MORECAMBE 0-1 TRANMERE ROVERS

The Shrimps suffered a rare home defeat as they went down 1-0 to Tranmere at the Mazuma Stadium.

In their first defeat in 11 games at home the Shrimps missed a penalty and saw Yann Songo’o sent off before Tranmere won the game 16 mouths from time with a Kayne Woolery header.

Shrimps’ boss Derek Adams made one change to the starting line up from the midweek victory at Exeter with keeper Kyle Lutheran making his debut.

And Morecambe started the game where they left off in midweek as they dominated the early stages.

Toumani Diagouraga had a great chance to open the scoring after just two minutes. John O’Sullivan’s shot from the edge of the box was blocked and the ball fell to Diagouraga but he failed to find the target.

The Shrimps were then denied a superb opening goal by the offside flag. In a tried and tested passage of play Carlos Mendes-Gomes found the run of Adam Phillips who got behind the Tranmere defence but his neat finish was chalked off for offside.

Tranmere showed little threat until the midway point of the half when a slick move down the right ended with Otis Khan producing a dangerous cross that James Vaughan headed just wide

Defender Peter Clarke fired over from 30 yards before the Shrimps wasted a chance to go ahead from the penalty spot on 38 minutes.

Jay Spearing handled Cole Stockton’s shot for the penalty which the normally Adam Phillips blazed over the bar.

There was worse to come for the Shrimps when they went down to 10 men just before the break when Songo’o was shown a straight red card for an off the ball incident.

Against a side who had won their last three games the Shrimps were always going to be up against it from then but had the first chance of the second half when Mendes-Gomes teed up Stockton but his effort from the edge of the box flew wide.

After that Tranmere began to turn possession into chances Paul Lewis had three headers in the space of a couple of minutes, sending one off target and forcing Letheren into saves from the other two.

Khan sent another effort out of the ground and Woolery also headed over.

The pressure finally paid off on 74 minutes when Danny Lloyd crossed from the left and Woolery headed home from close range.

Morecambe tried to get back into it but struggled to create an opening as Tranmere took the points

Morecambe: Letheren, Cooney, Knight-Percival, Lavelle (rep McAlinden 90), Hendrie, Diagouraga, Songo’o, O’Sullivan (rep Lyons 87), Phillips, Mendes Gomes (rep Davis 81), Stockton. Subs not used: Da Silva Mendes, Slew, Pringle, Gibson.

Tranmere Rovers: Davies, Khan, Monthe, Clarke, Macdonald, Lewis, Spearing, Kirby (rep Lloyd 46), Feeney, Vaughan, Woolery (rep Ridehalgh 89). Subs not used: Murphy, O’Connor, Morris, Jolley, Ray.

Ref: P Howard.