TRANMERE ROVERS...............2

STEVENAGE..............................2

(Att: 5,456)

TRANMERE central defender Michael Ihiekwe went from zero to hero scoring an equaliser in the last minute of added time as Rovers salvaged a 2-2 draw against Stevenage.

The 21-year-old gifted the visitors the lead when he deflected a Charlie Adams' cross into his own net in the 14th minute, before netting the equaliser in the sixth minute of injury time, ensuring  Micky Adams maintained his unbeaten start as Rovers manager.

There were two changes to the line-up from the 2-2 draw against AFC Wimbledon last week. In came new loan signing Steve Jennings, for his third Rovers debut, along with Kayode Odejayi. Jake Kirby dropped down to the substitutes' bench while George Barker missed out altogether.

The visitors opened the scoring on 14 minutes. Adams picked up the ball on the left wing and his powerful low cross was bundled into his own net by Ihiekwe.

On the stroke of half-time, a ball by Max Power played in Janoi Donacien down the right flank but his low cross into the penalty area evaded a decisive touch and it went out for a Stevenage goal-kick as the sides went in at the break with the visitors a goal to the good.

Adams made his first substitution on 57 minutes with Liam Ridehalgh coming on in place of Johnson with Tranmere reverting to a back three as they did last week at Wimbledon.

Stevenage doubled their lead on 64 minutes. A long ball up the pitch by goalkeeper Day was met by Ihiekwe who could only head across to Lee Barnard who got ahead of Marcuss Holness to push the ball past fon Williams.

Tranmere pulled a goal back two minutes later. A corner from the left was half cleared with the ball falling to Steven Jennings on the right edge of the penalty area who drilled the ball home.

Rovers made a double change on 71 minutes with Danny Holmes and Kayode Odejayi replaced with George Donnelly and Eliot Richards.

In the dying seconds of the game, a ball into the box was not dealt with by the Stevenage defence and it landed at the feet of Ihiekwe who blasted home from 12 yards for his first Tranmere goal and the secure Rovers another point under Adams.

The manager said he was pleased with the spirit his side had shown: "Terrific character from the boys, they kept going.

"We got something out of the game which I think we deserved. On the half performance I think we should have done more than draw.

"It's mixed emotions for me. I was disappointed with the first half and I let them know at half time.

"I needed to rally the troops, changed the system again with different personnel and we kept going. I thought in the second half we forced them backwards and we thoroughly deserved to get something from the game.

"Today has given me food for thought about how we go forward with it. I'm trying different systems, I've played 4-4-2, I've played three at the back and I've played three up top like I've done today.

"I'm learning about the players and they're learning about me.

"I'm never going to sugar-coat things. If I think the effort's not there they'll get told and they got told at half time that they needed to pick the tempo up. The good thing is I got a reaction out of them.

"With the Johnny King Statue opening and the fans on the far side I thought there was a great atmosphere here.

"That draw is for the King family and we wish him well."

The result left Rovers in second to bottom position in the league ahead of Hartlepool by virtue of better goal difference.

Tranmere will be in FA Cup first-round action next Saturday afternoon with a tie against Conference Premier side Bristol Rovers at Prenton Park.