TRANMERE ROVERS............1

GILLINGHAM.........................2

Ryan Lowe's 14th goal of the season wasn't enough for Rovers as a goal in each half from Adebayo Akinfenwa gave Gillingham a 1-2 win as Friday night football returned to Prenton Park.

Akinfenwa's first came in first-half injury time and the second after Jim McNulty's red card had left Rovers with ten men.

Lowe gave the home side hope 15 minutes from time, but they were unable to find the equaliser.

Rovers were reduced to ten on 55 minutes. McDonald broke past McNulty, cut in towards the area and was tugged back by the defender who was shown a straight red card as the last defender.

Manager Ronnie Moore made three changes to the team that started at Carlisle, Three changes for Rovers as Danny Holmes, James Wallace and Jake Kirby came in for Jon Otsemobor, Max Power and Chris Atkinson.

In his post-macth interview, Moore said: "It was a tough night. I think if you put their two centre backs in our team we win it, simple as that.

"We can't defend as soon as we're put under pressure.

"We ask our centre halves to be brave and do the right things but how many one-on-ones have they had - two in the first half and three in the second...straight through the middle.

"For the sending off, we got ourselves in such a bad position that he ends up having to bring the lad down. If you can't defend, you can't win games.

"Every time they went forward they looked like they were going to score and that's the way it has been for the last few weeks.

"We've got two guys who think they're footballers, they're centre halves and their living is to go and kick it and head it and do the right things - and if you don't do it that's what happens to the team. It's costing us so dear at this time.

"We were weak down the middle."

The result left Rovers in 20th position in the League One table, with a tally of 20 points.