Full-time: Tranmere 1 Swindon Town 0

Swindon Town suffered a second successive defeat after failing to capitalise on a one-man advantage for over half-an-hour at Prenton Park today.

Tranmere had been reduced to ten-men after defender Ian Goodison was deemed to have hauled back Town striker Simon Cox when through on goal just short of the hour mark.

Town were trailing by an Anthony Kay goal just two minutes after the restart after midfielder Kevin Amankwaah had conceded possession cheaply on the edge of his own penalty area.

It was an undeserving lead for Ronnie Moore's side after a poor first-half display that was met with jeers from the home supporters as the players headed down the tunnel at the break.

Wilson's side remained patient in their attempts to try making the most of their one-man advantage and only a combination of sheer bad luck, resolute defending and poor finishing saw their goals for column remain untouched for a second game.

The bad luck fell to striker Billy Paynter, who saw an acrobatic overhead kick rattle the inside of a post and come back out straight into the arms of goalkeeper John Achterberg.

Usually reliable marksman Cox was guilty of spurning one good chance to restore parity by missing a back post header. Jerel Ifil showed similarly poor finishing skills by getting his coordinates all wrong when guiding a Hal Robson-Kanu corner wide of the post.

The heroic defending was produced by Tranmere defender Ryan Shotton with a clearance off the line to eight minutes to deny Cox his 20th goal of the season. The other remaining nine members of Moore's side did not defend badly either – digging in to ensure an unbeaten run on home soil that goes all the way back to October was extended.

Tranmere Rovers (4-4-2): Achterberg; Shotton, Goodison, Chorley, Taylor; Barnett, Jennings, Kay, Shuker (Edds 69); Savage (Gornell 43), Moore. Subs not used: Coyne, Sonko, Cresswell.

Swindon Town (4-4-2): Brezovan; J Smith, Greer, Ifil, Vincent; Amankwaah (McNamee 61), Timlin, Kanyuka (Nalis 46), Robson-Kanu; Cox, Paynter (Peacock 77). Subs not used: P Smith, Lescinel.