Tranmere somehow failed to defeat Southend despite twice taking the lead and having numerous scoring chances in the League One match.

Rovers dominated the game for long periods against a team two places above them in the division. However, the combination of some excellent saves from Adam Federici and some wayward shooting meant Ronnie Moore's side had to settle for a point.

There were three changes to the side that knocked Accrington Stanley out of the FA Cup, with Ian Goodison returning from injury, Chris Greenacre starting up front alongside Bas Savage and Aaron Cresswell making his first home appearance at left back in place off the ill Andy Taylor. Charlie Barnett and Gareth Edds dropped to the substitutes' bench, while former loanee Simon Francis started at right back for Southend.

Cresswell almost had the dream start, with his powerful left foot free kick forcing an excellent finger tip save from Adam Federici on five minutes.

Rovers' next attack came three minutes later and it resulted in the game's first goal. A deep cross from Chris Shuker found Ian Moore on the edge of the area and the striker expertly volleyed into the bottom left corner, beating Federici's dive to give the home side the lead.

However, Tranmere were ahead for just one minute, as Kevin Betsy's cross from the right hit Alex Revell and bounced over Danny Coyne into the net. It was a cruel blow on Coyne who had kept clean sheets in seven of the last eight games.

But the goals kept coming with Rovers retaking the lead on 14 minutes. A header from Goodison found Moore who flicked the ball on to Savage. The striker controlled outside the area before taking a touch and brilliantly curling beyond Federici into the bottom right corner.

It was nearly 3-1 on 19 minutes, with an excellent move started by a tackle from Steve Jennings. Shuker played a through ball to Savage whose cross was met by Moore ten yards out but this time his volley went into the advertising boards.

Shuker tried a long range curler on 22 minutes but it went past Federici's left hand post, while Savage volleyed over from six yards three minutes later - an excellent chance to double the lead.

It was all Rovers with Jennings forcing Federici to palm behind for a corner on 26 minutes with a rising left foot shot, and Moore quickly shooting wide on the turn from the edge of the area.

Antony Kay was next to test Federici with the on loan Reading keeper diving full length to keep out his powerful header from a Moore cross.

Despite all of the home side's pressure, the visitors gained another fortunate equaliser on 34 minutes. A shot from Hal Robson-Kanu beat Coyne but rebounded off the right hand post. The ball fell to Goodison with his clearance striking Betsy and going straight into the net.  

On 44 minutes a cross from Cresswell found Kay at the far post with the midfielder trying to side foot home only for his effort to go just wide of goal.

Appeals for a foul on Savage inside the area were ignored by referee Craig Pawson soon after, while Greenacre headed narrowly past the far post from a Cresswell cross in injury time as Rovers continued to create chances.

A Shuker cross was just missed by Greenacre at the far post less than a minute into the second half, and the striker shot into the side netting under pressure from Peter Clarke on 52 minutes.

Cresswell almost caught Federici out with a thunderous free kick from near the halfway line that the keeper had to catch at his top corner on 53 minutes.

Coyne saved well from Robson-Kanu on 55 minutes and Jennings had to block a shot from Betsy after Shuker lost possession midway inside the Southend half and the visitors broke quickly.

Goodison and Ryan Shotton combined to prevent the visitors bundling in the ball from a corner on 60 minutes. At the other end some excellent play from Savage put Shuker in possession inside the area and his low cross was somehow missed by Greenacre before Kay met it at the far post only to put his shot against the post and behind for a goal kick.

The visitors were reduced to ten men with just under 20 minutes remaining, when Francis Laurent shown a red card for aiming a head butt at Shotton after tempers flared.

On 73 minutes another fine save from Federici denied Rovers. This time Shuker's deep corner was headed goalwards by Goodison and Greenacre's flick looked top corner bound until the keeper managed to get a hand to the shot and gather at the second attempt.

It was the first of three corners in quick succession as Tranmere pushed forward backed by some excellent vocal support.

Rovers were then reduced to ten men themselves on 83 minutes when Jennings was shown his second yellow card, though play should perhaps have been stopped earlier for a foul on Kay.

Tranmere: Coyne, Shotton, Chorley, Goodison, Cresswell, Moore, Kay, Jennings, Shuker, Savage, Greenacre. Substitutes not used: Achterberg, Antwi, Edds, Barnett, Sonko.

Referee: C Pawson

Yellow cards: Kay (12), Sawyer (31), Christophe (63), Jennings (67), Shotton (79)

Red card: Laurent (72), Jennings (83)