TRANMERE Rovers are just two points from the League One drop zone after they were beaten 2-0 by Gillingham this afternoon.

Second-half goals from Bradley Dack and Cody McDonald took the hosts to victory at Priestfield Stadium.

Rovers' caretaker manager John McMahon had made two changes to the squad that had were beaten 2-0 by Crawley three days earlier. 

Ryan Lowe and Jason Koumas returned from injury to take the place of Jake Kirby and the injured Steve Jennings.

The home side started strongly and forced Tranmere back into their own area early on, with Matthew Pennington having to block a shot from Charlie Lee and Liam Ridehalgh and Ian Goodison heading clear.

The frantic pace continued at both ends, with Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro flicking goalwards on six minutes while Lee send a diving header wide at the back post from Adam Barrett's cross.

Owain Fon Williams saved from McDonald at his back post on 19 minutes and, after Jake Cassidy brought down a pass from Koumas and saw his shot deflect away from goal, Goodison produced another timely block to keep Lee's effort away from goal.

Akpa Akpro, now in a more central role after a switch to 3-5-2, fired into the side netting from 25 yards on 27 minutes, a minute before injury forced Goodison to be replaced by Danny Holmes, with Matthew Pennington moving into a more central position.

Fon Williams did well to tip Akinfenwa's powerful header over the bar at a Gills free kick on 40 minutes and the keeper was lobbed by the striker on the stroke of half time but Akinfenwa's effort went past the post.

On 78 minutes the Gills took the lead.

Rovers remain at 19th on the table with 46 points. Their League One campaign continues on Easter Bank Holiday Monday, taking on 11th-placed Sheffield United at Prenton Park (3pm).