Half-time: Bristol Rovers 1 Tranmere Rovers 0

Jo Kuffour scored for the second game in a row to give Bristol Rovers the advantage as they sought to end their six-game run without a win against Tranmere at the Memorial Stadium.

The home side had found chances hard to come by until the former Bournemouth marksman netted with a cheeky close-range flick after 41 minutes.

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 by-line.

Coach Paul 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.

The Pirates were up against a back-line which had conceded only six goals in their last nine league outings and found it hard to threaten a breakthrough until Kuffour netted his fourth goal of the campaign – and his first on home soil.

Tranmere had posed even less of a threat and their only half-chance came after 37 minutes when Mark Wilson saw a shot blocked then sent the rebound wide from 14 yards.

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.