Full-time: Bristol Rovers 2 Tranmere Rovers 0

Goals from Jo Kuffour and Chris Lines secured Bristol Rovers' first win in seven games, writes Chris Swift.

And coach Paul Trollope will take even more pleasure from the fact the Pirates kept their first clean sheet in eight outings after the recent defensive lapses that have cost his side dear.

Trollope had pledged to make changes after last weekend's 3-2 defeat at Millwall and duly reshuffled his defence.

Central defender Craig Hinton and right-back David Pipe were recalled to the side in place of Byron Anthony and Ryan Green, who started on the bench.

Though the first half lacked incident, Rovers had the better of it and made their breakthrough after 41 minutes as Kuffour scored for the second game in a row.

Craig Disley was the provider, doing superbly to seize on a loose ball inside the visitors' penalty area and deliver a low cross from the byeline which Kuffour converted with a cheeky close-range back-heel.

It was his fourth goal of the campaign, but the first time the former Bournemouth marksman has netted on home soil.

Rovers doubled their lead after 50 minutes when Kuffour turned provider. But Lines – playing with his head bandaged – deserved the credit for a powerful run into the box which saw him finish with a low shot through the legs of keeper Danny Coyne.

Tranmere had Coyne to thank that they did not fall further behind as the game wore on.

He made a low save to keep out a Kuffour volley and then beat out a fierce angled shot from Disley.

Rickie Lambert could have made it three seven minutes from time but shot narrowly wide after Stuart Campbell had set him up from a free-kick.

Bristol Rovers: Phillips, Pipe, Hinton, Elliott, Lescott, Campbell, Disley, Lines, Hughes, Lambert, Kuffour. Subs: M Green, R Green, Duffy, Anthony, Rigg.

Tranmere: Coyne, Johnson, Chorley, Goodison, Taylor, Moore, Kay, Jennings, Wilson, Sonko, Savage. Subs: Achterberg, Antwi, Shuker, Gornell, Edds.