Tranmere Rovers were dealt their first league loss of 2021 with a 1-0 defeat against Stevenage at Prenton Park.
In a game of very few chances, the match was decided by a long range strike from Danny Newton.
The defeat brings to an end a six match winning run in all competitions for Keith Hill’s side, and the focus now turns to this weekend’s trip to Grimsby Town.
Tranmere made one change from the victory against Port Vale as Liam Feeney missed out through injury, Ali Crawford stepping in for his debut after joining the Club from Bolton Wanderers on loan.
In the tenth minute, Tranmere, buoyant from their recent run of form, forced a good save from the Stevenage goalkeeper, as Danny Lloyd cut in from the left to sting the goalkeeper’s hands.
Two minutes later, Crawford nearly had a first TRFC start to remember, as he got on the end of a back post cross from Jay Spearing, again forcing the keeper into a fine stop.
The first half was a quite affair with both teams trying to gain control of the game, with little chances created and a lot of time, the ball was spent out of play, as Rovers looked for a way past a stubborn Stevenage side in the second half.
The second half was very similar to the first, and manager Keith Hill opted for a change with 54 minutes played, as Lloyd switched with Keiron Morris.
Two more changes soon followed as Nya Kirby and Charlie Jolley came on for Kaiyne Woolery and Ali Crawford in the 57th minute.
A huge scare for Tranmere in the 66th minute as a free kick from right was met by a Stevenage head and rattled against the frame of the bar, and even though the visitors shouted for the goal, it was not given.
It was a frustrating evening for Rovers with chances at a premium, with sub Jolley going through on goal, but his strike was blocked.
Stevenage took the lead in the 80th minute as Danny Newton, with a fantastic strike from 25 yards.
Tranmere were unable to find a way back into the match, and the visitors took home the points.
Our next match will be this weekend, Saturday 12th February, as we play away at Grimsby Town, 3pm kick-off, and the game will be live on iFollow. Please CLICK HERE to subscribe.
Tranmere: Davies, MacDonald, Clarke, Monthe, Khan, Spearing, Crawford (Kirby 57), Lloyd (Morris 54), Lewis, Woolery (Jolley 57), Vaughan. Unused subs: Murphy, Ridehalgh, Ray, O’Connor.
The match report is sponsored by MAIN.