Crewe and Stockport but a final day goalless draw for Birmingham at home to Charlton gave United the Play-Off place they dreamed of.
TRANMERE ROVERS (4-4-2): S Simonsen - D Kubicki, J McGreal, C Hill (sub: A Mahon, 82min), A Thompson - J Morrissey, M Mellon, L O'Brien, L Jones (sub: K Irons, 63) - G Jones, A Parkinson.
SHEFFIELD UNITED (5-3-2): S Tracey - C Wilder (sub: L Morris, 85), D Holdsworth, L Sandford, R Nilsen, W Quinn - P Devlin, I Hamilton, N Marker (sub: Marcelo, 63) - D Saunders, G Stuart.
Referee: T Heilbron.