Tranmere Rovers lost out 1-0 to Leicester City U21 in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday evening despite a dominant performance at Prenton Park.
Although Rovers had the best of the early exchanges, the visitors forged ahead on 9 minutes after a back-header from Joe Yarney fell into the path of Wanya Marcal, who squared to Silko Thomas to tap home from five yards.
Joe Murphy was deputising in goal for Rovers and produced a fine reaction save eight minutes later when Amani Richards came inside from the right wing.
Yarney strode forward and unleashed a fierce effort at goal from 35 yards out shortly after, striking the post.
Captain for the night Brad Walker went close with a dipping effort towards the top corner on the half-hour mark, as Rovers looked to pick up the pace of the game, before Sam Taylor stung the palms of Brad Young.
Leicester had the ball in the back of the net on 38 minutes but play was called back for a foul on Reece McAlear in the build-up. Rovers went straight up the other end and the lively Rob Apter fired a shot into the hands of Young.
Apter went close again two minutes later when McAlear found his run on the right, but his shot was tipped over the bar.
Taylor was next to go close, forcing another save out of Young three minutes from the break.
Paul Lewis had a chance on the stroke of half-time, only to see his shot from six yards drift over.
Rhys Hughes replaced McAlear at the break and was straight into the action, forcing a corner with a shot from range.
Rovers continued to pepper the Leicester goal with shots as the second half progressed, Taylor striking the post with a curling effort seven minutes into the half.
Tranmere had to do some defending as we approached the hour mark, Jordan Turnbull sliding in to deny Amani Richards from close range.
Apter continued to threaten from the right wing and repeatedly beat his man one-on-one, forcing another save from Young on 67 minutes.
Hughes was a livewire in just his second appearance of the season after coming off the bench, and tested Young again shortly after.
Dennis had a great effort saved on the turn with 13 minutes remaining, with Young making the stop once again to tip the ball over the bar.
Rovers hit the woodwork yet again on 84 minutes, Walker seeing an effort on the turn strike the crossbar.
Harvey Saunders and Charlie Jolley entered the fray with five minutes remaining, the former testing Young with a back-header almost immediately.
Ultimately, the visitors took victory as Rovers couldn’t quite make their dominance pay.
Tranmere Rovers: Joe Murphy, Joe Starbuck, Joe Yarney (Belehouan, 57), Jordan Turnbull, James Norris, Brad Walker (C), Paul Lewis, Reece McAlear (Hughes, 46), Sam Taylor (Jolley, 84), Rob Apter, Kristian Dennis (Saunders, 84).
Subs: Conor Robson, Ben Hockenhull, Jean Belehouan, Chris Merrie, Rhys Hughes, Charlie Jolley, Harvey Saunders.
Leicester City U21: Brad Young, Wanya Marcal, Ben Nelson (C) (Pennant, 66), Silko Thomas, Arjan Raikhy (Amartey, 84), Henry Cartwright, Harvey Godsmark-Ford, Brandon Cover, Tom Wilson-Brown, Mirsad Ali, Amani Richards (Grist, 87).
Subs: Kian Pennant, Deniche Hill, Ben Grist, Arlo Doherty, Bobby Amartey, Tommy Neale, Olabade Aluko.