Former Rovers defender Reuben Hazell scored the only goal of the game as Tranmere lost their 100% home record.

It was a closely fought, tense contest at Prenton Park that saw ten bookings dished out by referee Andy Hall, a disallowed goal for Tranmere and plenty of goalmouth action.

There were two changes to the side that beat Accrington Stanley in midweek, with Ben Chorley and Gareth Edds returning to the side and Luke Waterfall and George O'Callaghan dropping to the bench. Former Rovers defender Reuben Hazell lined up at the back for Oldham who were without striker Lee Hughes through injury.

Tranmere started positively, winning a number of early free kicks inside the Oldham half with Bas Savage in particular trying to gain territory only to be fouled. The frequency of free kicks inside the opening five minutes was not to the liking of referee Andy Hall who spoke Rovers captain Antony Kay and his Oldham counterpart Sean Gregan in an attempt to cool the tempers of the two sides.

It was Kay who had the game's first chance, picking up the ball 30 yards out before sending a dipping shot towards Mark Crossley, with the former Wales international gathering at the second attempt.

Kay, who had started the game back in the centre of midfield, should have opened the scoring on 13 minutes when he was well positioned to meet an Andy Taylor corner, but the former Barnsley player put his first time effort over the bar.

Some miscommunication at the back almost let Craig Davies in on 18 minutes for Oldham, but Ryan Shotton managed to move the ball out of the striker's path and by the time he regained possession Danny Coyne was in position to save the shot with his feet.

Bas Savage, who was showing the same form that won him Man of the Match awards against Northampton, came close to opening the scoring on 23 minutes, with a clever piece of footwork before his powerful drive was punched away for a corner by Crossley.

A sliced clearance from Coyne put Rovers in trouble on 27 minutes but Ben Chorley cleared the danger with an excellent slide tackle as Lewis Alessandra was about to shoot.

Somewhat against the run of play, the visitors took the lead on 35 minutes. A free kick was cleared as far as Neal Eardley and the full back's cross was headed in by Hazell, with Coyne only able to parry the ball against the post before it crossed the line.

Three minutes later it was almost 2-0, when Coyne's clearance was hit straight back by Gregan from well inside his own half, with the shot landing on the roof of the net.

Moments later the Latics' manager John Sheridan was sent to the stand for arguing with the fourth official following the award of a foul by Alessandra - the second time he has been sent to the stands by referee Hall in the past two seasons.

Rovers could have levelled on 41 minutes when the ball fell to Craig Curran inside the Oldham area but Gregan was well positioned to block the young strikers' shot.

And in injury time there was another great chance to equalise with Savage doing well on the left wing and whipping a cross in only for Chris Shuker to send his shot straight at Crossley.

Oldham's Danny Whitaker shot over on 47 minutes after Edrissa Sonko had lost possession following a good run from Steve Jennings through the heart of midfield.

A cross from Andy Liddell almost brought the second for Oldham on 51 minutes but it bounced off the bar and was put behind for a corner by Edds.

Taylor curled a free kick wide for Rovers on 56 minutes and Kay headed wide at the far post from a Taylor corner four minutes later.

Ronnie Moore made a double change with 24 minutes remaining, bringing on Ian Moore and Chris Greenacre in place of Shuker and Curran.

Oldham were close to a second on 69 minutes when Chris Taylor fired goalwards at the far post but team mate Alessandra got in the way and Moore was able to clear.

Sonko forced an excellent acrobatic save from Crossley on 71 minutes and the Oldham keeper was quick to react to save Moore's follow up from a tight angle.

Liddell forced Coyne into a save on 74 minutes with a shot from 25 yards, while Rovers thought they'd levelled five minutes later when Jennings turned in Savage's cross. The referee appeared to award the goal before spotting a raised flag for his assistant and disallowing it. The decision angered Rovers players and fans, with Ian Moore earning a yellow card for his protests.

Oldham's Taylor twice shot narrowly past the right hand post as the game drew to a close while Kay just failed to get on the end of an Andy Taylor free kick at the other end. Rovers' final chance fell to Sonko in injury time but the Gambian international's touch let him down and Oldham cleared.

Referee: Andy Hall

Yellow cards: Lomax (9), Kay (20), Curran (27), Crossley (63), Chorley (65), Gregan (66), Sonko (70), Jennings (76), Moore (81), Eardley (88)