Tranmere Rovers out of FA Cup after 5-0 defeat against Peterborough

A hat-trick from Britt Assombalonga and two Shaun Jeffers strikes gave the home side a deserved win on a frustrating afternoon for Rovers who created few chances throughout the 90 minutes.

Manager Ronnie Moore was bitterly disappointed with his side's performance.

Moore made two changes to the team that beat Colchester United as Danny Holmes and Ryan Edwards replaced injured pair Jon Otsemobor and Ian Goodison. Edwards was making his first appearance for the Club after joining on loan from Blackburn Rovers.

In his post-match interview, he said: : "You can't come here and defend the way we did in the second half.

“It was embarrassing at times and I've told them.

"It's unacceptable, we can't have it. When we know the striker is right footed and we show him inside on his right foot, it's basic defending. We were short at the back today.

"We never looked like scoring. I thought we'd got rid of those performances. The last eight games they've given everything and today I thought we were found wanting against a decent side.”

The manager continued: "The front two have caused us no end of problems after they got the one just on half time.

“If we'd have come in at 1-0 it may have been a different story but we can't defend like that against a top quality side and in the end we were lucky it was only five.

"It was an inept performance. I'd like to apologise, people have come and paid good money and stuck with us.

We've got four massive games coming up against Carlisle, Gillingham, Shrewsbury and Sheffield United, three of them away from home.

"If we go anywhere away from home and perform like that, you know what's going to happen.

"We'll go through the DVD and the errors that we made and it was self destruct, they haven't had to work too hard to get the goals."

The result left Tranmere in 19th position in the League with a tally of 20 points.

Rovers are away to Carlisle this Saturday. Kick-off will be at 3pm.