An early strike from Doncaster brought Tranmere's eight game unbeaten run to an end at Prenton Park.

After James Coppinger's early goal, Tranmere enjoyed as much of the game as their promotion rivals, but chances proved hard to come by.

Ronnie Moore made just one change to the side that drew at Bristol Rovers, with the suspended Steve Jennings replaced by John Mullin in the centre of midfield.

The visitors scored with their first shot of the game. James Coppinger stole the ball off Antony Kay 25 yards out and spectacularly fired his shot high into the net from outside the area.

Much of the next ten minutes saw possession switch between the two midfields, and it took until 12 minutes for Rovers to register their shot with Jennison Myrie-Williams' 20 yard effort deflecting wide. From the corner that followed Kay headed narrowly wide from six yards out.

Former Tranmere striker Jason Price forced a decent save out of Danny Coyne with an angled drive on 19 minutes while Coppinger volleyed over soon after.

Mullin broke forward on 22 minutes to latch onto an Ian Moore knock down, but under pressure from Paul Green he put his shot just past Neil Sullivan's post.

Two minutes later Chris Greenacre curled wide after turning inside Steve Roberts, while Brian Stock headed over from a Doncaster corner on 28 minutes.

Coppinger volleyed at Coyne from 12 yards on 36 minutes and Stockdale fired over from outside the area as the action swung quickly from end to end. Kay broke into the Doncaster half on 44 minutes but put his low shot straight at Sullivan while Gareth Roberts' free kick took a deflection but was saved by Coyne in first half injury time.

Greenacre missed with an overhead kick from Myrie-Williams' cross on 48 minutes and repeated the feat from a Stockdale cross seven minutes later as Rovers looked for an equaliser.

Paul McLaren came close to leveling with a powerful right foot shot which went just over Sullivan's cross bar on 58 minutes, while Myrie-Williams was replaced by Calvin Zola with just under half an hour remaining.

On 74 minutes Richie Wellens picked out Coppinger with a cross field pass and the striker volleyed first time at Coyne from the edge of the area.

Craig Curran replaced Greenacre with six minutes remaining, while Moore's glancing header was saved by Sullivan soon after - the last chance of the game fo Tranmere. 

Referee: Mike Pike

Yellow cards: Stock (21), Elliott (90), Lockwood (90+1)