Tranmere Rovers.......0

Wrexham.....................1

Tranmere played 75 minutes with an extra man but still lost to rivals Wrexham in a damming result that piles the pressure on manager Micky Mellon.

Rovers’ pre-season optimism has all but evaporated as a wretched run of results has dumped them into 18th place in the National League – just two points off the relegation zone.

The Dragons had Sam Wedgbury sent off after quarter of an hour, but a Chris Holdroyd goal just before the hour mark gave stubborn Wrexham all three points leaving Rovers supporters wondering just when their season is supposed to begin.

Micky Mellon made two changes to the side that battled for a draw with ten men against Ebbsfleet United.

With Jay McEverley suspended, Tranmere switched to a flat back four and taking a more attacking approach, Jack Dunn and striker James Alabi were brought in, with Jeff Hughes dropping down to the bench.

The teams entered Prenton Park to a rip-roaring derby atmosphere as these two ex-Football League clubs generated sound more befitting of a higher level.

The visitors wanted a penalty as early as the first minute when Holroyd got the wrong side of Steve McNulty and went to ground, but referee Thomas Bramall was having none of it.

Tramere’s best early chance arrived in the 13th minute when Wrexham failed to clear a Rovers free kick and James Norwood’s attempted back heel hit the side netting from close range.

But the Dragons found themselves in a pickle inside a quarter of an hour when Wedgbury – who had already been booked for a late challenge on Connor Jennings – went in late again on Jay Harris and was sent for a very early bath as a consequence.

Tranmere looked to capitalise and started to control the game. A long-range effort from Harris was deflected onto the outside of the post for a corner.

A lofted pass from Ollie Norburn found the head of Alabi but he could only direct the ball straight into the clutches of Luke Coddington.

Norwood fired a curling effort over the bar on 25 minutes as Rovers continued to press for an opener.

Occasionally the hosts would lose possession in midfield, but with only Alex Reid to find up top, Wrexham were finding it increasingly difficult to keep the ball out of their own half.

Alabi used his significant physical presence to hold off Manny Smith and fire in a shot that was punched cleared by Coddington.

Norburn – who had earlier skied one effort well wide – received a knockdown from Jennings but could only pull his first-time effort miles off target again.

Undeterred by their numerical disadvantage, the travelling Wrexham supporters were in large numbers and fine voice, continuing to back their side in partisan fashion.

Just before the break Marcus Kelly danced past Harris in the Tranmere penalty area but could only hit the side netting from an acute angle.

Norwood tested the palms of Coddington on the stroke of half time but gutsy Wrexham saw out the opening 45 minutes level-pegging.

Rovers almost led within 40 seconds of the restart, when Jennings headed a cross from Adam Buxton inches wide of the post with Coddington beaten.

At the other end Reid managed to circumnavigate McNulty but Scott Davies easily held his tame shot.

Coddington had to tip a cross from Norwood over his own cross bar as it threatened to drop into the net and from the subsequent corner Alabi knocked the ball into the net, but the goal was ruled out for an offside infringement.

Ex-Chester striker Alabi was becoming evermore dangerous and glanced a header just wide moments later.

Wrexham’s strategy was clear – soak up the pressure and try to capitalise on set pieces. Mellon’s team were giving away too many cheap free kicks for comfort.

When Tranmere failed to clear a corner just before the hour mark, Holroyd took his chance and fired the ball past Davies into the Tranmere goal.

The travelling supporters celebrated wildly behind the goal, throwing red smoke bombs onto the pitch in delirium.

Mellon responded by throwing on Andy Cook for Dunn and pushing James Norwood out wide with Jennings on the other flank.

Norwood had a golden opportunity to pull Rovers level but made a complete hash of his shot, to the utter disgust of the fans behind the goal in the Kop.

Cook headed another effort wide before the game was temporarily halted when a supporter in the Wrexham end took ill and had to be stretched across the pitch.

When play resumed, a cross from Alabi was just beyond the reach of Jennings at the far post, as Tranmere searched for an equaliser.

George Waring was then flung on for Alabi for the final five minutes of regulation time plus a whopping 10 minutes of time added on.

Tranmere lumped hopeful balls into the box in desperate search of an equaliser, but it never looked like arriving.

Even Scott Davies came up for a corner deep in stoppage time but it was all to no avail as Rovers slumped to their fifth defeat of the season in only 12 matches.

The only positive news to emerge from Prenton Park is the near-fitness of star winger Ben Tollitt, who will play in a behind closed doors match on Tuesday, but the very fact that the pre-season title-favourites’ hopes are now pinned on one player who hasn’t played for six months tells it’s own story.

Micly Mellon told Globe Sport: “I’m disappointed obviously for everybody. It’s a sore one for us because we know how much it means to all of us, these games.

“To be playing against 10 men for so long and not be able to overcome it is disappointing.

“I wondered if the sending off did us any good – a team like we are at the minute – going down to a team that was going to settle and play in a solid shape. We weren’t able to capitalise on it.

“We look low on confidence. It’s my job to fix that, but to not score in so many of the games now tells a lot of the story. We had opportunities today that could have changed the whole course of everything and never took them.

“We’ve got to work hard and show character.

"We have to fight, all these things are important. We have to be tough and just get back.”

MATCH STATS

Tranmere Rovers 0

Wrexham 1, Holroyd 58

Half time: 0-0

Star man: James Alabi (Tranmere striker)

Attendance: 6,802

Entertainment: 3/5 Ref rating: Thomas Bramall (7/10)

ranmere (4-4-2): Davies player rating 5; Buxton 6, Sutton 6, McNulty 6, Ridehalgh 6; Norburn 5, Harris 5, Jennings 5, Dunn 6 (Cook 62, 5); Norwood 6, Alabi 6 (Waring 85, NA)

Subs not used: Pilling, Hughes, Gumbs

Wrexham (4-4-2): Coddington player rating 7; Roberts 7, Pearson 7, Smith 7, Jennings 7; Rutherford 6, Wright 6, Wedgebury 4, Kelly 7 (Mackreth 85, NA); Reid 6 (Massanka 90, NA), Holroyd 8 (Carrington 75, 6)

Subs not used: Preston, Boden