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

EXETER CITY..........................2

(Att: 4,725)

ROVERS manager Rob Edwards conceded the better side won as Tranmere fell to a 1-2 defeat against Exeter City.

With only two wins from nine games under their belts this season, it's been a disconcerting start for Rovers, who slipped to 18th place in League Two.

Rob Edwards will have had an insider's knowledge of Exeter, the club where he spent eight years as a player, coach and assistant manager before taking over at Prenton Park in May.

He said he could not be more disappointed by the defeat and added: "The players have got to do better and I've got to do better."

With Tranmere missing their influential defender Matt Hill, who suffered a serious Achilles tendon injury against Newport, the visitors took the lead on six minutes when David Wheeler's lob was palmed by 'keeper Owain Fon Williams for Graham Cummins to head home.

Danny Holmes' deflected shot found the bottom corner from the edge of the box to pull Rovers level on 25 minutes.

But the the Grecians, fresh from their first win of the season on Tuesday, took all three points when Jordan Moore-Taylor's headed home from a free kick which went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Edwards made a double substitution on 58 minutes with George Donnelly and Kayode Odejayi coming on to replace Cole Stockton and Eliot Richards. The third and final Rovers change came just after the hour-mark and saw Jason Koumas come on to replace Matt Gill in midfield - both Gill and Richards having started against their former club.

Ben Davies, on loan from Preston North End, made his debut in place of Hill at left-back.

The manager said: "The best side won. I understand people's disappointment, they couldn't be more disappointed than myself.

"We weren't very good today and we looked an inexperienced side.

"I've told the ones I thought did well, the ones who didn't I've told them I'll tell in more detail on Monday. They probably know who they are.

"I'm disappointed that we're not winning games. The players have got to do better and I've got to do better, I'm hugely disappointed in that performance.

"We weren't unlucky in the final third today, we were poor and we lacked punch."

Edwards insists he needs more from his players: "We didn't play to the strengths of the players who came on. We brought Jason on to pass the ball and Kay won a few flicks-ons. But players are not reacting quickly enough.

"They're waiting to see what happens and then reacting. We're on our heels. The best players have the quickest minds and take a gamble.

"I'll blame myself first of all and think 'what have I not done' and I'll ask the staff the same.

"I need to support the players at the moment and help them. I'll do that - as long as they give me a bit back."

The manager will be expecting better when Rovers travel to face bottom of the table Carlisle Utd next Saturday.

The Cumbrians are without a league win in 15 games from April 2014 and sacked their manager Graham Kavanagh at the beginning of September.

He was replaced on Friday by ex-England defender Keith Curle.