Tranmere staff were working on their Prenton Park pitch just hours before their FA Cup clash with Manchester United.
United made the trip to the League One side in the fourth round of the competition.
Premier League side Watford travelled to Prenton Park in midweek and were beaten 2-1 by their lower league opponents.
Chairman Mark Palios raised concerns over the pitch this week but admitted the club would do all they could to get the match on.
Covers were placed on the pitch overnight but there were still huge puddles and mud patches on the surface.
Staff were forced to use rollers just an hour before kick-off in an attempt to get the match on.
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made six changes to his side for the encounter.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, he said: "You've got to be prepared for it and concentrated and focused
"Of course anything can happen. The last few years in Norway there has been loads of AstroTurf games and also I remember playing on those types of pitches myself.
"Now when there is AstroTurf players get lazy in their heads because the bounce is always the same, but for me this is a great test of your mentality and character."
Tranmere: Davies, Caprice, Clarke, Monthe, Ridehalgh, Perkins, Dnnas, Morris, Blackett-Taylor, Jennings, Ferrier
Man Utd: Romero, Dalot, Maguire, Lindelof, Jones, Shaw, Matic, Pereira, Lingard, Martial, Greenwood
