A fine but cold afternoon welcomed today's visitors, Tranmere Rovers, to the Keepmoat Stadium. The Rovers, of Doncaster, stand one point and one place behind the team from the Wirral, with both teams just outside the play-off places. Gareth Roberts is out for the Rovers and replaced by Sean McDaid and Paul Heffernan is back in the line-up for his first League match for a while otherwise the team is very much as expected. Tranmere had their problems with injuries and suspensions but can still turn out a strong side so a good even match can be expected. The Rovers were set to defend the North Stand end, the away supporters end.

The Rovers set the game in motion and playing with a stiff breeze behind them went straight on to the attack down their left but the Tranmere defence held firm. The visitors set up their own attacks and an even midfield game ensued. The first real chance on goal came on ten minutes when a good build up by the Rovers gave Guy the chance to have a crack at goal from just inside the penalty area but a defender got a leg to it and blocked. The game continued with little goalmouth incident until just past the half hour mark when a good link up between Guy and Heffernan put Guy in down the inside left channel and from a tight angle put a shot across the face of goal and out for a goal kick. The visitors reply was to win the first corner of the game, which was cleared. a minute from the end of normal time Stock put a 20 yards free kick over the bar. A similar free kick to Tranmere was headed wide at the far post by Gareth Taylor. Although the home team just about shaded the first half as regards attacking the visitors led at the break by two corners to nil. 

The second half had only been going a couple of minutes when Tremarco received his marching orders for a tackle on Wellens just into the Tranmere half. Immediately the visitors brought on left back Andrew Taylor, signed on loan yesterday, to replace Tremarco in that position and sacrificed the attacking midfielder, Shuker. On 57 minutes, a good cross from the right by O'Connor was met with a header by the onrushing Guy but it went wide. The visitors then went straight down to the other end and gained a corner. Belying the fact that they were a man short they were then awarded a free kick three minutes later just outside the Rovers penalty area on the Tranmere left. McClaren took the kick and hit the near post full on the ball rebounding back into play. The Rovers recovered their composure and took possession of the game but the visiting defence held them usually by sticking a leg out as the shots came in. Woods did get one through but Coyne saved and Stock put one wide. The pressure on the Tranmere defence became constant but they stood firm. Into three minutes of added-on time and a fierce drive by Stock from 25 yards was met with a diving header by Hayter but as the crowd yelled 'goal' the ball hit the keeper's trailing legs as he dived to his right for the shot and came back out. Woods then fired wide before time ran out and left the Rovers with just one point.

Teams - ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Matt Mills, Adam Lockwood, Sean McDaid; Lewis Guy, Richie Wellens, Brian Stock, Mark Wilson; James Hayter, Paul Heffernan.

Subs used - Martin Woods for Wilson 75 min; Mark McCammon for Heffernan 75 mins; James Coppinger for Guy 88 mins;

Subs not used - Paul Green, Gordon Greer,

Tranmere Rovers - Danny Coyne; Robbie Stockdale, Anthony Kay, Ian Goodison, Carl Tremarco; Steve Jennings, Paul McClaren, Adnan Ahmed; Chris Shuker, Gareth Taylor, Chris Greenacre

Subs used - Andrew Taylor for Shuker 50 mins; Paul Henry for Ahmed 83 mins; Kevin Cooper for Greenacre 89 mins;

Subs not used - Calvin Zola, John Achterberg gk

Cautions - Jennings, McClaren,

Sent Off - Tremarco 47 mins,