Tranmere Rovers suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Doncaster Rovers at Prenton Park on Tuesday night.

Jacob Ramsey put Doncaster in the ascendancy nine minutes into the second-half with a well-taken finish before heading in a second later on.

Fejiri Okenabirhie settled the result by adding a late third for the side from the Keepmoat Stadium.

Manager Micky Mellon handed a second debut to the returning Andy Cook, while Manny Monthe returned from suspension and Luke McCullough was given a start against his former club.

Cook was involved in the early stages as he nodded down to tee up strike partner and fellow loanee James Vaughan, but his first-time strike was deflected for a corner.

Kane Wilson’s dangerous cross into a crowded penalty area from the right was well-claimed by visiting goalkeeper Seny Dieng.

In a positive opening, Kieron Morris’ volley from outside the box went narrowly past Dieng’s bottom right post.

Darren Moore’s Doncaster went close midway through the half after breaking on the counter, with Niall Ennis’ left-sided cross finding Kieran Sadlier, who was denied a certain goal as Liam Ridehalgh threw himself in the way of the ball.

On the half hour, Rovers were kept in it when Madger Gomes’ cross made its way to Ramsey, who saw his low shot cleared off the line by Ridehalgh before a combination of the Rovers left-back and goalkeeper Scott Davies somehow thwarted the follow up from yards out.

Davies was then called into action again, as the TRFC captain held onto Devante Cole’s unmarked header from 10-yards.

Mellon’s hosts should have been ahead on 40 minutes after Ferrier drove into the area from the left-flank, he fizzed the ball into the six-yard box which dropped to Alex Woodyard, who volleyed over the crossbar from close-range.

The final chance of the first half fell to Tranmere. Ferrier, Morris and Vaughan all linked up well which ended in Vaughan’s attempt deflected into Dieng’s grasp.

Woodyard got things underway following the restart, with Doncaster having an attempt at goal when Ennis beat Wilson to drill into Davies’ side-netting.

Tranmere were indebted to Davies again when he superbly denied Sadlier’s powerful effort from inside the box.

But Doncaster led on 54 minutes after Ramsey finished Sadler’s pull-back, striking low left-footed to find Davies’ bottom right-corner.

Cameron John went close to doubling Doncaster’s advantage when his deft curler from the left-side of the box rolled across goal to creep past Davies’ post.

Mellon sent on Connor Jennings in place of Vaughan for Rovers’ first change of the night with just over an hour gone.

Searching for an equaliser, Wilson bent his 25-yard free-kick over the wall which comfortable for Dieng.

McCullough then made way for David Perkins as Tranmere’s second substitution.

Ridehalgh’s drive was charged down after Woodyard set him up, prior to Ramsey netting his and Doncaster’s second with 75 minutes gone.

Ramsey directed his header from Ennis’ cross into the top right corner and beyond Davies’ reach.

Despite their deficit, Tranmere still went in search of a response, with Jennings volleying over from inside the box.

The South Yorkshire outfit scored their third through Okenabirhie after 83 minutes, who capitalised on Monthe failing to clear, to race through and slot underneath Davies.

Tranmere are back at Prenton Park on Saturday afternoon as they host Portsmouth in Sky Bet League One, kick-off 3pm.

TRFC: Davies ©, Woods (Caprice 84), Monthe, Ridehalgh, Wilson, McCullough (Perkins 71), Woodyard, Morris, Vaughan (Jennings 61), Cook, Ferrier

Subs not used: Pilling, Nelson, Danns, Gilmour