Defender Kell Watts scored two headers as the U’s twice came from behind to move into fourth, with only goal difference keeping them out of the automatic promotion places.

Shayne Lavery and Ben Knight were also on target as all the hosts’ goal came after the 58th minute.

While Harris’ side are unbeaten in 12 league matches, Tranmere, for whom Dylan Jones and Charlie Whitaker scored, sit 17th after a third straight defeat.

“It’s a really important victory for us, one of the most important so far because of the nature of it,” said Harris.

“It just shows what a good side we can be. If we have to score goals or come from behind again here we can do.

“I thought we dominated the majority of the game from start to finish and I thought we were miles the better team and deserved to win the game.

“But there were bits I didn’t like and I’ve told the players that.

“It’s another test, and we passed it, but we don’t want to put ourselves in that position. I was disappointed with the manner of the goals we conceded. We have to be better than that.

“We bounced back on two occasions. Conceding the second goal was the sucker punch we could have easily not come back from.

“You can see the mentality of the group, the strength of character, the belief they’ve got in each other and the trust they’ve got.”

Tranmere boss Andy Crosby was angered by his side’s defensive display as they twice squandered a lead to fall to defeat.

“We’ve given four gifts to our opponents,” Crosby said. “It’s not the first time I’ve said it.

“We’ve got a lot of experienced defenders in our squad who are finding it really difficult to do the basics of what they are paid to do.

“In our league that’s head it, kick it, stop crosses, stop shots, mark in the box. Whoever is playing is finding that a real difficulty.

“We’ve scored in every away game, we’ve scored two today against the team with the best home record in terms of goals conceded. We should have scored at least two more big opportunities.

“But then if we’d scored those two opportunities we’d have probably had to have scored another three more because we’d have probably given more chances away.

“What I’m seeing from our defenders, it isn’t defensible from me. It’s not good enough, it hasn’t been good enough. Whoever starts is making so many basic errors.

“I’ve got defenders who have played hundreds of games who are not doing their job.”